The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-14
American Citizens are Imprisoned
 in Nicaragua
MEN ARE BADLY TREATED
Charge Against Them Is Resisting Le- gal Process and Insulting Presi- dent of Nicaragua, Which
 Seems to Be Groundless.

Washington, September 13.-After con- sultation between the state and navy de- partments 1t has been decided that a warship shall be sent to one of the Costa Rican ports to convey American Minister Merry, at last accounts In San Jose northward to the nearest port on the coast of Nicaragua, or Honduras, to the place where William S. Albers, an Amer ican citizen and his brother are confined pending a trial on the charge of resisting legal process, and of insulting the presi- dent of Nicaragua.
 The officials of the state and navy de- partments decline to make any statement whatever on this subject just now, but it Is known that it has received serious at tention and that the lack of information as to the exact nature of the offense charged against Albers and the possi- bility of his not receiving a fair trial, have caused an effort to be made to get in closer touch with the prisoner. The gunboat Princeton. now at Panama, IS the nearest warship to Ocotal in the pro vince of Segovia, where Albers is im- prsoned But jhe last named town is seventy miles inland over rough noun tain range from the coast, and the trail is not passatfe by any vehicle. Ama- pala, on the Gulf of Fonseca, on the southern boundary of Honduras, appears to be the nearest port to Ocotal. The Port Limon company, whose agent Albers was, has sent lawyer named Brubakcr from Philadelphia to Ocotal to assist in hls defense.
 I of
 An American gentleman of much intel hgence and high character who has been travelling in Central America for the past few months, engaged in scientific work, has wiitten a detailed account of the Albers case~ts4- friends in Baltimore which has reached here He states that he is entirely familiar with the case and reports as fellows:
 1ne Limon company, of which Will liam s. Albsrs Is the manager, Is located at Jalapa Segovia, near the border of Honduras. This corporation is engaged In gold and silver mining, and in raising wheat and tobacco, and has made quite arge investments In good faith. ,,
 ''It appears that in March, 1905, com pany of armed men led by one claiming to be lieutenant in the Nicaraguan army, and alleging that they were sent by the government tobacco syndicate, demanded of Albers that he eprmit them to enter and carry away his stock of tobacco un- der seizure.
 "A1beri replied that he had no contra band tobacco that he obeyed the law, and that he paid the government in full; that he held regular official receipt for all tobacco in his stores.
 He furthermore said that the first man who tried to enter his door would be shot, but that he would permit the lieu tenant tD go through with one man and inspect the tobacco, in order that his as- sertions night be proved This was done, and no contraband tobacco was found.
 Permits Were Refused.
 ''Folloving the search of the Limon companys premises the executive at Man agua, tie capital of Nicaragua, issued a decree ordering that any one holding tobacco in stock should obtain p<'- init; and that should he fail to do this, his tobacco would be confiscated, whereupon several Americans holding tobacco applied for the permits and were refused them.
 These American holders thereupon ar ranged to sell their tobacco to the syndi- cate with the exception of Albers. But the treatment received by Albers, who had in hs place American employees who could enforce his threat if necessary to shoot, caused the syndicate managers to misrepresent and exaggerate the actions of Albery when they reported it to the President
 sAs a result charges of resistance to authority and violent abuse of the execu- tive (which Is a serious offense in many Latin-American countries) were made at the court of the district, situated at Geo. tai
 "JudciM warrants for arrests were is- sued and both the Albers were taken into custody at Jalapa, while peaceably walk ing the s-reet near their place of business. They were taken to Ocotal. where after, as far as now known, they are held in custody pending the verdict of the court, which 1t may safely be assumed will con- vict them"