New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-29
FOR ASPHALT COMPANY.
Witnesses IN Defence Maize Hay
Statements at Hearing.

At the continued examination yesterday OF wit
nesses in the $uO0Oo0O damage suit of the vene-
z1elan government against the Network and Ber-
raudez Company before Commissioner GiIchrst, in
the Federal Building three former employees of the
Asphalt Trust testified for the defendant. The wit
nesses said that the company had never aided the
instruction Of General Manuel A Matos, and that
express orders had been to the employees Of the
New-YOrk and Berrnudez Company, in Venezuela
not to give the rebels any assistance. Much Of the
evidence adduCed was OF n hearsay character and
would not be admitted in any equity proceeding in
the courts Contradictions We're also many. The
commissioner. however. has no alternative but TO
admit all testimony. which must be stricken cut
In Caracas, where the case is being tried,
Some amusement was caused by a statement made
by Charles O. Link the first witness. who was
stenographer of General Francis Y Greene while
he was president Of the Asphalt Trust He said he
remembered while in the employ Of the trust that
a dispatch was received ny the company from Ven
ezueIa, which that the insurrectionists would
# successful. make AMI Lorenzo Barber President
OF Venezuela. Counsel on both sides laughed at
this IudfcrOus testimony. Mr. Link said that he
did not remember that the cable message asked for
money, arms and ammunition for the rebels Mr..
Barber was at that time no longer connected with
Joseph Perry. who from 1897 to 1905 had been
successvely cashier, bookkeeper, assistant super
asphalt property a GuanOco, was the next witness
Perry admitted that the rebels had been trans
said = VS. necessary for me rrotactior IF me
witness testified that II war supplies were carried
on the steamer Viking, belonging TO the New-York
and Bermudez Company it was contrary TO
the orders Of Major Malcolm A Rafferty,. general
manager Perry said that he had givea food to
the tnsUrrectonists, but only TO avoid trouble with
the latter.
AS to dates, the memory OF the witness was hazy.
He testified for instance. that he could identify
three photographs taken at Guanoco which the
plaintiff has put in evidence They show. il is
alleged, that the rebels made their headquarters
the Office Of the company at GUanOCO and were
paid off there. Perry said he present when
they were taken That was in August, 1904, he
testified, long after the Uprising had been sup
pressed and after he had left CIuanoCO. Later,
examination by Mr.. Dupgnac, he said it was
the year previous. The company Perry said, paid
taxes TO both the government and the rebels
The LAST witness was William J. Ewart, who had
been the New-YOrk and BeTmudez Company man
aging director Caracas. Mr. Ewart reaffrmed
an AFFIDAVIT previously made by him. The affidavit
stated that when Mr. Ewart left here for South
America 70 become general manager Of the
pany, General Francis Y. Greene, then the presi-
dent of the General Asphalt Company told him
that Il would be demanded Of him that he keep
clear Of all political complications, and that he
sb0uI6 as the COnpany's representative recognize
the existing Venezuelan government All other
agents of the company, the witness said in his
affdavit. had had similar instructions given them
THE examination of witnesses viii be continued
to-day at Philadelphia.