The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-03-14
HE GAVE IT AWAY.
BAIHUT CONFESSES TO HIS PART IN
THE PANAMA SPINDLE.
Nhe Money He Got Okt of the Deal-The Ex-
Mihister Breaks Down and Confesses His
Guilt-Exciiement In the Courtroom.

Nhe Money He Got Okt of the Deal-The Ex-
Miaister Breaks Down and COnfesses His
Guilt-Exciiement In the Courtroom.
Paris, March 9.-Interest in the Panama
trial is increasing, and the greater Gu
TioSity is shown as to the coming deVelop-
ments. 1t is reported that the trankhess
with which Charles de Lesseps told his
story has caused surprise and some con-
sternation in certain high circles and that
considerable anxiety has been felt IN some
quarters as to the subsequent testimony
Approaches to the palias de Justice' aS
well as to the courtroom were throiiseu ",'
morning, and there was Duzz Vi suo9lp
among the spectators which lasted uh,i ,ne
mresding judge, Dea Jardlns, tooh hiS
seat. Then silence was demanded III more
than tho usually imperative manner, and
the audience became quiet, as IL appreIeii-
sive that the courtroom might be clei!Ieu.
Marius Fontaine was the first witness.
He was q member of the board OF hianase
ment of the Panama. Canai O9inp i,l ~
the time the transactions with Bainut oc-
Cured He described the visit or fSiohuii,
VINO assured the board that Bnlhut "oull
introduce Il bill authorizing tne Nt. ..iy,
bonds if the Panama Canal Company "ouid i
mako n substantial pccunlary sacrlnce' ahu
that the money would be used to procure
publicity for the scheme. F0ntalne au
Initted that acting under the uireGtioh "
Charles de Lesseps he visited bionu'h. lie
found Baihut there. Baihut sad the money
in question would be uSeu Ill pioho'As WV
interests of the country: ,,o,
Charles do LeSseps thereupOn proceeueu
IN ,iscuss with BIondin the question OF me
million francs claimed by bainut. me
matter was eventually se'tleu 1T roA''''ne
residence. r,,,.,;,o
In reply to the presiding judge, Fontalne
Continued. .Some of the drafts, payable 10
bearer. were issued to pay Tor auNef'islls'
and others to satisfy the robbers VIII wa!
laid lis like footpads.'
This closed the interrogation OF fontalhe
for the time being and now followed the
great sensation of the day balhu' was
called upon to answer heterogeneous, 'no
presiding Judge addressing the ques'lon W
the accused. Baihut showed uiS 1pp,n,d;,,
of FIRST To throw the blame upon biondlh,
who had acted as the go-between III the IT.
Sotiations. Baihut sand: e p,o,,1;r
~ acted at the instigation OF Blondln,
to whom | gave 1900 francs; nave
wished to restore the mAicy recttNsu'
hut 1 feared thereby to accuse mysell;
I'm to this moment Baihut haI spoken
clearly and with apparent selt-con'roi'
Now he broke down and with pltlrui eA-
nression of sorrow and despair ne On
claimed in broken voice. -, .u,,.
I am guilty. Ny words do not express tiie
an . - reD,ntance | feel / do not yet
n e,njarStand how l could have fallen so
low. ] ask pardon of my country "nose
good name l have perhLPs S,.i'eI his self
As soon as Balnut Ict"
control he said: .,o
81 submit, in advance 10 any %
which the court may pass upon me os;a-
Blondin was questioned o by the he pf came
ing judge as to now nov n between
To, TO @ Panama company and baihHts
s,,ond for money lie Acknowledged th"'
he had received $500 francs Tor his ser SER
Iices in arranging matters pcIN'tn ,nJ
minister and directors: lie hao arrahSe'
.hI ,"aat;nr between Baihut and Charles
Nv 7 nssans in the belief that 1t would DE
for the best interests OF the cahai COMPANY.
Ee admitted that he had settled matters
connected with the p nh har Ia 'n' Rahut
S50 900 francs at Baihuts house ana
10Y 600 more in the lobby OF the senate.
Roibut recalled for croSS-eXamnatlon
nv the counsel for the PanaIna crS3i'oi >.
conmission on the transaction between HIM
and De Lcsscps. . M,
In the midst of Raihut's statement Fon-
taine sprang to his feet ana shoutG'i.
."That statement is the hasest falSehoouc
The witness has not spoken worn oi
Turning upon his aCcusers, Baihut said
slowly: -, :: A..
exact truth and nothing but the truth
FIoouet Tremble. as Ho Tells His Story
paris. March 11.-When the Panama trials
were called Yesterday Flory, government
accountant. who had been appointed TO eA-
amine the accounts of the Panama Canal
COMPANY repeated III mann the inquiries ana
statements already gwen n ms ms P Pnsa
Canal Company had expended one hundred
and five millions of francs III payment lor
newspaper advertising and Tor faFofip'e
notices in the newspapers ana otiier services
connected with general pulling of the enter
prise About five hundred and hity,clght
millions of francs--beiuG; less than halt the
total amount subscrlbed-had been eNpelieu
i'll actual operations on the canal. me
present assets amounted 10 TWO uuiiulcu
millions of francs
Floquet's Testimony.
Charles tloquet, eX-premier and ex-preSl-
dent of the chamber OF deputies. was lle
next witness He WAS nervous and pale.
Before examining him DCSjardnS had DE
l.esseps repeat his testimony as to the con-
tribution Of 100000 francs, made at Flo
quets request, by the Panama company
to the fund for the campaign against Bou-
hanger in the department Of Nord. IN con-
GLIDING his statement De LeSseps said:
Il render all homage to the deiicacy and
loyalty which distinguished Floquets con-
duet, but | declare positively that be made
10 me the exact proposals already made Tor
tloquet replied at once in a loud, but
unnatural tone:
II repeat the denial already made by, me
before the examining magistrate. The
manner of acting and speaking attributed
TO me by De LessepS are entirely foreign
To my personality. As De LesSeps puts
the matter it was much worse than if [
had brought pressure to bear upon him,
as he complains everybody else did. In
his testimony he has forgotten. h,weEcr.
that / did not 1 iSume office until April 3
1888. and that the election took place On
April 10Th, the voting on the lottery loan
bill on the 2',h.
Nevertheless we have proofs that Rein
ach sent out money under Your ministry
in 1885, intcrpOlated De I.esseps.
81 do not understand what YOU mean"
replied FIcquet.
Loud protests came from the body of the
court, and several persons shouted Tell
fhe TRUTH The presiding judges call
for order only evoked more shouts and his
voice lost in the uproar as he threat
ened to have the court cleared
A Regular Circus.
Both De Lessons and Flannel tried TO