The sun., 1905-09-14
WARSHIP TO RESCUE ALBERS.
GOVERNMENT MAY DECIDE TO
SEND ONE TO NICARAGUA. r.


pute With National Tobacco Monopoly
brother Also Locked Up-Minister
Merry VIII Try TO SEQ the Prisoner.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.---There is good
raason to believe that the State Department
has perfected plans for sending q warship
to assist William L. Merry, United States
Minister to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in
occurring satisfaction from the Nicaraguan
C,oyernment, which now holds William y.
Albers, an American citizen, together with
his brother, in prison at Ocotal, on charges
believed by the State Department to be
thoroughly unfounded.
Ocotal is small place in the province OF
segovia, Nicaragua, a few miles from the
Honduras line. Albersha been in jail there
for many weeks on charges OF resist ing
the authorities, defaming the Executive
and threatening to shoot some officials
n the Government who went to his place
OF business to carry away unjustly ssa-
sons crop Of tobacco. '
The Albers case has been before the
State Department for several weeks and
has now assumed somewhat serious pro-
nortons. 1t has not been established
that this country proposes to make naval
demonstration to secure the release OF
Mr.. Albers, but it Is believed that war
ship will be sent TO Costa Rican port,
where Mr.. Merry will be taken aboard, and
set down as near as possible to Ocotal, on
the Nicaraguan coast, from where he will
travel overland to the two Americans inn
prsoned. Ocotal Is about seventy miles
from the coast.
II this plan is carried out the gunboat
Princeton, now at Panama, will likely be
selected for the mission. Mr.. Merry Is
now at San Jose, the capital Of Costa Ricai
and from there he has been conducting
an Investigation OF the Albers case. The
State Department refuses to make public
Mr.. Merry's report on the Albers case, and
absolutely nothing il forthcoming oon-
oerning what this Government intends to
do about the matter.
1t has been pretty we'll established. how
ever, that the two Americans are In jail
for nothing more than baking the plans Of
certain Government officials interested
especially in the Government tobacco
monopoly Albers refused to accede to
certain demands on the part Of these Of
fcals, or their hirelings, and the matter
was carried to President Zelaya, entirely
misrepresented to him, and the arrest Of
Albers resulted. ,...
william s. Albers is tho manager in
Nicaragua Of the Limon Company Of Phila-
dephia, which 10 extensively Interested
10 gold and silver mining and wheat and
tobacco growing in Nicaragua. A brother,
whose name is not known here, is associ-
stsd with him and was arrested at the same
tims. The heedquarters Of the company
4 are at Jafapa, In ths pro1inos of SssoviA.
The Nbers brothers were arrested many
wesss sso, the exact date not being deA-
nitely known. Mrs. William s. Albers.
who vas in Nicaragua with her husband.
Is on her way to this country.
Out Of the arrest OF A1bers grew another,
involving Chester E. Dona ldson, the Aineri-
can Consul at Managua, whose exequatur.
when he offered violent protest against
Albep's arrest was cancelled by the Nicar-
agRn Government. Accordingly; Mr..
Donaldson's official usefulness at Mana qua
or anywhere else in Nicaragua came to an
end, but he has furnished <ivid report Of
the case to the State Department. The
action Of the Government against Mr..
Donaldson was based on the allegation that
he too had DETAINED the Executive Of the
country This "cussing out" Of the head OF
the Government is most serious o1ense
in many countries in Central and South
America
Much light was thrown on the Albers
case by a letter which became public here
to-day from an American traveller in Central
America, who looked into the case Of Albers
and wrote to friend in Baltimore OF 1t.
The letter has come to Washington, and It's
contents became known to-day. The man
who wrote the letter is in Central America
on scientific mission. He is Of good
standing and character, and what he says
can be taken as absolutely reliable. The
facts set forth in the letter show conclu-
hrely that Albers was unjustly thrown
into Jail. This was weeks ago, and the
Nicaraguan Government assured the State
Department that the man would have an
immediate trial, but the State Depart
ment Ia not altogether satisfied with the
situation.
or the original trouble between Albers
and the authorities the writer says:
IL appears that in March. 1905. a COM
pany Of armed men, led by one claiming to
he Lieutenant in the Nicaraguan Army
and alleging that they were sent by the
Government tobacco syndicate demanded
Of Albers that he permit them to enter and
carry away his stock Of tobacco for the
season.
'Albers replied that he had no contra
band tobacco; that he had paid the Gov
eminent in full; that he held regular official
receipts for all tobacco in his stores. He
furthermore said that the first man who
trled to enter his store would be shot, but
tnat he would permit the Lieutenant to 60
through with one man and inspect the
.ooacoo in order that his assertions might
oe proved This was done, and no con-
uaband tobacco was found.
1T will be observed in this connection
mat Nicaragua is a country. overburdened
WIN Government monopolies, the tobacco
monopoly being one Of the most unpopular
ana profitable In this and in the liquor
monopoly it is freely stated that high
omclas are largely concerned, hence they
A'e naturally interested in protecting them.
Following the search of the Limon Com
pahy's premises, the executive at Managua.
ne capital of Nicaragua. issued decree
Woerlng that any one holding tobacco in
s'ock should obtain permit; should he fail
"uo 'his his tobacco would be confiscated.