Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-02-09
ACCUSED OF
"GIGANTIC
HOLD UP"
Col. Backus, Who Negotiated
With the venezuelan Gov
ernment Ring for Asphalt
Property. Tells His
Story

Indianapolis. Feb. 9.--Colonol Victor
IN Baclus of this city is one Of the
most important witnesses in the Ven.
ozu4ian asphalt controversy lie was
tho confidential man sent to Caracas
lby The asphalt company at the first
sign Of Caro's hostility to find out
exactly what was going on. His story.
Iig already 90 possession Of the state
department. and will probably become
public iu mll when congress gets
from iho President the full details Of
NE asphalt controversy as &c may 10
any day
Colonel Backus says that he repre-
soutcd himself as the omissary Of the
Iasphait interests who wanted to buy
mine. Do Venezuela. and as he ap.
poarrd to have plenty Of money Il was
not long before ao got into negotia.
tIuus with .ho government ring at Ca
mcat This ring had an asphalt
claim called ia Venezuela" Man
rioso 20 President Castro had already
offered this claim to the New York
and Rormudyz Co for 100000 down
and a royalty Colonel Backus open.
cd up negotiations 10 purchase this
claim through sonUr Arucha. a foster
brother of Mrs Castro. scnor Figuem
and General narrct a. Nazarls. Mrs
Casroa secretary. Herr g. Colonel
narluB story uf dia negotiations at
Mraaoos. President Castro's palace
a. related 90 roprc cntatiyo of the
Indianapolis News
Castro Directed the Deal
"Aruyha NagaHs. FIucm and I
vyrc in a large ruom seated n a "a.
bio lu an adjoining room was prcsi
dent Castro aud a. wc talked Arocha
would explain TO the president. who
came 90 tho doorway dividing the
r5om W. woro Ia and tho RON in
which be- was. what We wCro doing
and made hWlrcs. and In fact prrs.
idont Castro appeared To bo directing
tho DIAL
"rh" upshot Uf b. all wa nat I
aEro"I 90 pay $4,000 Tor IA Vrnof
uvla and promised that ! would have
th" money thoc In thirty days hai
paid some money on tho deal and
spent Food deal more working itI
Iup iu tho negotiations I expressed
a fear that the courts would sustain
ho Hrht of FUuera % la Norerue'a
NHeTa had told mo that ae had been
Instructed to say to ms by Aucha that
ihr supreme court OF Venezuela vo.ldI
sustain fuora'a claim and mat there
vuud b. uo dansoF in making tho pur
chase SO d was domoustmtei fo me
hat fiHwa was really a dguphead.
iu the affair that the rial owners
scv President Caetno and his broth
erin hw. ana pcrlaps Nazars
SEIZED BY President Castro.
4 went hack 10 New York and Pr,,s
itout Castro a. is known. se.sed rhe
IpWpony unier an old spanish law
that N'QuiHs the r'cip.eut of a con.
session 90 do ceyain work aut to nav
Icertaiu royalties. and hs c0ut,udcd
tha' th.s .aw had not beeu compiled
web A resiVcr was appointed and
that reviewer is A ~. Garner tfumer
'o,ai mauagvr uf the asphar com
pau0 With whom ! consulted every
Aay while ueg1usiug With Eeuera
amt ais silent pauuers And General
Nalaris la uOs lhs financial ar,gt II
ne NeuvEue,an government
Mheu l gut to New York I saw the
asphalt p"1plo and made a tlu repou
~ an ma, had boeu done turuef
the letters ant documents over 10
NJ Lancy Nicol AMT most ~ them
are now un hle a. Washington.
viii Tell More 70 Congress
rheoo Is no question but the Gen.
eral Asphan company owus the as
pAa.t AXE. ami ,as Presideut Cas-.
tro GoneuNl Anocha his brotheNin.
law, AMI Gvueral Nazaris. Jhe hnan.
e.A agcm % the goveynmsut. are AZ.
tempting a gigauuc holdup Th,ve
wtA h. moro of rhis when congress
soos into an invvstiga ION. and urtil
thai tins 90 not wish 20 SAY any.