The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-09-17
ACCUSES
FRENCH DEPUTY
Inquiry Into Findings in
Chamber May Prove
Turmel Traitor.

ment was made to-day by Paul Des-
chanel, president Of the Chamber Of
Deputies. that the quaestors Of the
Chamber would meet on Monday to de-
eide what action should be taken regard
ing the Turmel AFFAIR, which for more
than a week has been the principal topic
of discussion in the press.
Premier Painleve. Jules Steeg. Min
lister of the Interior. and Raoul Peret,
Minister Of Justice. have decided. after
discussing the matter, that 1t is thus
far under the jurisdiction OF the Cham
and as such enjoys immunity from legal
prosecution while Parliament is in ses-
sion. except in the case of fragrant dere-
liction of duty.
The affair arose from the discovery.
on July .. in the Deputies cloak room
at the Chamber. of an envelope con-
tanning twenty-five Swiss 1000 franc
banknotes. The finder, an usher Of the
Chan handed the envelope to the
quaestors. Nothing was said of the in
cident for weeks. and it was only a
fortnight ago that it became an affair
OF common gossip. The name Of the
Deputy owning the notes was not made
known.
Recalled by NichaeIts.
The discovery Of the banknotes was
recalled. however. as soon as the Ger
man Cha ncellor. Or. Michaelis made the
statement that he was fully informed by
~ nd WitnegSns nf everNthlng
which was said at the secret sittinss of
the Chamber. II was intimated that the
banknotes had been given in payment
for treasona BILE acts on the part OF some
Deputies.
Eventually the name NJ. Turmel was
made public in connection with the in
cident. He explained that he was the
legal adviser for Franco-Swiss firms
and received money in. fees. 1t was his
custom. he said. to leave large sums in
his locker at the Chamber. He added
that his last trip to Switzerland was on
May 10. and hence it was out of the
question that he could have betrayed
the proceedings in the secret sittings.
which were held in June. lie wrote to
the Quacstors that as persons in Switzer-
land who were In a position to give de-
tails Of his transaction were making diff
ficulties he intended to 60 TO Switzer-
land and bring back documentary evil
dence NJ Turmel left for Switzerland
on Thursday but was stopped at the
frontier by the Swiss authorities, al
though he had a diplomatic passport
Press says Hc Was Poor.
To interviewers NJ. Turmel explained
that as notary Of the town of Roudeac
he cleared 10000 francs yearly. after
paying all expenses, and so was quite
rich This story Of riches is received
with hesitation by the press. which de-
clares that Investigation made in his
constituency in Brittany has shown
that he did not pay his expenses in the
1914 election until long afterward and
that he owed a years rent on his apart
ment in Paris when the war began.
Deputies who are acquainted with him
question whether he could have drawn
I'D a report of the secret session, saying
he was seldom in the Chamber. The
Deputy has notified President Deschanel
that he intends to interpellate the Gov
ernment on what he himself calls the
Turmel affair, and in regard to the re-
fusal to permit him to enter Switzerland.
To a representative of the Journal NJ.
Turmel said he had gained 10000 francs
by operations in Switzerland. In trans
actions involving Switzerland. Italy and
France connected with the delivery of
cattle on contracts in which $4,000, 900
francs was at stake, he said, he OBJ
tanned 10000 francs. Furthermore. he
said he was consulted in the formation
of seven Franco-Swiss companies for
utilizing water power lie explained
that he kept o7,0o0 francs in Swiss
money because the exchange rate made
It worth $4,000 francs. He says he left
the 27.o00 francs in an envelope, which
disappeared.
Father Made Wooden shoes.
THE truth is that 7 am victim Of
machination against the whole Parlia
mert," ne aided ~ was chosen be-
cause am unattached in the Chamber
and come from the working class. At
90 7 was a maker Of wooden shoes, like
my father"
One OF the mysteries of the Deputy
conduct Is that he was regularly at the
Chamber until July ls, week after the