The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-23
Unique Scheme s Overthrow
Castro sE discovered
UNCLE ST.. TAKES A HAND
insurgents Would Use Dies to Coin
Money and When They Get In
Power Would Declare the
Money Legal.

New York, August 22.-On a charge of
making dies to counterfeit the standard
silver dollar of Venezuela to finance a rev.
olution in that country, secret service Of
f1cers today arrested Capt George Boyn-
ton, former resident manager of the
Orinoco corporation of Venezuela, and L.
R. Thompson, an attorney, both of this
city Both prisoners were admitted to
bail in S5OOO
Joseph Keller and Sidney Keller of Kel-
Ter Brothers, die workers, were also ar
rested in connection with the case.
The two principals in the case aver that
the plan to duplicate Venezuelan money
is not counterfeiting. Later, after the
revolution proved successful. they said 1t
was to legalize this issue of money both
by executive decree and by act of the
Venezuela junta. The accused men char
acterize this plan as a war measure
They also allege that half of the South
Americans risings are similarly financed.
Chief Wllkie Is Present.
So important did the federal authorities
regard the arrests that Chief Wilkie of
the secret service came out from WASH
ington to be present on the ground when
the men were apprehended. With Chief
Wilkie was foreign looking man who
was said to be the secretary of the yene-
zuelan legation.
The story of the arrests and the facts
leading up to them are interesting. Ac-
cording to Chief Wilkie and Chief Glynn
II. of
service, Captain Boynton came to New
York in June last to finish and lay the
preliminary plans for a, revolution against
President Castro. He had with him an
authorization which purported to bear the
signature of leading revolutionists ap-
pointing him special commissioner to
America with power to do practically any,
thing and everything In order to get the
movement started
Puts Up Plausible Story.
Capt. Boynton, 1t is said, has been for
years the local and resident manager of
the Ornico concession capitalized at
s5,00O,0O0, and controlling practically the
entire Orinoco delta. 1t is charged that
when Capt. Boynton came to New York
In June to get the alleged revolution on
foot, he undertook to put in operation
plan similar to that whereby the revolu-
tion against Dom Pedro in Brazil was said
to have been financed, that of getting
dies, buying bullion and turning out what
silver coin was necessary. Later II the
movement proved successful the issue
could be legalized If unsuccessful no one
could be injured, 1t was argued, as the
coins were to be made of the same fine
ness as those regularly coined by the gov
ernment.
In scome way Capt. Boynton met Law
yer Lewis M. Thompson, an old acquaint-
ance, and interested him in the revolu-
ton. The captain said he wanted to find
a man who would advance $4,000 with
which to buy the silver bullion.
Sporting Men Interested.
Lawyer Thompson had difficulty in in
teresting men of means, and finally ap-
preached some men described as sport
ing men. One of these called to see Flynn
and talked with him about 1t. There Is
a federal law protecting the coinage of
other nations, and Chief Flynn decided
to investigate. Through agents he gained
the confidence of Boynton and to them
the latter conflded rs plans. Dies were
to be secured in New York, and with
$4,000 of silver bullion they Sere to go
to a place in delta of the Orinoco and
there coin the money. AS soon as the
$4,000 made from the silver bullion had
been expended. another purchase of $40-
900 of silver bullion was to be turned
into $4,000 of Venezuelan money. With
this money munitions Of war, ships and
other things necessary for revolution
were to be purchased, the captain de-
clared
Chief Flynns agents asked to see the
dies and the captain acquiesced. When all
seemed harmonious and working favor
ably, Chiefs wilkie and Flynn arrested
Boynton.