The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-17
DEFENSE OF DE. LEssEPs.
His Counsel Makes a Strong Argu
ment IN Hls Behalf

His Counsel Makes a Strong Argu-
ment IN sis Behalf
PARIS, March 1G.-N. Barbour, counsel
for Charles dc Lesseps, summed up for his
client in the Panama trial to-day He
spoke at great length, always earnestly aud
often eloquently. AT tho beginning Of the
trial, he said, his case was so strong
that he was willing to try It
before a jury Of Panema stock
holders and to-day he again expressed the
conviction that he could secure Charles de
Lesseps' acquittal. The court room was
well filed when he began to speak and ho-
came crowded before he closed. In opening
his address NJ. Barbour said that the pres
ent trial had been begun against the wishes
OF tho Panama stockholders, who, much as
they had been misrepresented In reality,
had been opposed to she arraignment In
court OF either Ferdinand or
Charles de Lesseps. The stockholders
had disapproved Of the plan
to place the burden of the Panama scandal
upon men bearing as great name as there
WAS In France. They respected and trusted
Charles de Lesseps, aud fet that che prose-
oution OF him was not only unjust, but a
blow at the revival Of the canal enterprise.
The charges that Charles de Lesseps had
wished TO corrupt everybody; had searched
the money Of the shareholders, had not been
proved.
GUILTY ONES NOT PROSECUTED.
Why had Charles de Lesseps been selected
TO bear the bruut of the charges OF bribery
whom others, known 10 be guilty, had been
untouched, Why had not NJ. Blanchet,
who was understood TO have SAINT bribe to
M. Buire, been broughtinto courtl Charges
fully as serious as those against Charles dc
Le'seps had been made against q dozen
other men, but they either had been ignored,
or the accused had been permitted TO escape.
The prosecution was bound to produce in
court testimony connecting the so-callod
bribe Rivers and bribe takers. This It had
utterly failed 60 do. The only three per-
sons who could have supplied the missing
evidence, although not 10 the satisfaction OF
the prosecution, we're Baron de Reinsch,
who was dead, Cornelius Herr, who was hb-
sent on account of illness, and Arton, the
lobbyist, the pretended search for whom
had excited the laughter of all Europe.
Nj. Clemenceau might have given some
conclusive testimony in this trial. but ne
was restrained from doing so. The miuis-
ters might have given most vital infOrma-
ton. but they saw tit To withhold it. Whv
had they not produced copies Of tho mem
acing telegram sent by Cornelius Herzl
The Advocate General-They are at your
disposal
Judge Dssjardine--Let them be produced
In court tomorrow.
THE ESCAPE OF HERR.
Continuing M. Barbour asked why had
Cornelius Herr been permitted 90 fee tho
oountryl Why had he not been seated
among the prisoners, or at least named
among the acousedi Merely because for ten
years he had been the broker of the radical
party. In this matter politics had devoured
both their men and their millions. When
the radicals held the power Of government
they had taken the moEey they needed
TO defend their ideas aud enrich their sup
porters. Whether this were called mendi
cancy, alms-giving or briSandage mattereC
little. But who could believe that the in.
itiative in all these transactions came from
men who had Co do with the paying instead
Of those who did the receiving. The pay
ments made 20 Baron de Reiuaoh, Barbour
described as perfectly legitimate. They were
given, be said. according 20 an agreement
with the bankers constituting the guAran-
tee syndicate. Who would be foolish
enough 10 believe that such large sums were
intended for the Insignificant deputies and
senator's whom the jury had seen In the
court rooml After the laughter following
this slur had subsidized Judge Desjardinee
pleaded fatigue as an excuse for adjourn
Tuent of kha oOurt