The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-10-10
From the Plaindealer.
A Letter from Capt. Kelly.--Consul


DEAR SRI see letter going the rounds
of the newspa pers from Allen F. Owen,
United States Consul at Havana. Permit
me, through the columns Of your paper, to
correct some of his statements IN regard Ia
his conduct towards COL Crittendens com.
mand and other American prisoners, since
confined in the Punta at Havana. In the
| first place he says:
81 reside about -four miles from this place,
and not being well on the morning Of the
10th, did not reach my Office till some time
after ten o'clock, where for the first Time,
heard Of the capture of about fifty of the
men who had come with Lopez to the island
in the steamer Pampsro. |, at the same
time heard that the prisoners had been tried,
found guilty, condemned, ordered 10 be exc
cuted, the order for their execution sent for
ward, and that they were about being re-
moved from the sharbor where they were 10
the place Of execution" soc.
This is the most perfect collection Of false
hoods, | ever met with, and is only equalled
in absurdity by the audacity of the man, in
thus attempting to justify his conduct
through the American press. ~ He does not
live four miles out OF town, nor was he sick
a. the time referred TO. He did know in
time of the arrest OF Col. Cri,tenden and his
party, and was sent for by them, and posi-
lively refused TO see them, on The score that
they were outlaws. The American, Ger
man, and English citizens residing in Ha.
vana, will testify 10 this whenever called
upon. -
The American Consul's assertion, that the
prisoners. had been, tried, found guilty and
condemned. is falsehood; that every mar
in the United States, at all acquainted with
Spanish law and Spanish rule, must see al
once. II is not the custom to try prisoner:
in Havana, other than by the gaYroic, or BY
shooting in the back, which Mr.. Owen knew
at the time he penned bis letter. as well al
The Governor General did himself, and judg
ing from Mr.. Owens conduct, should thinl
he was more in dread Of getting in prison
himself, than anxious to get Others out
The Governor General exercises great innu
ence over cowardly wretches like Allen F
Owen, no matter what country they may hal
from. Hence, account, in great meas
ure, for his neglect Of duty, in perm itiinI
the Americans to be shot. Esl
With regard TO The other prisoners, hi
conduct is equally outrageous. When
reached the prison, ] found eight or ten 0
my comrades there, and they all said that tn
Consul had not been TO see them. ais
sent the same evening, by an American mel
chant at Havsna, to Mr.. Owen, and he re
fused to-come, saying that our own Govern
ment did not recognize u.s.. When Cap
Platt, Of the Sloop.of. War Albany, yisite
us, Isent to Mr.. Owen by him, and he agai
refused TO come.
Then, Lieut.. Taylor Of the Albany, sal
he would "make him Gomez and the ne,
morning Mr.. Owen paidus visit with Cap
. Plat. AS he came ia the Americans gail
cred around him, and for some reason
backed through the door, and held -conv4rs'
ton with us with the CRATES INTERVENING
Ithen asked him to,sssist me in correspond
ing with my friends in the United Staies,-
He refused TO help me and said that / woul
be sent to Spain.
Many of the prisoners then gsve up d
/ hope Of assistance from the American Cor
sui, and threw themselves on the protectio
Of Mr. Crawford, the British Consul. Tw
; Of the Mississippi volunteers, AMERICAN
called themselves IRIsHMEN, in order TO Of
I. tain assistance from the English Consul.
| After,I was released, nd,while remain
ing on board the ship Norma, the America
Consul asked a friendof mins from New 0
$ leans, If ] knew why l was feleasedg N
friend said no. Mr.. Owen Then said, th
/, lhs did not want the credit OF blame Of n
release to restnpon him. l.'ss y, "
/ My object in Publishing this letter, Is
defend the reputation Of my gallant cor
Ipanions now in prisofi,B by fefuting the falls
. hoods ia Mr.. 0wen's letter, and to show
!. 1.-The American people the true character :
I Itbeir Consul at Havana. - y
will the papers that have published N
Owens lettsr give sbisa place in their q
IumnsY j.. A. KELLY.
lxS Late Capt. Cuban Exp.
n y. " =. n, y. y. " !, ~ M