Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-07
Diaz, 1t Is Said, Wants to Get
Possession of AzCona.
IN REVOLUTIONARY PARTY
His Newspaper in Mexico Suppressed
and Later Confscated.
PRISONER ENGAGES COUNSEL
WillMake Strenuous ight-Charged
With Getting Money Under
False Pretenses.

Senior Juan Sanchez-Azcona, one Of the
leaders Of the anti-Diaz sentiment in
Mexico, who was arrested at the Hotel
Gordon late yesterday afternoon by d.
rection Of the Department of Justice, on
the request Of the Mexican government.
today retained Attorney s. G. Hopkins
to defend him. The charge against Senior
Sanchez-Azcona, OF which only telegraph
ic information has reached Washington
to date. is based on the alleged obtain
ing Of money under false pretenses.
Senior Sanchez-Azcona. who was arrest
ed professionally under the treaty of 1899
with Mexico as a fugitive from justice,
spent last night in comfortable quarters
in the United States Jail. From there.
at least for the time being, he will d.
rect. through his counsel. what the latter
characterizes as a fight to thwart Presi-
dent Diaz Of Mexico in the latter's plan
| to obtain possession of Azcona for politi-
cal purposes. Mr.. Hopkins says he does
not contemplate, for the immediate flu
ture, any move looking to the release OF
his client by habeas corpus proceedings
Mr.. Hopkins, who has figured in
number of International litigations in
concerned. refused to state today what
line Of action he contemplated.
From all can learn said Mr.. Hop
| kins, 1.-The charge is placed against Senior
sanchez-Ascona by Diaz, as a wild hope
and last plan to obtain possession of
political enemy and one whom he has
prosecuted for years.
Enemy Of Diaz.
President Dias knows that il he can
get possession Of Senior sanchez-Azcona
he will have in his power one OF the
real fathers Of the hostile sentiment in
Mexico. Sanchez-Axcona was powerful
man in Mexico and a powerful enemy
even for Diaz. His paper there, which
Diaz suppressed three times and finally
condscated altogether, was not only the
most up-to-date newspaper in the City or
Mexico. but was strong weapon for the
anti-Diaz sympathlzers.
THE charge is, In itself. absurd 1t is
based on q transa elton four years ago,
which ended In a trial on the same
chez-Azcona's employer. The latter only
entered into the case as witness. The
case was dropped against the pr1nc1pal.
there being no evidence sustaining the
charge.
"sanchez-Azcona remained in Mexico
three years after that. About six months
ago. however, his newspaper plant was
confiscated by order of President Dlaz,
and without any legal proceedings, ana
| he left the country to save his life.
"Now, before the Mexican government
can obtain his extradition under the
treaty It must prove that Sanchez-Azcona
Is q fugitive from justice. 1t would be
hard to base such a charge on his action
| since leaving Mexico. He went direct
to San Antonio, Tex, making no attempt
| to cover his departure from Mexico. At
San Antonio he lived under his own
name and entered business under his own
name. When he came to Washington
about two weeks ago he came under his
own name and registered at the Hotel
Gordon under his own name He had
made absolutely no attempt at conceal
ment in any of his movements.
| Has Many Friends.
my client I believe, is glad the thing
thinks it will have an easy time procur-
appointment. / can't say anything about
our plans for defense yet, but you can
say that he will have plenty of powerful
friends to care for his interests"
Ambassador de Ia Barra today denied
that there was any political Significance
| in the arrest.
II know nothing about the charges
against Senior Sanchez-Azcona in detail
said Senior de Ia Barra this morning. ~
received the request for his arrest on a
for me that the political conditions have
nothing to do with his arrest. No--Gn
answer to a questionl-I do not know
Senior Sanchez-Azcona personally"
Members Of the revolutionary commit
| tee which has made headquarters in this
| city since the beginning Of the revOlu-
ton. under the leadership Of Senior Gus
tave 4. Madero, brother of the leader OF
the 'revolutionists in Mexico are emphatic
| in declaring that Sanchez Azcona's arrest
is purely the result OF a plot by President
Diaz to obtain possession for political
purposes.
Although only thirty-four years old.
| Sanchez-Azcona has for some time been
and leaders Of the anti-Diaz sentiment in
Mexico. He is a graduate Of the Uni
versity Of Paris and Heidelberg Uni
vefsity. He Is a son Of the late Senior
Azcona, former Mexican minister to Italy.
| Guatemala and the Argentine Republic. a
Mexican ambassador to Great Britain.
and brotier-in-law Of Senior Casasus.
former Mexican ambassador to the United
States He came here November 81 from
San Antonio. Tex. where his consulta-
tons with Francisco I. Madero. present
leader Of the Mexican revolution, were
an open secret.
Says He Was Only Witness.
Azcona declared last night that the
incident In connection with which
charges have been preferred against
him occurred four years ago. and that
his part in the affair was merely as
witness
| He asserted that while employed as
manager of Ell Diario. newspaper in
Mexico City, contributions were re-
ceived by that paper for the entertain
mont Of the poor of the Mexican CAPT
tai. The funds were insufficient. how
ever, Azcona alleged, and were turned
lover to a committee of prominent
women of Mexico City for disburse
ment among the poor. Another news
paper. of opposite political preference.
he said. charged that the money had
been diverted from the original purpose
Of the donors.
| Azcona declared that after due judi
cial investigation. in which he ap
peared as a witness, the case was
dropped. Later, he said. he founded
Nuevo Mexico. and began q series Of