New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-03
EXECUTION OF PINTO AT H4VANA.

Correspondence OF The N. Y. Tribune
CHARLESTON, Wednesday, March IS.
Having left Htvsna bat few day, ago, beg to
inert in your esteemed paper the folio wing state
men's of fact: Ramon Plato was exec lted by toe
g.rro,e, on last Thursday, at O'Clock In the
morning. He suffered death with courage and
resolution, aid even TO his last moments declared
his innocence. The execution took place, with
most horrible preparations, by the hand of young
negro, who seemed TO be yet novice ia his pro
fessOn. The miserable proceedings of justice
which were employed against him, az we'll as the
social position of Pinto, gained for him even the
sympathies of the most moderate men. All at.
tempts of the foreign COnsuls, especially of Mr..
Robertson and Mr.. Crawford, to save his life. il
the interest of justice and humanity, were in vain
Neither the age, nOr the gray hairs of the old man.
nor the universal consideration which he enioyed
as one of the few scientifically educated men of
the country, nor his former friendly relation to
Concha, nor the applications of his family aud
friends, were able TO touch the heart of the Cap.
tan-General. Spanish hatred and the fanat.
cism of his surroundings, demanded victim, and
sufocated, as it were, in Concha, every emotion of
the heart and the conscience Suffer few words
on this last bloody episode in the history Of Cuba
from man whom erelusireiy scientific purpose had
led TO Cuba who remained entirely foreign to every
party movement, ard who had always severely
condemned all kinds of pratical and fllibustering
enterprises.
Pntos condemnation and execution must be
called an infamous illegal murder. have read
with the greatest attention and calmness all the
documents relating TO hiscase, and desired to be
able TO find in them justification of the proceed
Dgs Of Concha, whom always thought to be an
honest man. There is, however, nothing to be
found in these documents, not even the slightest
shade of real judicial proof. provided one does
not take the denunclatiOn of a certain RO1 riWez
fer evidence, an individual stained already by a
double crime that had caused several years i'm
prsonment, aud OF whom the police made use as a
spy. What can we think of tie character of Con-
cha, if he does not himself refuse to send such an
individual to Pinto, with secret orders TO propose
TO him the murder of COncha, merely TO hear
what be will answer to such a proposition The
only thing found among his papers, which might
have compromised him. was a letter written with
signs and accompanied by drawings, which, accord
ue 70 the imagination and fancy of the Court
maiuai, We're intended TO serve as plan of in.
snnd non The Spanish inquisitorial proceedings
90 .nese lew scratches on paper quite sufficient
70 sentence the poor scrutcher TO death.
Sui more horrible is the con5.mn.,;or of
Cadalcos and of Dr. Pintlo .o,ins, a hon 80
the Spanish attorney could not End anv nroof of a
reasonable attempt, and therefore s.k.d from Tho
Conrt-martial but moderate punisbmen, L.
quiIes q genuine Spanish inquisitc,i.l sn;rit %
pronounce capital sentence against the.s tue
is more careful for justice and trIaL, than for