Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-05
TO

(Ccntinued from page one)
Brewnsville and presented 70 the
Mexican consul credentials signed by
General Alvarez in which the consul
was instructed to aid Rendon in
clearing the documents" through
the port.
Seven cases OF silk were passed
through this point and reached their
destination. the Mexican capital.
A few days later Is cases arrived.
Numerous kilograms, some bearing
the signature Of Alvarez and others
purporting to come from President
Gales were received by Leopoldo
Verduga, collector Of customs Of
Matamoros. instrGcting him to pass
the shipments End forward them
without delay.
Verduga's suspicious became
aroused. When the twenty-second
case Of secret documents" had
passed through his hands he crossed
to the American side and held a tele-
phone conference with Guilebaldo
Elias. director general Of customs at
Nuevc Laredo. Elias Immediately
called President Gales over the long
distance telephone and asked the
chief executive II he had telegraph
ed verduga at Matamoros to hasten
clearance Of % cases of "docu-
ments."
Get Silk ut Monterrey
The Mexican president assured
Elias no documents were coming
through the Matamoros port or any
port on the American border and
ordered Elias and Verduga 20 pro-
coed to Monterrey and investigate
the cases.
Fastening 10 Monterrey the Gus
toms men were able TO intercept the
second consignment OF documents"
finding il in charge of the military
authorities who refused to turn II
over to the customs men, stating
they had been ordered 10 transport
il TO Mexico City under military es-
cort. While the customs men were
comforting with the military COM
mander the latter received a telo-
gram from Alvarez ordering him to
forward the documents" without
delay and under heavy guard.
Elias called President Gales over
long distance, and received another
order to investigate the cases. the
commander Of the garrison being
called to the telephone by Gales ard
.~$structed 10 turn the consignment
Of documents" over to the customs
men. The cases were then opened
and each was found packed with high
grade silk.
Alvarez Arrested
President Gales was Immediately
informed Of. the contents OF the is
cases at Monterrey and ordered the
arrest Of his chief of staff, General
Alvarez. Agents of the government
cases received in the capital a few
days previous and these were locat-
ed in a large mercantile establish
Tlent within a few hours.
President Gales then summoned
A. G. Nasquez, Mexican consul at
Brownsville. 20 Matamoros for a
telegraphic conference, the consul
reporting that ten additional eases
cF documents" had been received
IN Brownsville for clearance and
that he had received orders from AL
vsrez the day previous TO forward
the cases without delay. Verduga
had also received kilograms from
Alvarez and others purporting 10
have been signed by President Gales
urging there be no delay in re-dis-
patching the cases to the Mexican
capital.
President Gales ordered the con-
sui 20 investigate the ten cases in
Brownsville, which was done, and
they were also found filled with
silk. They are now in the South
Pacific freight depot.
Leopoldo Nerduga, collector Of
customs ut Matamoros, received a
telegram Of congratulation from
President Gales upon the part he
played in exposing the smuggling
plot. Had not his suspicious been
aroused By the heavy shipment Of
documents" il is doubtful IL the
plot would have been exposed, the
Mexican president stated. Nerdlga
received 20 kilograms at various
times, some signed by General Al
varex and others p~urportinE to have
been signed by the Mexican presi-
dent. all urging utmost haste in
clearing the consignments through
this port.