Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-10
PANAMA CANAL SCANDAL,
The Trial of the Great Case
Begins Today.
A Large Number of Witnesses
Summoned.
Enemies of the Republic Try to Be-
smirch President Carnot.
Ex-Minister Eaihut Arrested-His Wife
Creates a scens-Charles de Les
seps Furnishes Import
ant Evidence.
By the Associated Prsss.l

1
| PARIS, Jan. 9.-The great Panama
canal trial begins tomorrow. The gov-
ernment has summoned large number
of witnesses, including Lucien Napoleon
Bonaparte Wyse, the engineer who
claims to have originated the idea of the
canal, and who is supposed to know q
great many secrets in connection with
the scandal. The men to be tried to-
morrow are: Charles de Lesseps, di-
rector of the Panama canal; Marius
Fontaine, secretary and Gustsye Eiffel,
the famous engineer. The charges in
the indictment are, in effect, obtaining
money from subscribers to the ca aal
loans by false pretensss and misappro-
priating the funds when obtained.
Baihut, ex-minister of public works,
was arrested today. 1t is said this &C.
tion WAS taken because Of reports con-
Meeting President Carnot's name with
Baihut's, to show that the government
is not afraid to take action against
anyone.
Clemenceau was, at his own request,
examined by the magistrate today in
relation to his knowledge of Panama
canal matters. The examination lasted
a long time. No details have been made
public.
| ATTEMPTs TO BEsMTRcH cARNoT.
Anecdotes are rife of how the leading
men in parliament and the president
were bought over. Some of them are
very typical and throw dash Of humor
on the gloomy record. The attempt to
involve President Carnot in the Panama
accusations causes much excitement.
So far as made apparent, there is not the
slightest evidence of corrupt completely
in the Panama swindling on the part of
Carnot, the utmost alleged in any def
mite way being that he may have per-
functorily given official sanction to
transactions on the part of other off,
cials who we're corrupt. The enemies
OF the republic have from the first been
endeavoring to involve Carnot, believ-
ing by bringing abcuta presidential criEis
that they might strike fatal blow at
the republic. Besides, there are several
field, who would be delighted to see
Carnot forced to resign.
APATHETIo INCIDENT.
Ex-Minister Baihut was accompanied
to the Office of Exam ming Magistrate
Franqueville, this afternoon, by his
wife. She waited outside the Office q
long time, looking much worried, and
when finally her husband came out in
charge of two detectives, she threw
herself at his feet and attempted to
cling to him. She was almost hysterical
and it was with the greatest difficulty
that her husband and the officers per-
suaded her to rise. She followed her
husband to the police bureau, weeping
bitterly, but there she was compelled to
separate from him.
IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.
Charles de Lesseps has given Msgis-
trate Franqueville a pocket book in
which he kept notes concerning the
relations of the Canal company with
many public men. This evidence ia ex-
ceptionally important. 1t shows con-
clusively the connection OF many SEN
ators and deputies with the illegal
operations of the company. Two cele-
brated writer's on economic and interna-
tional questions and two ex.ministers
are said to be among those compromised.
These revelations are expected to lead
to more arrests.
The indictment against Gustave Eiffel
A states that he secured 100000 francs
of Panama canal money. Heretofore it
was supposed he obtained but 81, ,000, 900
francs.
MISSING STUBS.
The parliamentary commission of in
quiry has discovered hiatus in the
sequence of the canal company's check
stubs. More than $50 OF the stubs are
missing, and it has transpired that in
every case a large sum is involved. If
the stubs of these checks are not found,
Felix Cottu and Marcus Fontaine, as
directors of the canal company, will be
liable to imprisonment of three years.
They are suspected OF having destroyed
the stubs to protect their reactionist
friends.
The reports of the company for 1885
and 1883 have been presented before
| the commission of inquiry. They show
that President Carnot refused to sup
port the lottery bill, and Sarrien also
disclaimed all responsibility in the mat
ter. De Freycinet admitted that the
money asked for would not finish the
canal, and when reproached by COM
mitteeman with being frightened by the
responsibility which the government
would incur, explained that the govern.
ment granted merely permission, with
out assuming an aid guarantee.
AN ITALIAN ALARMIsY.
ROME, Jan. 9.-Sef1or Ropman, Ital
ian ambassador in Paris, sent to the
government very pessimistic dispatch
as to the state OF affairs in France or
the eve of the reassembling of the
chamber. The crisis, he says, hal
reached an acute stage, which quite
possibly may be followed by revolu
tion. 1t behooves the triple alliance
he continues, to be prepared for any
eventuality. A manifesto to be issueC
by Prince Victor Napoleon he regards
, as probable source of great danger.
COLOMBIA sUsPENDs ACTION.
PANAMA, Jan. 9.-In view of the Pan
anna canal scandal in France, the Col
ombian government has suspended
action in the matter Of extending th'
. concession.