Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-11-01
From the Plandeaer.
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN KELLY-CoNsUL
OWEN.
CLEVELAND, ONO, Sept. 80, 1851.

From the Plaindenler
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN KELLY-CONsUI
OWEN.
CLEVELAND, ONO, Sept. 80, 1851.
DEAR SIR: see letter going the rounds
of the newspapers from Allen F. Owen, U
S. Consul at Havana. Permit me, through
the columns of your paper, to correc, some
Of his statements in regard TO his conduct to
ward Col. Crittenden's command, and othei
American prisoners since confined in the
Punta at Havana. In the first place, he says
'l 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 10 o'clock, where, for the first time,
heard Of the capture of about fifty of the men
who had come with Lopez 10 this island in
the steamer Pampero. at The same time
heard that tAe prisoners had been tried,
found guilty, condemned, ordered to be exc
cu,ed, the order for their execution sent for
ward, and that they were about being re-
moved from the harbor, where they were, 10
she place Of execution"
This is the mos, perfect collection Of false
hoods ever met with, and is only equalled
in absurdity by the andacity Of the man in
thus attempting to justify his conduct through
miles out of town, nor was he sick at the
time referred 10. lie did know in time Of
the arrest of Col. Cri,enden and his party,
and was sent for by them, and positively re-
hn
we're outlaws. The America German and
English citizens resident in Havana will ties.
~ 10 this whenever called upon.
The American Consul's assertion that the
,,;soners had been tried, found guilty, and
.ondemned is a fasehood that every man in
he United States, a, all acquainted with
pansh law and Spanish rnle, must see al
nee. It /. not the custom TO try prisoners
Havana. other than bv the gdrroie, or by
hoo,ing in the back, which Mr.. Owen knew
The time he penned his letter, as well as
e Governor-General did himself: and, judy.
ig from MIR. Oweu's conduct, should think
was more in dread of getting into prison
rmself than ANXIOUS 10 get others out. The
ovcrnor-Gen-ral exercises great influence
'er cowarlly wreirhes like Allen Owen,
matter what country they may hail from
rnce | account, in a great measure, for his
'glect of duty in permitting the Americans
hn shot.
With regard 10 the other prisoners, his con-
ct is equally outrageous. When reached
eprisnn, found eight or ten Of my COM
les there, and they all said that The Consnl
Il not been 10 see them. also sent, the
ne evening, by an American merchant a,
vaua, 10 Mr.. Owen, and he refused to
no, saving that our Government did not
.ognize u.s. When Capt. Plati, of the
op.of.war Albany, visited US sent to MIR.
on hv him. and he again refused to come.
Then Lieut.. Ta,lo of the Albany, said he
u'd "makc him come" and the next
rning Mr.. Owen paid Us a visit with Capt.
II. As he came in, ,he Americans gath
d around him, aud for some reason he
kcd lnrough The door, and he'd conversa-
with us with the CRATES intervening.
II asked him 10 assist me in corresponding
nv friends in the United States. He
Ised 10 help me, and said would be sent
paiu.
Iany of the prisoners then gave up all
e. of assistance from the American Con-
and threw themselves on the protection
hr. Crawford, the British Consul. Two
he Mississippi volunteers Americans,
ed themselves lrshmen, in order 10
,in assistance from The English Con-
fler | was released and while remaining
,oard the ship Norma, the American
'ul asked friend Of mine from New
ans, if | knew | was released. My
ID said no Mr.. Owen then said, that
id not want the credit or the blame of
reeasc 10 rest upon him.
Y object in publishing this letter is 10
nd the reputation Of my gallant COM
ons now in prison, by rrluring the false
in Mr., Owens letter, and 10 show to
American people the lrue chalacter of
Cnnsu al Havana.
i'll The papers that have published Mr.
us letter give this place in their
ms
J. 4. KELLY,
Late Captain Cuban Expedition.