The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-17
ACCUSED AS SPY.
Member of French Chamber of Deputies
y is Under Suspicion.

Paris, Sept. l7--Semi- i-oflicial announce
ment was made yesterday that Pau
Deschanel, president of the Chamber OF
Deputies, and the quaestors of the cham.
ber would meet on Monday TO decide
what action should be taken regarding
the Turmel affair, which for more than
week has been the principal topic
of discussion in the press. II has been
decided that it is thus far under the jur-
disdiction of the chamber, inasmuch as
Turmel is deputy, and as such enjoys
immunity from legal prosecution while
Parliament is in session.
The affair arose from the discovery
July in the deputies cloak room at the
chamber of an envelope containing 25
Swiss l00-franc banknotes. The finder,
an usher of the chamber, handed the en-
velope to the quaestors. Nothing was
said of the incident for weeks, and it
was only fortnight ago that it became
an affair of common gossip. The name
of the deputy owning the notes was not
made known.
The discovery of the bank notes was
recalled, however, as soon as the German
chancellor, Dr. Michaelis, made the state
IIltHl bidb was ihAbi ny
eye and ear witnesses of everything
which was said at the secret session of
the chamber 1t was intimated that the
bank notes had been given in payment
for reasonable acts on the part of some
deputies.
Eventually the name of NJ. Turnel was
made public in connection with the in
cident. He explained that he was the |
legal adviser for Franc-Swiss firms and
received money in fees 1t was his Gus
tom he said to leave large sums in his
locker at the chamber He added that
his last trip to Switzerland was on May
TO- and hence it was out of the question
that he could have betrayed the proceed
ngs in the secret sessions, which were
held in June. He wrote to the quaestors
hat as persons in Switzerland who were
IN position to give details of his trans
action was making difficulties he in
ended to go to Switzerland and bring
pack documentary evidence. M. Turmel
eft for Switzerland on Thursday, but
vas stopped at the frontier by the Swiss
although he had diplo.
natic passport.
To interviewers NJ. Turmel explained
hat as notary of the town of Roudeac
le cleared 10000 francs yearly, after l
aging all expenses, and so was quite :
ich. This story of riches is received {
With hesitation by the press, which de- Z
lares that investigation made in his t
in Brittany has shown I
hat he did not pay his expenses in $
he 1914 election until long afterward a
nd that he owed years rent on his t
partment in Paris when the war began.
deputies who are acquainted with him o
uestion whether he could have drawn a
p report of the secret session, saying c
e was seldom in the chamber. The dep t
ty has notified President Deschanel that o
e intends to interpellate the government d
n what he himself calls the Turmel af &
lir, and in regard to the refusal to per- "
it him to enter Switzerland. n
To representative of the Journal NJ. d
urmel said: fl
"The truth is that ! am victim of a,
achination against the whole Parlia. ts
ent. I was chosen because / am unat- Il
ched in the chamber and come from
e working class. AT 20 was maker r
wooden shoes, like my father" =