The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-11-13
HELD UP THE
ASPHALT TRU,I
President Casiro's Agent
Wanted 100000.
SUIT FOR $lI.000,000
Company Claims Il Bribsd the
Rsvolutioni,t, 10 Secure
Protection.
SUIT FOR 100000

NEW YORK. NoV. ~ Dol Allegations
thai high officials IN the Venezuelan
government have deliberately attempt
III 90 estoft money from III" company
the sun 81 siO1Ua=nw mad. In a
statement given oui by N. iIermnirs
Asphalt company la rrf-rvnr- 10 ih'
suit brought by the Venezuelan govern
mcut for sii.Oo.p dnmags.. Tor all
lns Ia a.. Mates rebellion.
The means us~i hy these officials.
ao'aniing e. a.. allegation. Included
blsckmaii. connscaiion 90 IN" run
paay's propcriy. the mannfarinr" 81
fal.- testimony aud N. making - Il.
rr.-- without r-gari Ia Law. III" al
legations made In the sinlrtn-ni ar
bas-,i upon letter. which. IL j. dsS'lar
81. wrr r-c-iv~i from \. II. Garner.
now ncc-lv-r holding the company
property for the Venezuelan govern
m.ni. but who In iisD was ili- rom'
psny's ag-ni 10 Caracas. aud the report
~ Colonel Victor N. Backus. who was
srui 60 Venezuela In ifsa as an indie
pendent sgcnt by the asphalt com.
pany.
III. statncnt concludes with an cs'
hausiiyc review ~ what II describes
NJ 'ibc asphalt coinpany's actual rcla
tons 60 the revolution" In this con.
nection IL IL explained that SiO10pn
was given 20 General Matos 10y the 81
hciais 81 the National Asphalt com
pany on the generals request. Fur.
ihcr sums. aggrcgniIng s:s0.U1. were
paid the revolutionary leader soon at
erward. This money was paid. the
statement says. 10 guarantee proicr.
ton 81 the company's property nj
time when the territory Ia which the
company's property Is located was In
the control 81 the rcyolutlonlsis. The
statement maintains that the company
at all times observed absolute neutral
ity. even going TO the extent of paying
customs duties 10 both the government
aud the rcvolutionlsis when the Gus
tom houses were controlled 10y the In.
surgcnts.
One Of the letters from Mr. Garner
TO the Berinudez company. dated Dec
-. 1900. when he was the company's
Caracas agent. which Is quoted In the
statement In support 81 the allegation
Of cxtortion. says:
They (the government agents. are
after money. That Castro II behind II
I am morally. convinced and little by
little I am getting closer 10 IL. II IL
now only n question of money and we
can have all the justice we want"
Another letter. dated Dec. 30. 1900.
quotes Mr. Garner as saying. II have
received a plump OFFER from an agent
(well known to be SUCH Of the dictator
TO the effect that he would guarantee
to put our ease through exactly as !
wanted IL and in such n way ms to In.
sure us against any future difficulties
In the matter of our rights and proper
ties all for the sum Of SiO0.OOO'
Money was paid for the protection Of
the company's property during the con
tlnuance of the revolution and for the
protection of its just rights thereafter
In case the revolution succeeded and
without any understanding or obliga-
ton with respect to its use During
the entire continuance Of the revolu-
ton the company and. so far as it Is
advised. all its agents in Venezuela. as
they were instructed to do. maintained
absolute neutrality.
The company was threatened with
certain destruction Of its rights by
General Castro and those conspiring
with him for its spoilaton. The officers
of the National Asphalt company
therefore decided to give to General
Matos the amount which he asked.