The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-16
CASTRO IS DENIED
ADMISSION TOTHE
UNITED STATES
Venezuelan Denied Right to
Enter Country by the
Board of Inquiry
DECLARES THAT HE
WILL APPEAL CASE
Admission Refused on Ground That He
Had Admitted Commission of
Crime and Felony Involv-
ing Moral Turpitude

New York January 15.--Gen. Don
cipriano. Castro. former president of
Venezuela, VINO has been detained at
ellis island by the immigration- off,
ficials for more than two weeks today
was denied admission to tho United
States by special board Of inquiry
on the ground that In his execution he
had admitted the commission of q
crime and felony involving moral tur-
pitude.p
In statement issued by Commis
sioner OF Immi grafton Williams giving
the first explanation for the detention
of Castro and setting forth the findings
of the board, it Is charged that the
former president of Venezuela has
committed frequent perjury" BY pre-
tending ito be ignorant of matters
concerning which man of his INTEL
ligence and holding the position which
he did, undoubtedly possesses knowl-
edge"
Castro to Appeal
Immediately after the announcement
that he would not be permitted to en-
ter the country, Castro declared he would
appeal to the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor. Harold a. Content. acting
for George Gordon Battle, Castro's at
torney. said that In event of Secretary
Nagel upholding the findings of the
board, the case would be taken into the
courts.
Citing specific parts of Castro's ex-
animation. the statement of the board
says:
Speaking of Louis varela, who sent
him frequent kilograms in regard to the
capture and death of Gen. Antonio
Paredes he says: L do not know who
he Isl We consider him an unreliable
witness. His testimony to the effect
that no, foreigners suffered losses Of.
property through his actions during the
years when he was president, we de-
cline to believe His refusal to reply
to many questions put to him bearing
upon his right to land convince us that
there are danagins Facts which he DE-
sires to conceaf'
Refuses to Answer Questions
The statement continues with the
declaration "That upon Information fr m
| official sources he was charged with re-
sponsibility for the unlawful killing or
paredes but, declined repeatedly to offer
| any Information, or to give the govern
ment any information in regard to tho lat
ters death. He refused TO either affirm
or deny his guilt, even after he had been
warned that unfavorable differences would
be drawn from ouch refusal, and that he
must take the consequences.
such refusal" the statement says,
together with mis- manner and demeanor
when asked concerning these matters
| constitute in our opinion an admission OF
the truth of the charge He is therefore
excluded on the ground that he has adj
mitted the commission of a crime and
! felony involving moral turpitude."
| In conclusion the statement says that
General Castro may appeal from the
| findings of the board of special inquiry
| through the commissioner of Immigration
to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
and adds that this he has signfed his
intention of doing"
| The next move III the case will be to file
an appeal to Secretary Nagel Mr. Battle,
/ his assistant said, woIld proceed In the
matter at once, and In the meantime will
| try to have the general admitted TO bail
that he may occupy more commodious
quarters than the one small room at
forded him at Ellis Island
Washington, January 15.--rne order OF
the immigration authorities at New York
for the deportation of Cipriano Castro.
according to the understanding of Of
| hcials of the department OF commerce
and labor, grows out of the former Ven
eznelan Presidents refusal to answer GER
tain questions proponnded by the special
/ board of inquiry
The boards decision has not yet been
| officially communicated to Secretary
! Nagel. but he is in possession of the rec
ord of testimony in the case which shows.
II is said, that Castro declined to reply
to questions concerning the charges that
he was connected with the assassination
of General Paredes In Venezuela for which
he is under Indictment although ne never
| has been tried.
The board wanted this Information be-
| cause the law bars from entry to the
| United States any person convicted of or
admitting a crime involving moral turp-
| tude. Officials hold that while an imfn-
grafton hearing is quasi-judicial In char
aetef, the ordinary rules OF privilege rec
ogIiized in a court Of law do not obtain.
| With an allen knocking at the doors Of
the United States the administrative OF.
| ficers. it is argued, must obtain through
answer to proper questions the necessary
linf, rmation TO determine his fitness TO en-
| ter. A refusal to answer is interpreted
I By Secretary Nagel either as an admission
] of guilt or as an obstruction that pre-
! vents administrative officers deciding ad-
nissiblity This point never has been de-
--------~~--~---~----