The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-23
BIC PLOT DUO UP.
Conspiracy to Overthrow the
Government of Hayti.
Operations Then to Extend to
San Domingo and Cuba.

washington, JAN Zo.-otdrtlnS Oe-
velopments in the plot to overthrow the
government of President Nord in Hayti
have followed the investigations of the
secret service agents in New York in
connection with the arrest of Jose M.
Giordani on the charge of counterfeit
ing Haytien money The officers say
they have ascertained that the prisoner
was the agent of a formidable conspir-
acy whose operations probably would
have extended beyond the limits of
Hayti into Santo Domingo and even
into Cuba had the revolution in Hayti
been a success and the agents In New
York remained unmolested.
1t was found among other things, the
secret service operatives declare, that
certain persons ~ in Haytt mostly
{ FTenehrnen and ,CoTsicans, and one OF
them a brother of rCSiordani, We're ac-
tive agents of the alleged consplrators
and were designated in the paper
found among Giordani's effects by num-
bers. BY careful inquiry the secret
service men were able to connect these
numbers with the proper persons and
the first result was to fix upon Charles
Mot the American consular agent at
ST. Marc, as one Of the persons to
whom number had applied. Upon
learning this fact last evening, the
state department Immediately cabled to
American Minister Furness at Port Au
Prince to dismiss this agent at once
from the employ of the United States.
This action was taken because the
state department feels it must keep
itself absolutely free from the appear
ance of sympathy with rebelllous
! movements in Latin-American depart
mentS.- -.---
Chief Wilkie of the secret service,
made a statement today giving the
facts and circumstances connected
| with the arrest of Giordani, which go
| to show at the time of his arrest
| Giordani had in his possession coun-
| terfeit Haytien paper money to the
face value of 100000, 1000 Remlng.
ton rifles and 2So,0oo ROUNDS o.
ammunition, all of which 1t is said,
was intended for the Haytien revolu-
| tionists Six or seven months ago
when this government was ADVISED oy
| Provisional Governor Magoon tnat
| small party of malcontents were try
ing to stir up a revolution in Cuba, 1t
was discovered that Giordani was con-
| nected with them. At that time 1t de-
| yeIoped that he had represented Gen
eral Firman during the Hayden up
rising in 1902, Firman then as now,
being the head of the revolutionary
party. About that time Giordan nj
came to New York and ever since
! then the secret service officials had
| him under close surveillance.
| 1t was not long before it was dis
| covered that Giordan1 mad stored IN d
| Brooklyn warehouse 16 cases contain
| ing 1000 Remington rifles in fine con-
dition. Close watch was kept on these
| cases and on January 4, by Glordan1
| direction. they we're hauled to the
| Hamburg-American steamship pier,
! whence the steamer Graecia was to sail
! on January 8, for Hayti or other West
India ports. The cases were marked
Structural iron" and the fictitious
name of c. Merriam & Co. was given
| as the consignee. Gonaives, Hayti,
| was given as the destination but the
| shipners's name was withheld. There
were subsequently added to the con-
! signment % barrels marked cement
| The steamship company was notified
| by the officials not to receive the cases
| and barrels.
Upon learning of this action Gior-
| DAM had them hauled away to another
warehouse BY that time the secret
| service had secured sufficient evidence
to warrant them in opening all of the
shipment The barrels and boxes We're
| found to contain 2,OeO Remington
rifles. ammunition, and 100000 in
counterfeit Haytien currency. Gior-
| dani's arrest followed and in his
anartment were found a large number
| Of letters from General Firman ane
other revolutionists in Hayti and else