Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-11-18
BLACKMAILED THEM
Venezuelan Officials Accused
by Asphalt Company.
WANTED FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
Corporation Had to Safeguard IT.
self and Property by Paying the
Rebel Leader, Matos, a sum
of SI30,O0O.

NEW YORK, Nov. 10. - Allegations
that high officials in the Venezuelan
government have deliberately attempt
cd TO extort money from the company
the sum of S400,000-are made in a
statement given out by the Bermudez
Asphalt company in reference to the
sEit brought by the Venezuelan govern
Inent for S11 100000 damages for aid
tag in the Matos rebellion.
The means used by these officials,
according to the allegation, included
blackmail, confiscation of the com
pany's property, the manufacture of
false testimony and the making of de-
cSees without regard to law. The al
legations made in the statement are
based upon letters which. it is declar-
ed. were received from A. III. Garner,
new receiver holding the company's
property for the Venezuelan govern
meRt but who in 1900 was the com
pany's agent at Caracas. and the report
of Colonel Victor NJ Backus, who was
saRt to Venezuela in 1900 as an indie
pendent agent by the asphalt com
pany.
The statment concludes with an ex-
kaustive review of what it describes
as ''the asphalt company's actual reIa-
tioas to the revolution In this con-
Dection 1t is explained that 100000
vns given to General Matos by the of
tsciak of the National Asphalt com
pany on the generals request. Fur
tAcr sums, aggregating $4,000, were
paid the revolutionary leader soon aft
erward. This money was paid, the
statement says, to guarantee protec-
tlsa Of the company's property at a
lime when the territory in which the
company's property is located was in
The control of the revolutionists. The
statement maintains that the company
n all times observed absolute neutral
KY, even going to the extent of paying
Customs duties to both the government
and the reyolutionists when the Gus
tsm houses were controlled by the in
sIrgents.
One of the letters from Mr.. Garner
to the BermudeZ company, dated Dec.
Is. 1900, when he was the company's
Caracas agent, which is quoted in the
statement in support of the allegation
of extOrtion, says:
They (the government agents. are
after money. That Castro is behind it
I am morally convinced and little by
little I am getting closer to it. 1t is
now only question of money and we
can have all the justice we want"
Another letter. dated Dec. 20, 1900
4aetes Mr.. Garner as saying, II have
voceived q plump offer from an agent
4wefl known to be SUCH Of the dictator
10 the effect that he would guarantee
70 put our case through exactly as
wanted 1t and in such way as to in
s1re Us against any future difficulties
a eAe matter Of our rights and proper
6es all for the sum Of $4O0.000."
Money was paid for the protection OF
dhe c0mpany's property during the con-
tinuance of the revolution and for the
Hotecti0n Of its just rights thereafter
N case the revolution succeeded and
without any understanding or obliga-
gi0n with respect to its use. During
he entire continuance Of the revolu-
t1on the company and, so far as it Is
advised, all its agents in Venezuela, as
hey were instructed to do, maintained
aAsolute neutrality.
The company was threatened with
certain destruction of its rights by
GENERAL Castro and those conspiring
with him for its spoilation. The officers
Of the National Asphalt company
shercfere decided to give to General
Astos the amount which he asked.