The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-23


= Berlin Dec. 22-The news of the +
= appointment of a new Venezuelan =
= cabinet contained in dispatch from =
= Port of Spain, Trinidad, came as a 3
: complete surprise to President Cas-
y tro and his associates in Berlin, ana y
, was received with more or less ap-
= prehension. The VeneZuelans have =
= had no confirmation OF this lnteln- =
= genCe and for this reason they are y
= inc ned 20 discredit il, as they have y
= other Venezuelan news that was y
= known 10 be authentic.
~ = <<<<<+%t ~
Caracas. Monday. Dec. 21-The down
fall Of President Castro in Venezuela was
completed Saturday last with the frus-
tration of a desperate plot to assassinate
Juan Vincente Gomez, the acting presi-
dent
Secret cablegrams have passed between
President Castro in Berlin and his agents
here since the popular anti-CastrO demon
stration of Dec. Is and IL.
A prominent lawyer has filed accusa-
tons in court charging Castro with com
pcity i'm the attempted assassination, and
proposing his Impeachment.
Meeting of conspirators.
There was meeting Friday night of the
plotters at the residence in Caracas of
Garberas GuZman. secretary general in
the last Castro cabinet and who was
placed in charge Of Castro's persol-
IA business in Venezuela when the presi-
dent left for Germany.
The cOnspirators decided upon coup
detat. They determined TO assassinate
acting President Gomez, Jose de Jesus
PAM. the foreign minister: General Leo
poldO Baptista, and other prominent men;
seize the administration Of the country,
and with the army terrorizc and overawe
the population.
Gomez Shows Nerve.
minister of the interior under President
Castro and later his personal secretary,
was the active leader Of the conspiracy
lie had as ieutcnants the commanders of
three battalions. Intimation of what was
on foot reached the ears of acting Presi-
dent Gomez and he took immediate steps
70 Illustrate the attempt Early Saturday
ne wenf alone to the barracks in Caracas.
where "a mutinotts regiment under the
command of President Castro's brother.
was quartered. With courage he entered
the brlding and placed the brother of the
president under arrest. The nerve Of
Gomez made il possible to carry out this
dangerous maneuver successfully. He
then went to the executive mansion.
Torres Cardenas The chief of the con-
spirators denied the existence OF any plot.
Arrest of cardenas.
Gomez would not be deceived by such
assurances. He seized Cardenas by the
shoulders and said: Il have discovered
Your plot to assassinate me. You are my
prisoner.
Torres Cardenas tried to use his revolver
on the acting president. but Gomez was
too quick for him. He pinioned the mans
arms, called the guard and Torres Car
denas was hurried away to Jail
These two arrests, made single-handed /
by Gomez. broke the plot.
Gomez friends came forward quickly to |
his support. Orders were carried out for 1
the arrest Of Garbieras GuZman, Lopez /
mi Nc 20 int in -, u
met that was forced to resign Dec Il; |
senior BcrmudeZ. director of the national |
telegraph system; Commander Casanova.
Commander Angulo and other adherents /
of Castro suspected of completely.
As socn as the news of the sensational !
occurrences became known an imemnse |
crowd gathered in the Plaza Bolivar and |
gave unmistakable evidence of its satisfac-
ton with the turn affairs had taken.
Will Make Peace.
There is to be a general reorganization |
al the government. The fall of President 1
castro leaves no obstacle in the way of 4
settling the various International qIies- 1
tons confronting the republic.
Jose de Jesus Paul. the former minister |
Of foreign affairs. who played prominent |
part in all Nenezuela's foreign relations /
Tor the last SIX months has been COM /
manded TO 90 To Europe to settle all out |
standing disputes with foreign powers. He /
Viii leave here Dec. a. SeTfUr Paul has l
ADVISED the diplomatic representatives /
mere that measures to preserve order and /
protect the interests of foreigners winf
NJ taken. The new governor of Caracas |
Is Asuies lturbo.
Proclamation of Gomez.
Acting President Gomez issued a procla- /
nation Yesterday. as follows:
feilow Patriots: l assumed charge of /
me presidency of Venezuela under the 1
Terms Of the constitution ! undertook 1
T It duties without personal ambition. 4
4 rom the first / endeavored to conciliate /
Ie aspirations of the people with my /
a.sh obligations. and TO this end ] estab- i
ilsutu, IN accordance with our national 4
lsututions. an administration that recog-
iH1sa an personal and public guarantees. /
Unfortunately. my good intentions met 4
WIN mcomprehensible hindrance on the /
Continued on Page 6.