New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Despot Clutch
Gr'ips Venezuela.
Says Refugee
Eight Years a Prisoner Under
Ball and Chain, DIR. Leon
Paints Grim Picture
of N alton Plight
Harding Helped FreeH Him
Ex-O OfficialD DeclaresPlans4Are
Now Forming for Over
throw of President Gomez

For more than ten years prior to
1s14 DR.. Carlos Leon was one of the
foremost lawyers of Venezuela. A
5urist OF marked ability and learning
and member Of good family, he rose
rapidly. First under former President
Cspriano Castro, then under President
Juan Vicente Gomez he held at differ
ent times the Offices of justice Of the
federal Court, Minister of Public In
struction, Governor of a Federal dis
tric4 and representative to the Hague
tribunal.
To-day Or. Leon is in New York after
ianguishing for eight years in La Ro-
tunda. the Caracas prison, one Of
numerous prisoners, of whom seventy
died of starvation, according to DIR.
Leon, during the time that he passed in
jail.
Gives Thanks to Harding
At the Hotel Endieott yesterday the
Venezuelan exile was inclined to credit
his deliverance from living death and
that Of such others as were spared to
the Intervention of President Harding.
In his wallet DR.. Leon carries copy
Of letter written to President Hard
ing by two hundred women in Caracas
imploring the Chief Executive of the
great sister republic to bring about the
liberation of the political prisoners. de-
priyed OF food and light and suffering
horrible cruelties. Four months after
that letter was written DIR. Leon was
free man, but the official orders were
that his liberty was contingent on his
leaving the country. He left for New
! York by way of Colon, leaving his vile
sin Costa Rica.
: DR.. Leon is eloquent in his denunci-
4 tion of what he terms the "barbarous
10 gime" now in power in Venezuela.
"But | feel that my fellow country
na n and / have not suffered in vain.
i. said, sfor Venezuela is in state OF
"a ution, and out OF the present dark
,sss will develop country Of civiliza-
;a, nd progress.
Trials Omitted, He Says
.re.r. wing citizens of life and lib-
,,;+n. 1ut due process of law is a
,a.,s,,nn =. currence under the present
,,,.nn,.aev In Venezuela" DR.. Leon con-
'.n~sd ~ ad been governor of the,
Tsdsra, disarA It and I set about per-
acting the osh ciai organization. Diff
ferences arose p Anehp%fs Va thee
ssnrths resIw.nea. l decided to retire,
grom ali partscipatAon in politics and;
vent to Porto Rico, Nh, sr1s l bought a.
angar plantastio return1 1ng month.
latar to CARACAS. One day. several SOL
diers came and told me fh at under a.
supreme ordera I was undei arrest. (
was taken to Aa Rotunda- NY protes-
tations and asse rtions Of 'gnS TO DC
heard were scorlled Withuut any court
proceeding was thrust into q dungeon
was fastened to my ankle. ThA was In
June. 1914. I.a Rotunda was flh I'd with
other men of good family and sh 1nding
il, Venezuela Those who were a pie to
vay for food received just enouA n to
five. while others who depended Tor
sustenance on the government st.Sn we'd.
During the eight years was prisN 1er
seventy such prisoners starved to
TO DEATH
"After had been confined for yea
a friend of mine intervened to obtain
some sort Of trial on whatever charge
they might prefer. But my friend was
Informed that /, having been in prison
y year, was regarded as an enemy Of
the government, Before that was
held merely on suspicion. But as an
sncny Of the government continued
for seven years TO. exist In the dark,
dirty dungeon. Then, very secretly,
two hundred society ladies of Caracas
addressed a letter TO President Hard
ing begging his benevolent intervention
In our behalf. Their plea was needed
and here am.
Compares Gomez to Diax
president Juan Vicente Gomez 10
pc much dictator as General posArso
Diaz ever was in Mexico," aontinned
proden. "Gomez has made his brother
Esce-president Of the country and has
named his son ~ Second Vice. President,
ElssSsS ysgz