Sixty thousand dollars bail was posted yesterday before the Federal Commissioner, attorney Ramón C. Juliá, by Mr. Pedro Albizu Campos, president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico; Juan Antonio Corretjer, director of the nationalist newspaper La Palabra and General Secretary of the collec- tive; Luis F. Velázquez, Treasurer of the party; Clemente Soto Vélez, director of the nationalist weekly “Armas” which is published in Caguas; Erasmo Velázquez, Secretary of the Nationalist Municipal Board of Caguas; and Juan Juarbe Juarbe, Private Secretary of Mr. Albizu Campos. Each one posted bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars. The guarantors of the Head of the Nationalist Party were Mr. José Pascual Berríos and Juan Valdejulli Rodríguez; the guarantors of the director of La Palabra were Mr. José R. Fuertes and Rufo Noya; the guarantors of Mr. Juan Juarbe Juarbe, were Mr. Edmundo Fernández and José G. Cardé. Other gentlemen posted bail for the rest of the accused nationalists.
Another of the accused is Pablo Marrero Rosado, but yesterday he had not appeared to answer the accusation.
El Mundo, March 6, 1936, p. 1. The execution of Colonel Riggs precipitated the repression and persecution against Nationalism. Immediately the regime initiated a wave of raids on the residences of the most prominen- te nationalists. On Thursday, March 5, 1936 (ten days after the death of Riggs), the president of the Nationalist Party, Albizu Campos, together with Juan Antonio Corret- jer, Luis F. Velázquez, Clemente Soto Vélez, Erasmo Velázquez, Juan Juarbe Juarbe and Pablo Rosado Ortiz were arrested and accused of an alleged crime of “conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States in Puerto Rico by means of force”, before the United States District Court in Puerto Rico, (called Federal Court).
How the Accusation Reads:
The accusation that motivated the arrest yesterday of the leaders nationalists mentioned above and for which they posted bail in the expressed sum in order to remain in liber- tad provisional reads as follows: “Before me, Ramón C. Juliá, Commis- sioned of the United States for the district of Puerto Rico, perso- nally appeared today, March 3, 1936, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Donald A. Draughon, marshal of the United States for the District Court of Puerto Rico, who des- after being duly sworn, deposes and declares that about three years ago and especially since October 24 of 1935 in the places of the island of Puerto Rico later rela- cionados, in said district, Pedro Albizu Campos, of Aguas Buenas; Juan Antonio Corretjer, Luis F. Velázquez and Pablo Rosado Marrero of San Juan; Clemente Soto Vélez and Erasmo Velázquez, of Caguas and Juan Juarbe Juarbe, of Aguas Buenas; in violation of sections 6, 7 and 88 of the title of the Code of United States, illegally conspired to overthrow, de- derribar and destroy by force the Government of the United States in Puerto Rico, and conspired to recruit soldiers to engage in armed hostilities against the United States and open posts for such recruitment, contrary to the provisions in the statute for the case provided and against the peace and dig- nity of the United States of America.
The declarant testifies, in addition, that he has reasons to believe that and so believes.”
Among the witnesses that appear at the bottom of the accusation to sustain the same we were able to read the names of the insular guards Salvador Más and Juan Pagán Rohena.
The federal Commissioner, Mr. Juliá, refused to give us the complete list of witnesses stating that this deta- it had no importance and that also on the day of the trial many more would be cited that did not appear in the arrest warrant because it is not customary to indicate all the names of the witnesses in said document.
A Telephone Call:
Mr. Albizu Campos, principal lawyer in the process that is being followed in the District Court of San Juan against the young nationalist Dionisio Pearson, was located tem- prano in the courtroom when at about 9:20, while he was chatting with Judge A. R. de Jesús in the office next to the private office of the aforementioned magistrate, he received a lla- mada telephone from Marshal Donald A. Draughon, of the Court Federal, by which he was required to appear in said court as soon as possible since against him there was an arrest warrant issued for the alleged crime that has already been expressed. Mr. Albizu Campos immediately gathered the other defense lawyers Mr. Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, Federico E. Virella, Julio Pinto Gandía, Rafael Ortiz Pacheco and J.M. Toro Nazario to inform them of the situation that had arisen and also instruct them that mien- while he left for the Federal Court, they continued the hearing of the case of Pearson. Accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. Juarbe, and the lawyers Toro Nazario and Ortiz Pacheco, the president of the Nationalist party left the Court of District of San Juan arriving at the Federal Court at about 9:45 in the morning.
