Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-10
THE PANAMA TRIAL.
It WIN Begin To-Day-rhose Under In-
dIctment-Anti-Carn Efforts.

dtctment--Antt-tarnOt EHorts.
tBy Anglo-American cable 70 the Dispa,ch.l
PARIs, January 9.-The new Procureur-
General. M. Iannon, has summoned thirty
one witnesses for the great Panama tTlal.
which begins tomorrow. The parties 70
be put on trial tomorrow are Charles dc
Lesseps, director of the Panama Canal
Company Marius Fontane, secretary
general of the company; NJ Cottu, OF the
| hrm OF Reinach, kOhn a Co., and GustaVe
EiHel the distinguished engineer Charles
do Lesseps has caused three English d.
| rectors of ths SueZ Canal Company To be
| summoned a. witnesses IN bis behalf. Inc
Indictment charges Charles de Lesseps;
fOntane, aud Cottu with having employed
| fraudulent means to persuade people to
| believe IN the existence OF talloclOuS en-
| teTpris6s and imaginary influence or credit,
| thus causing divers persons TO subscribe
| who would not otherwise have done 50
| for an issue OF Panama canal bonds made
Juno 26, 1883, the defendants, by the fraud
| ulent means thus alleged, cheating ana
| deiraudIng Others out OF all or part OF
| their money thus subscribed. The second
| section OF the indictment relates 10 the
| Panama-canal loan of December H. 1888.
| The accused are charged with having tried
| to obtain subscriptions 10 TINS loan on
| false pretcnoes, their attempted sTindling
! being only frustrated by circumstances IN
| dependent Of their Intentions.
Thirdly. 1t Is alleged that the accused
| have mlsapproprlated or expended, with a
| view to prejudice the interests ot the
| bondholder5. money gwen into their
| charge US trust deposits for specific pur-
| chases.
! CHARGE AGAINST EIFFEL.
Gustave Edol is indicted as an accom-
! plIce IN the alleged swindhng operations,
and is accused Of having wlltully aud
| knowingly received share of the sums OF
| money unlawiully procured from tie pub
| lie, and with having wifuiiy. and know
! lnglv shared IN the profits OF the fraud
1 tldcl Is also accused OF having misappro-
| priated funds entrusted TO him for the
mandatory purpose of expenditure tor
stated labor. Nothing is said in this in
! dictment a. to the bribery or corruption OF
| public officials.
One Of the witnesses summoned IL said
| to bo Lucion Napoleon Bonaparte Wyse.
who claims the credit OF having been the
! first 10 conceive the idea of canal he,
! tween the Atlantic and the Pacific. 1t was
| he who, in his character a. engineer, OBJ
i tanned from the Colombian government
! the concession to carry ont the Panama
canal. IN the work of which he was en-
gagged until the final collapse.
ALLEGED cARNoT COMPLETELY.
The attempt TO involve President Carnot
in the Panama accusations causes much
| excitement. SOflr ~ made apparent there
ls not the slightest evidence OF corrupt
| completely IN Panama swindlIng on the
| part Of VI. CarnOt, tho utmost alleged III
auv definite way being that he may
have perfunctorly and minIsterially
| given official sanction to trahsac-
! tion on the part Of other officials
who were corrupt The enemies of the
republic have from the first been endea-
, ., ir,Vnlvn VI t'urupf hNIIpNfun
! that bv bringing about a presidential
} crisis they would strike fatal UloW al
! the republic. Besides. there are several
! candidates for the presidency III the hcld
| who would be delighted 20 see VI. Carnot
/ forced to resign.
CLESfCSCEtU EXAMINED.
/ NJ. Cemenceau was at his own request
examined by Magistrate Eranqu'ville to-
| dav in relation to his knowledge Of Pan
ama.canal matters. The examination last
| ed a long time. No details have been
/ given to the pubic.
BAIHUT ARRESTED.
NJ Baihut, ex-NInIster Of Public Works,
| was nut under arrest to-day after long
interview with Magistrate Franqueyllle.
| Baihut has heretofore been allowed TO 20
about under surveillance. , he authorities
/ are SAID 10 have been moved 10 sterner
/ measures by reports coupling President
| Carnots name with that of Baihut. the
arrest being intended 10 prove that the
! government Is not afraid 70 take action
\ against any one.
EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.
Charles de Lesseps has gwen 10 W. Fran
| uueyille the examining magistrate. q
! pocket-boOk, in which he kept notes con
| cernlng the relations Of the canal company
| to many public men. The notes
are IN cipher, but be Lesseps has
added KEY with which al Of them have
| been translated. The consequent evidence
is exceptionally important. and shows con-
! cluslyely the connection of many senators
| and deputies with illegal operations Of
| the company. Two celebrated writers on
| economic and international questions and
! TWO ex-Aliuisters are SAID 20 be among
! those compromised. These revelations
| are expected tO lead 10 more arrests.