New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-22
FORMER ASPHALFHE FAD Up
TELLS OF BIG CHECK.
Can't EnpIain Payment Said to
Hare aided RerolutionistS


inC. IN the suit Of the Venezuelan Government
against the New-York and Bermudez Company OF
the Asphalt Trust for 81 100000 damages for the
defendants alleged completely in the revolution OF
General Manuel \. Matos. Frank j Dupgnae AND
Rufus s. covins If. appeared counsel for Ven
ezuela and Professor John Bassett Moore and John
D Lindsay represented the NeW-Hork ana Der
Iludez Company.
Something of = sensation was caused by the ad-
mission of Thomas II. Thomas, one Of the Wit
gesses. who president of the NeW-lo Tk ana
Isermudez Company in 1901 when the latter Is al
legged TO have given financial aid to the NatoS
revolution that he signed check for I01 ,667 81,
payable to Nicoll, Anabe & Lindsay. without
knowing what the payment was for or without
knowing how the amount was entered IN the ac-
counts of he company Mr.. Thomas testified that
he signed the check only after he had received
signed order from General Avery d Andrews and
Arthur Y. SewaH vice president and secretary re
spectively, Of the Asphalt Trust.
This testimony important 10 the case OF the
Venezuelan government in that the latter is try
ing TO prove that tle check TO Nicol Anable &
LINDSAY was used in the purchase of the hlihuster-
ing steamer Ban Righ, used by General Matos
Mr.. Thomas not cross-examtned by MI Lind
& say.
Besides Mr.. Thomas the plaintiff produced as
witnesses Lorenz A Kuhn. Charles Y. Baldwin
and Michael N. Schweizer. all former employees of
the Network and Bermudez Company MY huhn
al one time engineer OF the company's steamer
Rescue ana later in charge of the machinery at
the asphalt lake at Guanoco. testified that Major
A
York ana Bermudez Company Port Spain Trim
dad had asked him to accept the position of chief
engineer on board the steamer Ban Fdgh, belong
ing 70 the revolutionists Kuhn introduced three
monographs two Of which he took at Guancco.
showing the insurrectonists the property Of the
asphalt company. One of these photographs, &C
cordnE 10 Kuhn. represents the headquarters OF
the New-York and Bermudez Company at Guanoco
on day when the forces of General Horatio Du-
charme. Of the insurgent army, were being paid
The payment to the troops. witness testified. was
made by the cashier of the Neu-York and Ber-
xnudez Company.
TELLS OF INSURGENT LETTER
Charles G Baldwin said on the stand that one
Miller, private secretary TO General Avery D. An
orews had received a note addressed TO the latter
while he was abroad. which inciosed IN an
envelope bearing the name Of Niooll. Anable &
lindsay and which read:
Five thousand dollars arms and d aTnm9ntdi9944;
s-br-eiza- told Of making a trip 10 New-York
on the same steamer with General Matos who told
hin, he carried letters to General Andrews Schweiz
er later saw the revolutionary chief at the once
. of the Asphalt Trust, At No. Il Broadway Kuhn
Baldwin and Schweizer admitted on cross-eXaIn-
instion BY Mr.. Lindsay, that they are IL the en-
lpioy of the Barber Asphalt Company.
| Kuhn further testified that he was authorized ny
Major Rafferty, TO render the revolutionists all
possible assistance
The witness admitted that he went to Port If
Spain with certain correspondence to give to Cap
tain Frederick Bartlett. Of the comPany's su-
perintendents at Guanaco. but said that he was
not permitted To lie his boat to the wharf there
without the consent Of q government officer.
You were arrested and put under guard there
were you 1lot?' Mr.. Lindsay asked.
L was and they demanded that ] produce the
correspondence I had replied MI Kuhn but L
declined insisting that was to give 1t to captain
Bartlett and 10 one else refused to give it up.
Asked as TO the alleged mstreatment of employees
of the company by government soldiers, the WI
ness said he had heard of It, and also Of car
>penfer named Edward Bryant. who had been tort
,,rod IN, soldiers of the government in endeavor
TO protect the company's lumber from theft. Bry-
ant had subsequently made a sworn statement
denying the story OF his i'll treatment
M Kuhn denied vehemently that he was actu=
a+ed bv any spirit OF revenge against his old
plovers in giving his testimony Ambrose Howard
Garner. appointed receiver at the Guanoco Lake by
the High Federal Court of Venezuela, told the Wit
ness that he in South America on other hrsl-
ress at the time OF the revolution. and nc helped
the government at the instance of President Castro.
who considered him the best man for the position.
In his redirect examination. ny Frank j Dupi-
gnac the witness was asked: Did you ever see
the revoIutionists furnished supplies by the com
ipany?'
4 have seen them given both money and food
replied Mr.. Kuhn.
Did you ever see or hear Of threats being made
against employees of the New-York and Bermudez
Company by the revolutionists?"
who do you mean by employes?" inquired the
witness.
Superintendent Jeffs, Mr.. Perry or yourself
explained the lawyer Kuhn said he had never
heard of any threats concerning any of the Off
company, he said. were treated about the same
by the soldiers OF the government ana by the
Questioned as to Major Rafferty, Mr.. Bartlett
Mr. Perry, the witness said he understood Nf
never heard Major Rafferty, order the man to be
Thomas II Thomas was next called In 1901 the
witness said. he directed the payment OF $1,000
firm - of Nicoi. Anabie & Lindsay. in New-York
The payment Vas made On an I order Sg9s e1rs ~
ard simply directed the payment OF the money Mr.
Did the order bear the signature or initials of
Avery D Andrews. then vice-president Of the Gen
eral Asphalt Company!
Did it bear also the signature Of Arthur ".
ssT gTs 6iar
Was the sum of s1o1 900 paid to NicoIl, Anable
& Lindsay November H. 1891?
After further questions the witness made no ef-
fort either produce the Orde* or make any fur
fher answer. Acting Commissioner Glichr1st was
then asked to demand the production OF the order
Mr. Lindsay objected. and said the order was not
inSe1tion Of the venezuelan !ernnaent to prove
mat this money went to General Matos who Qseo
IN the revolution. Mr. Thomas promised TO pro-
produced the order at the afternoon hearing. and it
7T,9 General creme Mr. Andrews and the others
who ordered you 70 pay this money tel You this
slr Dopisnoc said mad not been.. 4 was about
Bankrupt. and didn't want to make any Peylm1ent
want the receiver to dig up anything couldn I
properly explain
NAMES was shown the witness. and he asked
Concerning an tem therein showing expenses there
1ecessary because OF the revolutionary conditions
ssI5 HAT while he knew nothing personally about
the item vet the fact was they were compelled TO
iiftgat5an with the warner cuinlan Company.