Pearson’s Trial Is Suspended:
Very few people realized in the Court of Dis- What was happening to the district. Judge A.R. de Jesús occupied the presidency to resume the hearing of the Pearson trial but the lawyer Concepción de Gracia asked that it be suspended until two in the afternoon in view of the fact that, according to information and belief, the principal lawyer was arrested in the Court Federal as well as some of the defense witnesses. The lawyer Concepción de Gracia informed the court, that he had received at that moment information that he believed to be true to the effect that the homes of various nationalists had been raided by federal agents known as “G-Men”.
Judge A.R. de Jesús “in view of the situation through which the defense is going,” he said, agreed to the request formu- lada suspending the trial until two in the afternoon at the same time that gave excuses to the jurors for the “unfortunate coincidences” that were arising in the hearing of the case and that obligaban very much to his regret to the delay of the same.
The prosecutor Marcelino Romani neither fought nor agreed to the motion of suspension, merely limiting himself to saying that his resolution rested on the discretionary powers of the Court.
In the Federal Court:
When our editor arrived at the Federal Court it was made it a little difficult to get to the commissioner’s office, lawyer Juliá, in which Mr. Albizu Campos. Around the Court, in the pasi- llos, in the first esplanade of the staircase that leads to the second floor where the Court is located and along the hallway that led to the marshal’s office, Mr. Draughon, there were several policemen stationed under the command of the chiefs José Pérez Segarra and Emmanuelli. The first pair of guards us intercepted our passage but when we told them our mission they let us pass, in the esplanade of the staircase we were subjected to a thorough search and even when entering the hallway an agent touched the right pocket of the jacket in which we were wearing we had a folded notebook that made a bit of a bulge, believing- It is undoubtedly forbidden material that we were carrying with us.
In a small office Mr. Albizu Campos was sitting at one end of a table, in front of him the prosecutor Cecil A. Snyder, of the Federal Court, next to him the special prosecutor Mr. Jorge Ortiz Toro, and at the other end of the table, presiding, the federal commissioner lawyer Ramón C. Julia. Around the table stood several friends of Mr. Albizu Campos, his fellow lawyers, two or three court officials and some law enforcement agents that they were interested in hearing the words that were in that precinct pronounced the parties. Mr. Juliá explained pri- First, what was the object of the hearing, saying that it was for the accused post a provisional bond for the accusation that was being made against them and summon them for a new hearing that would take place on March 19 before the Commissioner himself, Mr. Juliá, in which the parties (accused and prosecutors) would have the opportunity to present the evidence they had. After some slight demonstrations by Messrs. Albizu Campos and Snyder Mr. Juliá decided to set a bond of ten thousand dollars to each of the accused. Considering the head of the Puerto Rican nationalism that the session that was being cele- brand was a “historic session” that would have “international transcendence for its consequences” asked that a stenographer be called to take the statements that were do at that time.
A young woman, a stenographer from the prosecutor’s office, acted as such and was reproduced again the brief oral trial.
Mr. Albizu Campos then announced that he, ade- in addition to being accused, he wanted to appear on record as a lawyer of all the other defendants along with the lawyers Rafael Ortiz Pacheco, Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, Pedro Pimentel, Federico E. Virella, J.M. Toro Nazario and Julio Pinto Gandía, defenders of Dionisio Pearson. The lawyers Cayetano Coll y Cuchi, Benicio Sánchez Castaño and Juan Valdejulli Rodrí- guez, who were present, also offered to figu- rar in the defense of the seven defendants. The name of the lawyer Leopoldo Tormes García was also included in the record.
As a first question for the record, Mr. Juliá asked Mr. Albizu Campos if he in his name and in name of the rest of the defendants, alleged to be innocent or if declared guilty.
-“Not guilty”- replied Mr. Albizu Campos.
Snyder and Albizu Campos Speak
A bond of ten thousand dollars was set for each of the accused the prosecutor Snyder argued in favor of the decision of the Commissioner Mr. Juliá to agree, declaring that “the bond imposed was proportionate to the seriousness of the crime that the accused were charged.”
