The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-20
HARRY CHANDLER CALIFORNIA
MILLIONAIRE, INDICTED BY
FEDERAL JURY.
is SON -IN-LAW OF GEN. OTIS


Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. l9. Harry
Chandler. millionaire land owner ana
son-in-laW of General Harrison Gray
Otis, owner OF the Los Angeles
Times was indicted today by the fed.
eraI grand jury on charge OF having
conspred TO violate the neutrality oil
the United States
He and five other men indicted are
accused Of having recruited soldiers
in the United States to serve in an
invasion of the MeXican territory of
Lower California.
The other defendants are Baltazar
ANiles, former governor of Lower
California; G b. NilJoeu, former
Boer army commander. Walter Bow
ker, general manager OF the Calfor.
nia-MeXico Land and Cattle Com
pany's ranch on the border; Charles
Guzman "a real estate agent; Ger
onimo sandoval OF San Diego, and
Francisco Ayon. The cattle company
is owned largely by Chandler and
General Otis and has large holdings
In Lower California.
Agents OF the department of justice
said that in return for the alleged
armed expedition which they de
clared was planned o overrur lower
California, certain cattle companies
were to be allowed to bring cattle in
and out OF the Mexican territory with
out payment of export or import
duties
1t IS alleged that Ayiles, VINO was
to organize and conduct the eXpedi
tion, was financed by Chandler The
latter admitted that Aviles received
some money from the California-MeN
leo Land and Cattle Company, but
asserted in a statement tonight that
the sums paid were in settlement OF
taxes paid to Ayiles as an accredited
officer of Lower California.
Aviles was driven out of Lower
California By Colonel Esteban Cantu
said to have been an adherent of
Huerta. Canu is now in command
of an Independent force at Mexicali, !
the port nearest the California-MeX- !
leo companys Mexican holdings, and
is said TO have been collecting export
duties on cattle amounting to 500 per
head
Chandler stated today that ne never |
had discussed any of the subjects !
mentioned in the indictment with |
Aviles or with the latter's associates, |
and that he never had any business |
dealings with them. He declared that
there had been no violation of the |
neutrality laws that he knew Of.
Il did authorize General Viljoen to |
settle claims for taxes and otAer !
claims against the California-M aXico |
Land and Cattle Company Chandler |
declared. Our company has proper |
receipts for all the money advanced |
TO the Lower California government
through Governor Ayles. Payments |
were all duly authorized by Ayiles |
superior officers in Mexico
Gusman is the only one OF the in |
dcted men in Jail All the others are
out on $500 bond and Chandler to |
day was released on $4,000 bond.
In the indictment the history of the |
alleged conspiracy is given, the fea-
lures Of which follow:
1t is charged that on December /, /
1914. the indicted men conspired to !
commit the offensa OF hiring and re
tanning others to go into Lower Cali |
fornia as soldiers. On December 10, |
it is said, Avles employed Manuel
Brassel and J. n. Fernandez to 90 |
from San Diego to El Centre, where |
they arranged a place to collect arms |
and ammunition and a rendezvous for |
soldiers.
Aviles. Viljoen and Chandler are
said to have met in Los Angeles, De |
cember is, according to the mdict |
ment, and discussed plans for the |
purchase of arms and equipment. On
December 21, Aviles and Viljoen are
alleged to have had similar confer
ences.
Then Viljoen. says the indictment.
paid Aviles $1,000. the money being
Chambers property and paid by
Chambers authority.
On December %. Ayiles is alleged
to have bought an automobile with
this money Christmas day, it Is
charged, sandoval bought arms and
ammunition in Los Angeles and took