Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-21
IOWA MEN IMPRISONED MAY BE-
COME SUBJECTS OF INTER-
NATIONAL COMPLICATIONS.
SOLDIERS MADE SEARCH
Henry AIbers of Des Molnes and Geo.
AIbers Of keosauqua Charged With
Resisting Revenue Officers - Con-
sressmen Investigating the Affair.

Washington, D. G., Sept. 20.-The
state department was informed today
that the Nicaraguan court in the pro-
vince of Sogovia has convicted Will
liam s. Albers, American resident
agent at Japapa of Port Limon COM
pany, on the charge Of resisting the
legal process and insulting President
zelaya. Sentence has not yet been
imposed, however. Albers is said to
be in free communication with the
American legation at Managua and
has the advice of the counsel.
Imprisoned a Year.
Des Moines, Sept. 20.-Tmprisoned
for nearly year in Nicaragua prison
Henry Albers, prominent Des Moines
man, has now become the subject of
what may be an international compli-
cation. Mr.. Albers is at present I'M
prisoned and efforts through Iowa con-
gressmen are now being made to Sc
cure his release. Judge Brennan, as
a friend Of Mrs. Albers, who still re-
sides in Des Moines, yesterday ad-
dressed letter to authorities at Wash
ington asking the assistance of the
state department in securing the re-
lease of the unfortunate Albers.
Mr.. Albers and his brother George of
Keosauqua have been in Central Amer
lea in the territory through which the
frontier of Nicaragua and Honduras
runs for number of years engaged in
the gold mining and tobacco raising in
dustry. Their operations In the wheat
and tobacco industries have Of late be-
come quite extended and through some
channel become known to the Honduras
authorities. Some months ago, accord
ing to the last report, received by Des
Moines friends and relatives, a party
of the Honduras militia visited the
Albers' station and demanded admit
tance to the warehouses for the pur-
pose Of locating unbonded tobacco. Mr..
Albers Immediately notified the officer
in command Of the troops that he
would shoot the first man who entered
the warehouses, but supplemented his
threat by saying that If an examina
tion was necessary he would permit a
lieutenant and soldier to enter the
warehouse and make the necessary
search and in case nnbonded goods
were found to take them.@
No Unlawful Goods.
The search was accordingly made
but with the result that no unlawful,
goods were found The officers re
turned to the capit,, Shortly after
this incident the Alters brothers re
ceived notice that they were required
to have permit for the sale of to
bacco. This permit was denied then
upon application, but upon their max
ing q showing to that effect they were
nevertheless thro into prison be
cause of the threats made against the
Honduras soldiers The arrest ant
Imprisonment was made lat January
and until this day the men have re
mained in their prison. Efforts havs
been made through the state depart
ment and g result a warship hal
been dispatched from Washington t
the seat OF trouble. However, th'
prison where the Messrs. Albers ar
confined is some seventy-five miles in
land, thus necessitating an overlan
trip of that distance before the cap
/ tai can be reached. In the meantim
that the state department may be re
liably informed Of the true state @
affairs as they exist Judge Hugh Brer
nan has written letter to the author
tiles at Washington in behalf of tn
/ Des Moines relatives.