Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
Anglers VENEZUELANS
THEY CLAIM Paroles WAS
WANToNLY MURDERED.

NEW YORK. February 23.-The venezue-
lans in this city, indignant over the killing
OF their compatriot Gen. Antonio Paroles
few days ago in Venezuela, have individ-
ually and collectively entered protests with
the Spanish newspaper La Semana against
what they characterize as a wanton assas-
sination. The first of those to enter his
protest was Gen. Ramon Ayala, who was
first vice president of Venezuela in the first
Castro administration, member of congress
and one Of the organizers Of the liberal
party. Some Of those who followed his lead
were DR.. Carlos Leon, ex-cabinet minister
and former member of the supreme court;
Caesar Zumenta, Gen. Zoilo Vidal and
Nicanor Bobet.
Gen. Ayala who is still one Of the strong
est political figures in Venezuela, discussed
at length yesterday the killing of Gen.
Paroles and the political situation in gen.
eral. Gen. Ayala holds President Castro
and the men close to him responsible for
the death of Gen. Paroles, IAN atrocious
crime" he said, for which the people
of Venezuela, regardless of political affilia-
ton. will wreak vengeance on the heads of
Its perpetrators
No Capital Punishment.
There is in Venezuela continued the
ex-vice president "a law against capital
punishment for any crime. President Jose
Tadeo Monagas in 1S4S had the death pen
atty for political offenses abolished, and in
1864 President Falcon abolished capital
punishment entirely; therefore the killing
of defenseless man while a prisoner is
nothing less than an ASA ssination, for
which only the cabal surrounding President
Castro is responsible. / wish to protest be-
fore the American people, to let them know
that we do not look with cold blooded
equanimity on this terrible stain on our
countrys name.
IF President Castro or his men believed
that the killing of Gen. Paroles would have
the effect of shilling the opposition to him
they were mistaken. His death was ac-
complished not only in a brutality criminal
way, but against the law and constitution
of the republic, and will arouse even per-
sons who otherwise would not take part in
political strife. They have done we'll to
have the gunbOat Restaurador in readiness
at Macuto to take the body of President
Castro away when he dies. His death, l am
sanguine, is matter of only a few days.
They have planned to remove his body to
Valencia instead of to Caracas, the capital.
Gomez in Full Charge.
This precaution was taken to avoid the
hostile demonstration that would occur at
Caracas against the persons responsible for
the death of Gen. Paroles under such dis
graceful circumstances. 1t shows, further.
that Vice President Gomez will be in full
charge at the capital, and that the follow
ers of Castro will probably leave the coun-
try so soon as he dies. The situation Is
bad, and only Gen. Gomez can now save
the country by assuming power. He surely
will pu1sh the assassins. The present
regime has done nothing to apprehend and
punish Them
Gen. Ayala added that President Castro
has been paying only such debts of VeneZ-
uela as the latter is compelled to pay her
foreign creditors under the Washington
protocols. Other debts go unpaid, he said.
Gen. Jose Manuel Hernandez Gel Mocho)
expressed sentiments similar to those of
Gen. Ayala regarding the death of Gen.
Paroles. Gems. Hernandez and Paroles
were political prisoners at the same time at
San Carlos fort at Maracaibo a few years
ago.