“For us,” declared Mr. Albizu Campos, “the amount of the bond imposed is not important. We are of opinion that the alleged seriousness of the accusation made against us should not serve as a basis for setting bail, but the moral certainty that they have of our appearance before this court on the date and time that you have to indicate. We are men of honor, fearless men and men who know how to face any situation and take charge of the responsibility of their actions at any time and in any circumstance. This is a historic case, unique in the history of the relations of Puerto Rico with the United States. The Government of the United States through its Depart- tamento de Justicia is trying to bring by means of this pro- before this court, the men who present the opposi- tion in Puerto Rico against the North American regime.”
The prosecutor Snyder on hearing these words smiles and makes a negative gesture with his head, but Mr. Albizu Campos, seriously continues:
“In view of that fact, these men, including the president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, who is one of the defendants, as well as a lawyer for the other defendants, wish to declare that for more than a week they have been receiving absolutely confidential information and from fuen- inexpugnable reveladoras that it was the purpose deci- dido of the Government of the United States order these arrests under any pretext and with the deliberate purpose of pro- stir up a public disorder in which blood is shed and these defendants are killed.”
The prosecutor Snyder objects to having those words recorded record those words, but Mr. Albizu Campos interrupts him saying: “Let me finish and then you make the declarations you want.”
-“Very well, continue”- replies the Prosecutor.
Mr. Albizu Campos continues: “With that information in our possession and before any official authority of this court ordered our arrest, this defendant voluntarily- mente appeared before this court on March 4 at eight in the morning and asked the prosecutor, Mr. Snyder, if he had against him any arrest warrant; the prosecutor told us no, that he did not possess or have any arrest warrant against me; I visited then the office of the marshal Mr. Draughon of whom I requested the same information, but Mr. Draughon, just like the prosecutor Snyder, also declared to me that in his possession there was no arrest warrant against me; in Mr. Snyder’s office was at that moment his assistant the prosecutor Jorge Ortiz Toro, accompanying me the lawyer Rafael Ortiz Pacheco; the prosecutor and I had a conversation in very cordial tones about vital issues related to United States and Puerto Rico and it was in the course of this conversation that I informed him of the reports that we had to effect that federal agents were trying to kill us at the first opportunity; the prosecutor assured me in the most formal that there was no such attempt on the part of the agents federal and that any personal guarantee that I asked for he was in a position to give it to me as far as it allowed him the powers of the court. And to leave I told the prosecutor that if if those arrest warrants were issued to execute them, they would not have any difficulty on our part; the Mr. Draughon, whom I also informed of the attempt of the federal agents told me to forget about that because he assured me that none of that would ever be done.
“It was at that moment that I made them know that on them I discharged all the responsibility of a shedding of blood and that the death of any member of the Party Nationalist was most likely to provoke a revolu- that I placed the responsibility for the authorities of this Court.
“I also told Mr. Draughon that I was in conditions to appear before this Court at the first lla- mada telephone that I was given or the first telegraphic message graphic that was sent to me in that sense without worrying about the severity of the accusation that could be imputed to me and that I could in the same way respond for the other defendants because I was sure that none of our men would refuse to assume responsibility for their actions. The nacio- nalists never shirk the responsibility for their actions. For the better fulfillment of the duties of its officers, I offered them that all means would be facilitated by us, por- because the issue involved in this entire process is not a personal issue against any of the officers of this Court, but that there was involved an issue of inter- national. In compliance with that agreement was that morning, finding myself in the District Court of San Juan, where, as is known, is being held the process the most important criminal record in the history of our people, I received a phone call to come immediately to the Court, and accompanied by my secretary private, Mr. Juarbe, I have appeared before the authorities of the court.”
Mr. Albizu Campos paused in his testimony to point out several of his arrested companions who were esta- ban to his side, Messrs. Juan Antonio Corretjer, Luis F. Velázquez, Clemente Soto Vélez and Erasmo Velázquez, saying of them that they had also come voluntarily to the Court.
Words of Mr. Corretjer:
The director of “La Palabra”, Mr. Juan Antonio Corret- jer, while posting the ten thousand dollar bond that was imposed, made us the following statements: “It is useless to want to stop revolutionary nationalism. We we are going to independence.”
What Coll y Cuchi Says:
The lawyer Cayetano Coll y Cuchí, who appears as one of the lawyers of the seven nationalist defendants, is expressed so: “This is a completely wrong policy that will do much harm to the United States and much benefit to Puerto Rico. It is my belief that if they run over the naciona- lists, the entire feeling of the country will be on the side of the run over”.
