The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-17
THE ABDUCTION CASE.
JUAN FRANCISCO REY, ALIAS GARCIA.
Before the Hon. Geo. " Bright Second Justice Of III.
Peace, and M. NJ. Cohen, u. s. Commissioner


JUAN Francisco Rev, ALIAS GARCIA.
Before the Hon. Geo. Y Bright Second Justice Of III,
Peace, and NJ NJ Cohen, u. s. Commissioner
NINTH DAY.-TuEsDAY, Aug 7.
Testimony Of Jose Ramon .1yaia continued Gar.
cha told witness that he wanted To see the Spanish
consul and ascertain whether ne could not get a
pardon, when he should return TO Havana Garcia
was taken sick at Morantes Witness was inform
ed of the fact by Llorente. Witness went TO see
Garcia, when the latter told him that he was very
sick, and would like TO see the Spanish consul He
requested witness TO 90 and bring the consul 10
him. Witness replied that as il was such a rainy
day, he Was doubtful whether the consul would
come but being urged he agreed TO 20. He left
Lorente with Garcia, went TO the Place d.4rmss
and took carriage. Went to the consu's office
and told him what Garcia wanted Theconsul re-
pied that he could not go in his official capacity to
see him, well knowing the laws of the country
Witness told him he did not call upon him as Span
ish consul, but as an individual. The consul then
agreed to go with witness Garcia, and he did
CO. he told Garcia that he had not come TO see
HIM IN his official capacity, but merely as an midi
vidual Garcia then entreated the consul TO hear
him. The consul answered that he could not UNI
less were at his Office Garcia replied that he was
ready to 60 with him. The consul, Llorente, Gar
GA and witness then entered the carriage and pro-
ceeded to the consul's office Witness then retired
leaving the parties mentioned in the Office. This
happened between the god and oath of June, and
witness left for Havana on the 9th. Garcia never
related to witness what occurred in the Office al
though he saw HIM IN a cOffee-house on ST. Ann
street, or two days before he (witness) left for
Havana. Garcia said that he regretted he was
not going with him. Said he expected to be in Ha-
vana in few days. Met him again the same af-
ternoon He said nothing about having made any
declaration before the Spanish consul, He told
witness that he expected to be pardoned through
he pediupo Of he Snapioh II H..
seen Garcia write his name very often. Has writ
2 ten letters for Garcia and seen him sign them The
letters were written to certain persons in Havana
asking them for money. The persons to whom
the letters were addressed were connected with the
failure of the house of Pedro, Blanco & Co. These
letters threatened those persons that if they did
send him The money Fernandez had promised him,
he would make declaration before the Spanish
consul, and would return to Havana and expose
them A letter was here shown to the Witness and
he was asked if he knew it. He replied that he
did, that it was the handwriting and signature of
Juan Garcia, late second jailer of the jail Hava-
ma. The letter was translated by Mr.. Gomez |
II is addressed to the Spanish consul from Havana
by Garcia.
Cross-eramined-lt was on the Oath, 25h or
26th, that Garcia told witness he expected to meet
him in Havana. Witness sailed from Havana in
the P. Soule on the evening of the 9th, under the
name of Jose Augustn Diaz That name was on
his passport 1t is not his name The consul gave
him letter for Havana when he sailed, but gave
him no money Never told any person that he re-
celved money from the consul to pay the expenses
of the trip. 1fany has said so it is false Wit
ness arrived on Monday last on board the p Soule.
During the time the p Soule was in quarantine at
Havana, witness remained on board. He after
wards ION the 23d) went ashore He stopped lat
house in Havana" When he arrived at Havana
he had been absent sixteen years. He called upon
his sister and brother-n-aw, where he stayed about
five minutes. person who was unknown to him
invited witness TO accompany him. Witness was
taken to strange house, where he was placed in a
small room. Every thing was provided for him,
and he remained there five days. At the expira-
ton OF that time the same man returned took him
away, and placed him the P. Soule. Witness
is related through the whole island Witness was
not at all curious TO know what kind Of a house he
was in. He was asked whether he did not know
that he in the Jail of Havana. His reply was
No, never was in the Havana Jail. When he
taken to the house he was warned by his con-
ductor not to go out-that he being searched
for, and, knowing it to be his own interest, he did
not go out. Witness thinks the house he was in
was private one DIR. Palmieri was passenger
on the P Soule The doctor insuted him on board
and then told, on their arrival, that his name was
not Diaz, but Ayala This witness supposed to be
the cause of his being searched for. As soon as
witness arrived at his brothcr-in-laws house, his
self; that it known throughout the town that he
was there, and that he would recommend him to a
person who would take care of him. Witness heard
the name of the man who conducted him, bat does
not remember it. The man dressed ct-
zen, and he had cane with silver head. The
witness asked If he did not know that the pc
lice only carry canes with silver heads. He did
not know it. If they do, IT must be a regulation
adopted since he left Havana.
The letter from Carlos de Espafia carried by wit
ness 10 Havana was addressed 10 Sr. Sandeval the
secretary of the captain general. A few days after
the vessel arrived at Havana, the board of health
beat came alongside, by which he received note
from Mr.. Sandeval. The note stated that he (Mr.
Sandeval) had learned from the Spanish consul at
New Orleans that he, (Ayala,) under the name of
Diaz, the bearer OF "a letter. Witness enclosed
the letter in the note and sent II on shore by DR..
Orta. Does not know Sr. Sandeya, and does not
know that he saw him while IN Havana. The day
he (the witness) left the p. Soule he was I'M
formed by the man who put him on board, that
there great excitement about Key, and that
the Spanish consul was charged with forcing Rey
off All the passengers who came on board were
talking about the affair.
Nh. Cohen asked the witness WHY his passport
was made out under fictitious He replied
that in 1888 he had fatal rencontre with Of his
cousins in Havana, and had since been absent from
that place. Witness obtained his passport from,
the Spanish consul himself The consul knew his
name WINS not DiaZ.
j. a Bonntrai iDas called.-Has had a conversa-
ton with Rogers in regard to putting Rey on board
the Mary Ellen. Charles Rogers and two or three
Spsnards TO witness in the capacity of alder
men, and wanted to make an affidavit against the
Spanish consul for the Rey affair Witness re-
fused to take any affidavit, and referred them to
Recorder Genois as the proper officer. Witness
asked Rogers who had engaged him in the affair.
He replied that # he had warrant he could 90
across the way, to Quadrss's coffee house. and ar
rest two Spaniards, who had the man Rey taken on
board the Mary Ellen.
There being witnesses for the defence in
court, Rufus Smith, an officer Of Judge Bright's
court, called by the prosecution Witness had
charge Of five Of the crew Of the Mary Ellen few
nights since The five men were called up wit
nesses one at a time. When the five were with
witness he had them in the barber's shop below.
Witness was most Of the time sitting down in the
front part of the shop. AT one time in particular,
| was standing against post near the door, with
his back to the men. Two ofthe stand
ing near him. Heard one of the men say TO the
other care we 10 say that we do know any thing