Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-12
POLICE BALK CUPID
Nicaraguan Presidents Son
Not to Wed Today.
YOUNG MAN SENT HOME
HELD UNDER GUARD FOR FORTY
EIGHT HOURS.
Capt Boardman's Men Conhne Al
fonsa Zelaya Until Minister Corea
Sends Him Home.
YOUNG MAN SENT HOME

Alphonso zelaya, the nineteen-year-old
son of the president of the republic of Me
aragua. who came here to attend the West
Point Military Academy, started upon his
journey homeward Sunday night, after haF-
ing been held a prisoner by Maj. Sylvester $
detectives for about forty-eight hours. There
was no record made of the arrest of the
young man. nor was he kept in one of the
ordinary places of confinement that are
provided by the District. He was made
comfortable in apartment at the Cairo,
and Detectives Helan and McNamee took
turns in guarding him. The affair was
brought about because the young man had
intended becoming the husband of Miss
Baker, daughter of DR.. Baker. clerk in
one of the departments. The young lady
lives at the house of Mrs. Cunningham,
1901 & street northwest, and It was from
that house that the young man was taken
from his sweethearts company last Friday
night. Indignant friends of the young
couple are now engaged in discussing what
they term hgh-handed outrage on the
part of the detectives, and refer to the case
as being worse than some of the cases in
which unsuSpecting men have been shan
ghaied and taken down the Chesapeake bay
to dredge oysters. Zelaya able to make
only feeble resistance when confronted by
two stalwart detectives and Mr.. Mercurie.
who is employed by Senior Don Luis +. Co
rea, the Nicaraguan representative in the
United States.
What could he do under the circum-
stances" asked a friend this morning 1T
would have been useless for him to have re-
sisted and become engaged in a fight, and
so he did the only sensible thing.
But" added the friend, ''he Will not re-
main in Nicaragua long. He will return
and become the husband of the young
lady
Was Under Minister'S Care.
1t is stated that young Zelaya attended
the West Point Academy for two years,
and afterward he attended the Maryland
Agricultural College. He was here under
the care of the Nicara guam minister but
the latter only recently learned that the
young man had fallen In love with Miss
Baker two years ago. He learned that the
marriage had been set for tomorrow, but
fearing change might be made in the pro-
gram he took steps last Friday night to
bring about a separation of the young cou-
pie. 1t is stated that the young man has
no money and that he might have to draw
upon his father for funds in event of his
becoming benedict Minister Corea called
up Capt. Boardman on the telephone and
stated what he wanted to accomplish AT
that time he did not know If Alphonso We're
in his apartment at the Chaplin or at the
house of Miss Baker. Mr.. Mercurie of Bos-
ton, the employee of the minister, was desig-
mated to act for the latter, and he called
upon Capt. Boardman about o'clock FRI
day night. Detectives Helan and McNamee
were on hand to accompany him, and the
trio soon appeared at Mrs. Cunningham's
boarding house. Now complaint is being
made that the people in the house were not
properly treated while the detectives and
Mr.. Mercurie We're there. There was no
parleying INDUCED in, it is stated, but the
young man was compelled to enter a vehicle
and was hurriedly driven away against his
protest The police say that young Zelaya
threatened to commit suicide if he were
taken away, and it was partly to prevent
any such attempt that the detectives shared
his luxurious prison at the Cairo.
1t was not until after Zelaya had been
taken from the house that it dawned upon
friends of the young couple there what had
happened Then there came a storm of in
dignation. Some of them hurried to police
headquarters to enter a vigorous protest
against what had happened, but were no
better satisfied when they returned home
than they were before they visited the po-
lice officials.