The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-23
CASTRO DEPOSED
AS PRESIDENT
OF VENEZUELA
Plot to AssaSsinate Acting
President Fails
INSPIRED BY PRESIDENT
Gomez, Single Handed, Disarms Man
Who Made Attempt Upon
officials Life

Caracas, Dec. 22.-via Willemstad,
Dec. 23.--The end of the rule in Ven
ezuela of Cipriano Castro has come.
The dictator who has governed the
republic with rod of iron ever since
he took forcible possession of the Vel
low House in Caracas in 1899, is now
openly charged with conspiracy to
compass the assassination OF the man
he left at the head of the republic
when he sailed away on Nov. %.
The Bank of Venezuela has cabled
its correspondence at Berlin and Paris
cancaling the unlimited letter of cred
1t 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 attempt on the life of Gomez
was frustrated by the nerve and dar.
ing of the active president himself
Alone and unsupported he arrested the
ringleaders of the conspiracy with his
own hands in the presence Of their
armed adherents, and after this action
he issued proclamation, saying that
not only had he saved his own life,
but he had maintained the highest
ideals of the chief magistracy of the
republic
Already the new administration
shows signs Of a desire to settle the
disputes between Venezuela and GER
tain foreign powers which have kept
the republic in the light OF unenviable
notoriety for several years. AT con
ference between Acting President
Gomez and Baron Won Seckendorf the
German minister, who Is in charge of
the interests Of Holland since the de-
parture of the Dutch Minister II was
agreed to suspend the operation OF
the decree issued by President Castro
prohibiting the transshipment at VII
lemstad of goods destined for Venezue-
Ia
Pending the contamination of a
treaty between Holland and a duly EN-
powered Venezuelan commissioner
the Dutch warships that have been pa
trolling the Venezuelan coast for near
ly three weeks will be withdrawn.
prominent lawyer has filed an ac-
cusation i'm the high Federal court
charging President Castro with com
plicity in the attempted assassination
of Gomez and proposing his impeach
ment.
There was meeting OF the plotters
Friday night In the residence OF Gar
biras GuZman, who was Secretary
General in the last Castro cabinet and
who was placed in charge Of President
Castro's personal business in Venezue-
la when the president left for Ger
many.
The conspirators decided upon a
coup detat. They determined TO ass
assinate Acting President Gomez, Jose
de Jesus Paul. the Foreign minister,
Gen. Leopoldo Baptista and other prom
inent men. seize the administration OF
the country and with the army terror
lie and overawe the population.
forrest ardenas who was az one
time minister of the interior under
President Castro and later his person
al secretary was the active leader OF
the conspiracy He was intrusted
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 Com
ez. As soon as he had satisfied him
self of the truth Of the reports he took
immediate steps to Illustrate the at
tempt.
Early on Saturday morning he went
alone on foot 10 the barracks In Car
acas where n mutinous regiment I'M
der the command Of President Castro's
brother. was quartered With unex-
ampled courage he entered the build
ing and placed the brother of the pres
Ident under arrest. The cool nerve
of Gomez made Il 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 interview with Torres'Carden-
as The chief of the conspirators
maintained q defiant attitude and de,
MED the existence of any plot. Com
~ would not be deceived by such as
surnnces. He seized TorresCardenas
nv Inc shoulders and, shaking HIM
roughly, said. ,,,
Il have discovered your plot TO ass
asslpate me- You are my prisoner
Torres ardenas tried TO use his re-
volver on the acting president o9t
Gomez was TOO quick for him ne
plnioned the maps arms and called
The guard. Cardenas was selA'
ed and disarmed and hurried away 10
Jail. .so s,ngie.
handed by Gomez. broke the BACK OF
the plot. Gomezs friends came lot
ward quickly to his support. Orders
we're issued and carried out rapidly
Tor the arrest OF Garbiras Guzman, 70
pez parait. Minister Of the interior pm
Inc cabinet that was forced to RESIGN
ON December II; Senior Bermuds1' ~.
rector OF the National telegraph sys
tenn: Commander Casanova Ooullha u,
der Angulo and other aahereh's "
Castro suspected Of completely
AS soon as the news oil the sehs"'