The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30


Alone, Arrests the Chief COnspira.
tors, and Thus Breaks the Back OF
the Plot-Castro Himself is Accus-
ed Of Instigating the Conspiracy.
Caracas. Venezuela, Monday, Dec.
11.-(Via Willemstad, Curacao, Dec.
22.)--The end Of the rule in venexula
OF Ciprano Castro. has come. The die
tator. who has governed the Republic
with rod OF iron ever since he took
forcible possession OF the Yellow House
In Caracas in 1899. is now openly
charged with conspiracy to compass
the assassination Of q man he left at
the head OF the Republic when he
sailed away on November - from La
Guaira, nominally to secure skilled
medical aid in Berlin for a malady of
hong standing. and Is today thoroughly
discredited.
The Bank Of Venezuela has cabled
its correspondents in Berlin and Paris
cancelling the unlimited letter of cred
It given to President Castro when he
left Venezuela for Europe. and no one
In Caracas believes he will ever dare
return to the capital.
The Castro cabinet has been forced
TO resign and a new and progressive
ministry has been appointed by Juan
Vicente Gomez, the acting president.
At conference held In Caracas yes
terday between Acting President Co
meg and Baron Won Zeckendorff, the
German minister in charge Of the in
terests OF Holland since the departure
of the Dutch minister. M. De Reus
last summer. 1t was agreed to suspend
the operation Of the decree issued by
Castro prohibiting the transhipment
at Willemstad of goods destined for
Venezuela.
Pending the signing Of treaty be-
tween Holland and duly empowered
Venezuelan commissioner the Dutch
war ships that have been patrolling
the Venezuelan coast for nearly three
weeks. will be withdrawn.
A prominent lawyer has filed an
accusation in the High Federal Court,
charging President Castro with COM
plicity In the attempted assassination
and proposing his impeachment. There
was meeting Friday night Of the
plotters In the residence in Caracas
Of Garbiras Guzman, who was secrs-
tary general in the last Castro cabinet,
and who was placed in charge of Pres@
ident Castro's personal business in
Venezuela when the president left for
Germany. The conspirators decided
upon coup de'etat. They determined
to assassinate Acting President Co.
nez. Jose De Jesus Paul. the foreign
ministers; George Leopoldo Baptista,
and the other prominent men; seize
the administration Of the country and
with. the army terrorise and overawe
the population.
Torres -Cardenaa who was at one
time minister OF the interior under
President Castro. and later his per-
sonaI secretary. was the active leader
of the conspiracy. He was entrusted
with the carrying out Of the plot. He
had as lieutenants the commanders Of
three battalions.
In spite Of the precautions taken an
intimation Of what was on foot reach
ed the ears Of Acting President Co.
'mez. AS soon as he satisfied himself
Of the truth Of the reports he took i'm
mediate steps to frustrate the attempt.
Early Saturday morning he went
alone on foot to the barracks in Cara
cas-. where mutinous regiment, un-
der the command Of President Cas-
tro's brother, was quartered. He en-
tered the building and placed the
brother Of the president under arrest.
The nerve Of Gomez made It possible
for him to carry out this dangerous
manoeuvre successfully. He then went
to the Yellow House. the executive
mansion. where he had a brief inter-
view with Torres-Cardenas. The chief
o fthe conspirators denied the exist
ence of any plot. Gomez would not
be deceived by such assurance. He
seized Torres-Cardenas by the should
ers. and shaking him roughly said:
II have discovered your plot to as
sassinate me. You are my prisoner"
Torres-Cardeas tried to use his re-
volver on the acting president, but
Gomez was too quick for him. He
ptnioned the mans arms and called
the guard. Cardenas was seiz-
ed and disarmed and hurried away to
Jail.