Benítez Flores Speaks:
The lawyer Manuel Benítez Flores, member of the Liberal Central Board, made us the following comment: “Nin- gún act in Puerto Rico has ever had a significance more intense or a wider repercussion in America, especially at this moment in which it is announced by the President Roosevelt the policy of good neighbor”.
Leaving the Court:
Around one in the afternoon Mr. Albizu Campos left of the Federal Court accompanied by the other defendants and the friends who came to offer him their services and cooperation. When the crowd managed to see him at the exit door broke out in acclamations and cheers to Albizu Campos and the independence. The head of nationalism began to walk on foot towards the Hotel Palace, where he is staying provi- sionally while the Pearson trial is being held. When the session is adjourned in the afternoon Mr. Albizu Campos leaves immediately for his home in Aguas Buenas. When he arrived at the Hotel Palace, in view of the fact that the people who seguían desired that he explain what had happened to him in the court, from the lobby of the entrance door he briefly addressed the public narrating the entire course that his process had been following before the Federal Court and of his other companions.
To a Reporter of “El Mundo”:
“This arrest means the defeat of the empire of the United States in Puerto Rico”, said Mr. Albizu Campos to a re- porter of this newspaper who requested a comment from him on the situation of the moment. And he added: “The arrest, it remains to confirm the murder. If this is perpetuated, the revolution will come immediately.”
Another Lawyer at His Service:
At about two fifteen in the afternoon, the lawyer Ernesto Ramos Antonini, “floor” leader of the liberal minority in the House of Representatives, met with Mr. Albizu Campos at the Hotel Palace to offer his services professional in the defense of his cause and of the cause of the other nationalists arrested yesterday for alleged conspiracy against the Government of the United States. Mr. Albizu Cam- pos cordially accepted the offer of cooperation that Mr. Ramos Antonini made him.
Search Warrant for the Home of Albizu Campos
When Mr. Albizu Campos arrived at the Corte Fede- ral in the morning of yesterday accompanied among other lawyers and friends, of the lawyer Rafael Ortiz Pacheco, was notified of that in Caguas the homes of several nationalists and that a search had already been carried out in the residence of Mr. Erasmo Velázquez, secretary of the Board Nationalist Municipal of said population. They had also arrived reports in the sense that his home in Aguas Buenas would have to be raided, and in view of this situation instructed the lawyer Ortiz Pacheco to leave as quickly as possible. damente possible for Aguas Buenas. Mr. Ortiz Pacheco, al returning in the afternoon, informed a colleague of ours that the Chief Castilla, in union of the deputy marshal Bird, of the Court Federal, had gone to the house of Mr. Albizu Campos with the search warrant, but that they could not execute it because because his wife, Dr. Laura Meneses de Albizu, After examining the order, he noticed that there was an error in the name of the street, because it seems that the order indicated the house a be registered as on “Huertas Abajo” street, and the residen- cia in the town of Mr. Albizu Campos is on the street “Carmen”. So that the law enforcement agents realized that in reality the order was defective in that extreme, a group of nationalists who were around the residence, took them to the corner so that they could see there the sign in which the real name of the street appeared written. Mr. Ortiz Pacheco also told us that Mrs. Albizu Campos called the attention of the law enforcement agents indicating that they be careful with what they intended to do, lest it turn out that the regime they represented punished them for carrying out an illegal search.
According to the information that Mr. Ortiz Pacheco also gave us, the federal agents tried to raid the residence of Don Juan Caballero Flores, located in the same neighborhood “Mulas”, where Mr. Albizu Campos lived in the countryside lately, but due to another error in the name of the neighborhood they could not carry out the registration.
“Serene and Alert!”:
A large group of nationalists accompanied Mr. Albizu Campos along San José street to the Hotel Palace when yesterday the afternoon session of the Dionisio trial ended Pearson.
Upon entering the hotel, Mr. Albizu Campos, addressing to his followers, he told them: “Serene and alert!” Almost all them raised their hands in greeting and some wanted to applaud, but Mr. Albizu Campos cut short the attempt saying: “No, there is no applause”.
The crowd dispersed and shortly after Mr. Albizu Campos left by car for his home accompanied by of his private secretary, the young Juarbe, and of his fellow professional, lawyer Rafael Ortiz Pacheco.
William H. Montalvo, Editor.