The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-06-14
PANAMA AUTHORITIES
SILENT ON CHARGES
AGAINST EDW. PERCY
Times-Democrat, June IL.

julio IL.
my family honor is at stake, and l
will not rest until the charge against
me has been ferreted out, and am put
right before the public"
Thus declared Edward M. Percy, of
Weyanoke, La, the young sugar engi-
neer, who was arrested with Alfonso
Percy and Manuel Trigo, upon their
arrival here from Panama recently, on
information from the Canal Zone po-
lice chief that they had bought opium
for $4,000 and paid for it in counter
felt money.
Young Percy, who is at the Monte
leone Hotel, is indignant because of
the fragrant injustice of the charge.
And yet, it is all so preposterous that
| can not help but be amused. My
friends are inclined to treat the whole
affair as huge joke. | am not wor-
ried about their opinions. 1t is before
the public at large that am determin-
ed to have my innocence proved"
Mr.. Percy talked freely, but assured
a Times-Democrat reporter that he
knew no more about the affair than
does the public.
ut is a mystery to me; | don't know
how to account for it. The first intima-
ton had that was suspected of any
irregularity was when | was taken into
custody as | stepped off the steamer
here. There can be no mistake about
the other members of our party, either,
for was with them continuously. Man
uel Trigo is the centrifugal foreman
in the sugar mill of which am super.
intendent, and Alfonso Percy, of Cor
razal Colombia, who was intrusted to
me by his father, Anselmo Percy. to
be registered at the Louisiana State
University in Baton Rouge, never left
my presence throughout our entire
trip.
"The only possible theory that | can
advance is that the chief of police in
the Canal Zone was on the outlook for
three colmterfeiters and opium snug
glers and, learning from the United
Fruit authorities at Colon there were
three men in a party aboard after we
had sailed, determined to take a wild
shot, to effect probable capture. II
can easily account for the cablegram
received by the local United States au-
thorities containing our full names.
The vessel at any time could have
been communicated with by wireless
from Colon, and suppose the police
chief got our names in that way, and
then eabled them to New Orleans.
Il was graduated from the sugar
school of the Louisiana State Universe
ty in 1908, and since that time have
been employed by various sugar refin-
cries. am now superintendent of the
Colombia Sugar Company of Carriage
ma, Colombia, and have held that po-
sition for the last three years. Trigo
and | were returning to the States for
our vacation, having finished the grind !
ing of the sugar crop. when we were
with young Alfonso Percy, we came
straight from Cartagena to Colon, and
were in quarantine there for six days
before we sailed The only time | |
spent in Colon proper was a twenty
four-hour shore leave at the end of our
quarantine confinement"
Mr. Percy, Immediately after his ar
rest in this city last Thursday, went to
Baton Rouge on a visit to friends. He
is in the city now buying machinery
for his mill, and will return Wednes-
day afternoon to his home in Weyan-
oke.
Il and my relatives are anxious to
have the entire matter probed as soon
as possible Under no circumstances
would consent to have the case