The Indiana State sentinel., 1876-07-19
THE VENEZUELAN vILLAINIEs
ORTIZ AND THE EXPLODED
CHARGE


FOR GOVERNOR OF INDIANA.
The New York Sun Of last Sunday, by
its Washington correspondent, gives the
following unequivocsl history OF 3 part OF
the operations of the Venezuelan ring of
robbers, OF which Mr.. Godlove s. Orth was
a leading member: In order that the pub
lie may have a clear idea of the villsinous
character OF the operations OF the Venezu-
elan ring of which the hon. Godlove s.
-Orth, Republican candidate for governor of
Indiana, was prominent member, / send
vou detailed account OF three of the
claims which were passed upon by the
black mailing commission, and the collec-
tion of which Orth endeavored 60 have en-
forced by making war upon weaker weaker
republic. First, there is the William
z. Willett claim. Mr.. Willet many
years ago hired a house in Caracas,
using the lower part as q storehouse for
agricultural imple which he had i'm
ported from New York, while he let q room
in the upper part to Masonic lodge.
When be had sold out nearly the whole OF
his stock, there being indications of ris-
ing In the provinces, it was thought best
TO strengthen the military forces In the
capital, and the house occupied by Wiilet
was hired by the authorities for use by the
military. An old resident OF Caracas in-
forms me tDat at this time the stock re-
exceeded $1,000 in value at the utmost.
But when the troops were qusrtered in
the building Willet removed what goods
he had remaining on hand, consisting
principally of ploughs, and vacated the
premises. Alter q lapse of time, and a
change OF administration, however, Will
let male claim that he had suffered losses
by the depredations of the troops, though
am unable to give the amount at which
ne estimated his losses. His claim for in-
Identification was not allowed, and thus
the matter remained when he died, and
thus it would have remained to the pres
ent day had 1t not been for the mixed
commission. When the commission was
organized a power of attorney from
Willet's heirs was sought and obtained
in favor OF Wn. p. Murray, with
clause authorizing David M. Tslmage, the
American commissioner, to draw the cer-
tiicates issued on awards from the board.
Toen the claim was fixed uD- The sum of
$4,000 was demanded tor the destruction
OF all the goods in the house, 81, ,607 for a
gssometer, S42 600 for freight, commits
sions and duties paid on goods, 50 600 Tor
debt due by the Masonic lodge which had
used part OF the house for lodge room,
8, ,979 66 for rent, 81 3S5 76 for repairs to
the house, $29 6S for moving effects from
the house, and s55 021 81 Tor interest, which
Was charged at the rate of Is per cent. per
snnum, making
TOTAL OF OVER S150,000.
In the examination of this claim by the
mixed commission, which was composed
of David NJ. Tslmsge, on the part OF the
2 United States, aud j. @. Villafane, on the
part OF Venezuela, with young MAJ
named Machsd0, who had been secretary
of IaImags's gas company in Caracas, for
umpire, no original invoices were pro-
duced, nor books OF accounts, nor receipts
Tor duties paid, nor vouchers OF any kind
TO substsntiste ths claim. 1t was not
even shown tbst Willst paid the owner
rent for the house while it was
occupied by the troops; in point of tact
he did not. No valid proofs what6ver in
regard TO the pretended losses were pre-
sented to the coDmission, unless we call
such an sffiisvit said to have been sworn
to By brother of Mrs. Willie, wb ch was
drawn by the attorney, Murray, and taken
before Thomas n. StIlwell, tbe American
minister, and a member of the ring, ex
psrte, instead OF being done oe;ore judge,
with not CO TO the treasury minister as
was legally required. The VIII le affair
was kept secret from the time that The
ring took it up until it was brought before
the commission "a an International claim,
while in reality il was strictly of
q private nature, such as the commission
was inc smpetenL TO pas upon, AND such
as the government OF the UDIfed states
could not enforce the payment of without
violating the law of nations. The commits
sioDer Of Venezuels protested against the
consideration OF the claim on the ground
that it was fantsstical aud void OF sill
merits; but nevertheless dr. Tslmsge
admitted it as just to lhe amount oi
$149, ,375 90. II tnen went up to Mr.. Tai
IMAGES youpg man Machsdo, who acted
as umpire, aud &c went through the farce
of making a further III filng reduction, al
ter which certificates for $40 900, payable
TO the bearer, we're issued, of which
amount certificates 70 the smount OF $685.
900 were delivered TO tue widow of Willet,
Commissioned Tslmage retaining $50 600
for his own use and that OF bis confederate
in Inc swindlc. A very peculiar claim was
that enter ed In the name of Bea g., Mobiles
IL Garrison. Col. VIM. u. NcblCs of St.
Paul, Mimi, made a contract with the
government oi Venezuela for excius We
privileges 10 connection with the en-
pioyment OF two steamers to ply be-
tween New York ard Laguayra, the
one to carry freight and the osher mer-
chand So, with a day tixsd for CARVING
the contract into effect. DIR. John O.
Il aies end Mr.. G. K. Garrison subse-
quently became interested in the contem-
plated enterprise. Tne governments o.
Venezuela b STATED about making this
contract, aud, in order 40 prevent unpleas-
ant results in Case a misunderstanding
should occur, caused TO be- deserted clause
that should any IF rsDces or misunder-
standings OF any kind whatsoever grow out
of this transaction, either directly or
Indirectly, the subj &C. matter of differences
should be decided in the city of
Caracas, or in L.gusyra, by q commits
sion consisting of two srbitrstors, one
to be chosen by Noble aud his as ocistes,
and the other by the government OF Vene-
szuela; and should the ar bitrators disagree,
that q third arbitrator should be appointed
by the minister OF Spain ia Carsca-, or by
: one OF the diplomatic agents OF Den mark,
Bremen, Holland, or Belgium. It was
furthar stimulated hal The decision of The