The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-19


Involved in observation-disclosures Into
Jail Without Trial. American Citi-
zct,s are Believed to be in Danger.
After consultation between the state
and navy departments, it has been de-
cided that a warship shall be sent to
one of the Costa Rican ports TO con-
vey American Minister Merry, at las.
accounts in San Jose, northward to the
nearest point on the of N1carag-
VA or Honduras, TO the place where
William S. Albers, an American citl-
zen, and his brother are confined.
pending a trial on b charge OF re-
sisting legal process and of insulting
the president of Nicaragua. The Oil
Gals of the state and navy department
decline to max any statement what
ever on this subject just now, but it
is known taht it has received serious
attention, and that the lack Of infDr-
nation as to the exact nature Of the
Ofense charged against Albers and
the possibility Of his not receiving a
fair trial nave caued al effort to be
made to act in closer touch with the
prisoner.
The gunboat Princeton, now at Pan
anna, is the nearest Warship to Ocotal.
in the province of SegOvia, where Al
bers is imprisoned. But the lats nam
ed town is seventy miles inland, over
rough mountain range form the coast
and the trail is not passable by any
vehicle. Amapala, On the Gulf or
Fonseca, on the southern boundary
of Honduras, appears to be the neaf-
est port to OcOtal. The Port Lim,n
Company, whose agent Albers was,
has sent q lawyer named Brubaker
from Philadelphia to Ocotal to assist
in his defense.
TRIED TO SEIZE TOBACCO.
An American gentleman of much in
telligence and high character, who
has been travelling in Central Ameri-
ca for the past few months, engaged
in scientific work, has written a de-
tailed count of the Albers case to
friends in Baltimore, which has reach
ed here. He states that he is entire
ly familiar with the case, and re-
ports as follows:
The imOn Company, of which Viii
liam S. Albers is the manager, is 10
Gated at Jalapa, Segovia, near the Dor
der of Honduras. This corporation Is
engaged in gold and silver mining ami
in raising wheat and tobacco, and has
made quite large investments in good
faith.
at appears that in March, 1905. q
company of armed men, led by one
claiming to be a lieutenant in the Mic
araguan 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 under seizure
4Albers replied that he had no con-
traband tobacco; that he Obeyed the
law; that he paid the government IN
full; that he held regular official re-
ceipts for ali tobacco in his stores.
He furthermore said that the
first man who tried to enter his door
would be shot, but that he would per-
NIT the lieutenant to 90 through with
one man and inspect the tobacco, in
order that his assertion might be prov
ed. This was done, and no cOntrabanI
tobacco was found.
ACCUSED OF RESISTING AUTHOR
ITY.
"Following the search of the Limon
tCompany's premises, the executive at
Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, is
sued a decree, ordering that any L
holding tobacco in stock should obtain
a permit, and hat should he fail to 90
this his tobacco would be cOnfiscated
whereupOn several Americans holding
tobacco applied for the permits and
were refused them.
"These American holders thereupon
arranged to sell their tobacco to the
syndicate, with the exception of AL
bers. But the treatment received from
Albers, who had in his place Ameri-
can employees who could have enforc-
ed his threats if necessary, caused
the syndicate managers to misrepre-
sent and eXaggerate the action OF Al
bers when they reported it to the
president.
"AS a result, charges OF resistance
to authority and violent abuse OF he
executive (Which is a serious offense
in many Latin-American cOuntrleS)
were made at the court of the district
situated at OctOcal.
Judicial awrrants for arrest were
issued, and both ten Albers were tax
en- into custody at Jalapa while peace
ably walking the street near their
places of business. They were taken
to Octocal, where, as far as is now
known to me, they are held in custo-
dy, pending the verdict of the court,
which, it may be safely assumed. VII
convict them.
The Albers case has been before The
state department several weeks. gu
of the arrest of Albers grew another
complication involving Chester f.
Donaldson, the American consul 1T
Managua, whose e~xequatur, when he
offered violent protest against Albcrs
arrest, was Cancelled by the Nicarag-
uan government. Accordingly, Mr..
Donaldson's official usefulness at Man
aqua came to an end, but he mas FUR
nished a vivid report of the case TO
the state department. The action OF
the government against Mr.. Donald
son was based on the allegation that
he. too. had DETAINED the executive OF
the country.-Washington Post.