The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-03-14
The Panama Cana! scandal.

fARIS, MA 10 UH CAluTt TOpm
was thronged with SIS many as could OBJ
tain admit ance The prisoners seemed
themselves revived by :he interest which
their case had awakened and some |
thought that the fesrtures of Charles |
de Lfssepps bore look of triumph while |
even Baihaut looked less crushed than at |
any time previous since his pitiful con
fession Goliard testified that he knew
the secretary of Henri Cottu, and it was
at the iniative OF secretary that he saw
police commissary Nicolle with the view
of affecting an arrangement between
the governmert and the Panama direc-
| tors. This interview led to a discus
| sion which took place between Madame
| Cottu snd Soinoury, chief of the detect
| i've department The witness said that
he acted entirely on his own resp ppnsibil-
| itY in bringing about the interviews
Bourgeoies, late minister of justice, next
took The stand, amid murmurs OF excite
ment on the part of the audience. Brur
| geoies spoke with firmness and energy
and showed disposition not to reserve
anything that could explain his position
toward the Panama case and the defend
ants He tmphstically repudisted all
| tuS IESluudhious Ctu III thS w
hence of Madame Cotu He denied
having au' horized anybody to act in bis
behalf He said that he had only per
uitted Md ame Cot'u 70 see her hGsbaad
from motives of humanity. Il never
beard anything" exclaimed BnuTgeoies,
.sof interviews bet veer VI Cottu and
Spiroury until sta enents were made
in court. ''Insinustions, cried b lur
geois earnestly, ''sre simply infamous
: falsehoods | neve. gave an order Cal
= Mated to induce officers of justice tC
.hirk their duty or do any hing con
I trary to law" B jugeoises' bold st,nd
won loud applause. He said the whole
affair was the result Of a maneuvre, th'
author of which he did not know.
Madame Cottu was recalled, aud de-
] clared that Goliard had told her b.
I uould 90 and see Bougeois in regard t
her.
Goiiard followed Madame Cottu on IT,
b stand, and confirmed her statement T.
i the effect he bad told he would &c
a Bougeois, but, he added, Nobody au
thorized me to say 50.
Z BGugeois exclaimed :'If anybody know
z that l acted contrary to the dictates o
~ honor let him speak"
At these words the uproer In tn
audience was renewed, many taking pal
l with Bourgeois and others with his &C
It cusers Judge DesJardins conclude
Sc that the most effective way to sllay tn
st excitement was to suspend the hesrins
e. 1t took some time, however, for the e.
xt citement to subside. When the hearin
lie was resumed Soinoury was recalled L
n made long statement to the effect tn
81 neither Bourgeois nor any other M MIST
eo was in any way responsible for his inte
or view with Madame Cottu. He timse
nd had originated the idea of a col
ference with her and had arrang'
a meeting without comm unicating wi
his superiors For professional reaso
on he bad dnemed it best to keep the ms
tn ter a secret He believed that he W
to only doing his duty in trying to get
re the centre of the scandal. The chsrg
in that he had threatened Madame Cottu
e mad promised her any favor in retu
in for information which she might gi
u,t him were utterly false.
ok The chamber of deputies today by
his vote OF 29| 70 Z2o mas declared its COZ
to dence in and voted to support the g.
nm ernment. The vote was taken after
40 exciting debate in which Rlbot Prem
,ds and Bourgeois, the late minister of j
ior tice, took the leading part as speak
en-, in defense of the course pursued by
nav government in reference To the prose
ear ton OF the Panama canal defendants.