The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-13
CASTRO TRIED TO
EXT0RfT 100000
Sensational Allegations Of Ber-
mudcz Asphalt Company
Made Public.
AMERICANS SAY BLACKMAlL
Company Claims High Officials
iii Venezuela Government
Are Guilty.
(special 10 ,rhe TImes -Dlspatch.l


PHILADELPHIA, November PAS
serting that officers high up" in the
Venezuelan government tried to cxtort
100000 from 1t, the New York and Ber-
mudez Company to-day made public n
statement 1t has filed In reference to the
suit of the Venezuelan government to
recover sll,000,oO0 damages for aiding the
Matos revolution against President Cas-
tro.
The statement asserts that In 1901 the
New York and Bermudcz Company. owned
by the Asphalt Company of America,
found itself in q most peculiar and diff
cult position. Every possible effort was
being made By the Venezuelan govern
ment TO blackmai the company. BY a
decree Of December 10, 1900, President
Castro had confiscatcd the conrpuny's
property. The intervention Of the United
States government had been turned aside
by resort TO judicial proceedings False
testimony was being manufactured, and
DEGREES were being made without regard
to law.
The companys agent in Caracas at this
time, according to the statement, was
A. II. Garner, now receiver" holding the
companys' property for the Venezuelan
tros fullest confidence The following
Is an extract from a letter from Mr..
Garner to the president of the New York
and Bermudez Company, dated December
%, 1900:
They (the government agents) are af-.
ter money. That Castro is behind 1t l am
morally convinced, and, little by little.
am getting closer to it. 1 have been ap-
preached from three different points. all
cmanating from the same source, and
yesterday was asked to private inter-
view. which was held in a secluded place
at the outskirts Of the city. with PARTIES
two who expressed their sympathies for
US and suggested they could arrange
things satisfactory for. the company. It
Is now only a question OF money, and we
can have all the Justice We want"
.Castro's Friend Wanted 100000
This same Mr. Garner reported to the
company, under date of December 20, 1900,
as follows:
For some days past have been APP
preached by certain individuals, with a
view to trying. by means OF their special
influence, to- see If some arrangement
could be made whereby the company
would secure the restoration of its unde-
niable rights. These parties began from
afar to sound me and ascertain my dspo-
silIOIl sIIOIIl Three 3ulSllnCIr OlTeCllOnS. DuC
all emanating from the same source They
evidently concluded that while was
approachable, l was rather dull of COM
prehension, and they, therefore, decided
to speak plainly; SO, after fencing about,
for a matter ola week Ttreceived plump
offer from an agent well known to be
such of the Dictator. to the effect that
he would guarantee to put our case
through exactly as wanted 1t, and in
such way as to insure US against any
future difficulties In the matter OF our
rights and properties all for the sum OF
four hundred thousand dollars. When /
Indignantly declined to entertain any such
figure. was told that i'll should make an
offer Of two hundred and fifty thousand
1t would probably be accepted
e About this tine according to the state
ment. the company sent to Venezuela an
Independent agent, to ascertain as far
as possible Castros ultimate purpose.
This agent was Coloney Victor M BAG
kns OF Indianapolis He represented
himself as the agent OF American CAPT
talists who were seeking investments in
Venezuela. He promptly became the OBJ
iect of flattering attentions in Caracas.
One particularly assiduous gentleman
was Senior Figuera who offered to sell
the asphalt lake La Venezuela part
Of the property Of this company for
$iVl.UH. or LOT S3op,LsU GOWN. ana a royalty
of a dollar ton on not less than 80 $50
tons Of asphalt n year. Colonel Bnckus
found that Senior Figuera was only il
stalking horse for persons 'higher up
Senior Figuera professed to act. not only
tas himself, but also as tie representative
81 Senior Felipe Arocha G. Senior Arocna
was a foster brother. of Mrs. Castro.
wife Of the president. and resided ut
Miraflores, the presidents palace. and
in April. 1901, he became Minister OF
aFormento. On January II, 1901. Senior
Orocha wrote TO Flguera n letter sus-
costing that Colonel Backus come 70
Miraflores for conference, On jar
uary goth, 1901, Flguera and Colonel Ra'-
kns signed paper for the sale OF ia
Venezuela" by the former to the latter
for $4,000, American gold. 10 be paid at
Port Of Spain. Trinidad. on or before
FEBRUARY "a, 1901, when the deed of sale
was to be executed and the money paid
down. The original papers In this matter
are now on file with the State Depart
ment at Washington.
How the Company Aided the
Revolution.
Tho Asphalt Compnnys actual rela-
~ rayol1tjOp buS 1aS-