Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-13
Venezuela Willing to Grant Former
For Latter Alleges the n, Y.
And B;rmud:z Asphalt Co.
ALL SORTS or MEANS USED.
Company Admits Paying Cash to the
Enthusiastically Purchased
Peace.

New York, Nov. 19.---Alleeations that
high officials in the Venezuelan govern
,nent deliberately attempted to extort
from the company the sum Of 100000
ore made IN a statement given out to-
day by the New York and Bemudez
Asphalt company in reference to the
suit brought by the Venezuelan gov
eminent for s1l,OO0,OOO damages for
aiding In the Matos rebellion.
The means used by these officials, ac-
,ordlng to the allegation, Included
blackmail conhscatiou Of the com
rsnys property. the manufacture .of
flIse testimony and the making Of de-
,rtes without regard TO law. The alo-
cations made In the statement are
based upon the matters, which, Il is
declared, were received from A. r.
Garner, now receiver holding the com.
anys property for the Venezuelan
government. but who In 1900 was the
rompany's agent at Caracas, and the
representative of Col Victor NJ. Back
nus. who was sent TO Venezuela lu 1900
as an independent agent By the asphalt
company The statement concludes
describes as the asphalt companys
actual relations TO the revolution
In this connection 1t is explained that
100000 was given to Gen. Matos by
the officials Of the National Asphalt
company on the generals request
Further sums, aggregatiug 100000
were paid the revolutionary leader soon
aflerWard. This money was paid, the
statement says to guarantee protection
of the company's property at q time
when the territory I'm which the COM
panys property Is located was in the
control of the reyOlltionists. The
statement maintains that the company
at an times observed absolute neutral
lly eYen going to tho extent Of paying
customs duties TO both the govern
inent and revolutionists when the GUS
tom houses were controlled by the in
surgents.
one OF the letters from Mr.. Garner
lo the Bermude2 company dated Dec.
3D. 1900, when be was the Companys
agent. which is quoted in the statement
.u support of the allegation OF eNtor-
tiou says;
They Ohe government agents. are
otter money That Castro Is behind It
! am morally convinced and little by
llttle, | am getting closer to II. II Is
row only questsion Of money and
we can have all the Justice we want
Another letter, dated Dec. ~, 1900
quotes Mr. Garner as saying;
Il have received plump offer from
am agent (well known to be such) OF
the dictator, TO the effect that he would
guarantee TO put our case through cX-
actly as / want It, and IN such way
MS to insure US against any future diff
culties In the matter of our rights and
properties. all for the sum OF $500, 900"
While things were going on I'm this
way the statement says, the company
sent 70 Venezuela Col. Victor NJ. Back
us Of Indianapolis, as an independent
agent TO ascertain as far as possible
the true conditions there.
"ro this end" the statement says
'Coi Backus passed as the representa-
tave Of American capitalists who were
seeking investments In Venezuela one
M the fraudulent titles 10 various parts
Of the company's property most active
lv used as a club to eXtort money from
the company was La Venezuela Col
Backus therefore entered into negO-
tIations with Senior Figuera, one of the
grantees, He promptly found that
StnOr Figuera was only stalking
horse for persons HIGHER up Senior
Figuera professed TO act not only for
himself but also as the representative
Of Senior Felipme Arocha, Senior Arocha
was a foster brother of Mrs. Castro
wife Of the president and resided at
Mirahores, the presidents palace.
"On Jan. II, 1901, Senior Arocha
wrote to Figuera "a letter suggesting
that Col Backus come to Miranores for
"a conference. Col Bockls then had an
Interview at the palace with Arocha
and Gen. De Nazzares, Mrs. Castros
secretary During the interview the
two latter persons were In constant
consultation with President Castro,
who occupied the ADJOINING room and
who once appeared in the doorway"
As a result OF the conference. the
statement says, the agreement was
made whereby Col BaCkus was to pay
10 Mr., Arocha S42O 600 for LA NeuezI-
cla' mine II continues;
THE execution OF the conspiracy TO