The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-05
THE DOMINICAN PRISONER.
Arrival of Dayis. Hatch In New YcrIt-Presi-
dent Baez's Victim on His Way Home.

Mr. Davis Hatch, resident Of South Norwalk,
Connecticut, left his home in 1862 for the island
of st. Domingo to assume control of salt
mountain in the Neba district, about fifteen
miles from Barona and one hundred miles from
st. Domingo city, and for the working of which
a number of New York capitalists had obtained
grant from the Government of Spain. Mr..
States, and again in 1865 went to st. Domingo
to resume operations at the salt mine.
Yesterday he returned, after an absence
of nearly five years sot although the only ex
the last time, to be absent two or
three months. In the course, however, OF the
many revolutionary movements going on there
under Cabral, Baez, and the triumyirate-Pi-
mentel, Garcia, and Luperon-Mr. Hatch be-
came involved in certain official transactions
with them, growing out of his assertion of the
rights of the corporation which he. represented,
and ultimately fell under the ban of President
Baez's displeasure, the result being that he was
designs of the Government (Which was Presi-
dent Baez), treason, etc., was finally tried,
without any opportunity for defense, and sem
fenced to death: The sentence was subse-
quently committed.
Another phase of the tronble has, however
been brought very prominently before the public
lately in consequence of the investigation by the
United States Senate into the question of a
claim asserted by Mr.. Hatch against the Baez
Government. This inquiry has brought up the
whole Dominican question, including the over
lures made by our Government for the anneXa-
ton of ST. Domingo and the result has been the
''washing" some very dirty diplomatic linen, and
in the course of the disclosures there are many
hints and riddles about Mr.. Hatch having been
imprisoned by Baez because he opposed the
scheme of annexation, and was influential in that
opposition among the Dominicans. Whether
he was guilty or not of such an indiscre-
tion is really matter of no Importance in justi-
fication of the act of imprisonment but the main
prominent fact is that an American citizen has
been treated with unusual severity, imprisoned,
tried, sentenced to death, without any cause to
warrant such action, so far as has yet been
shown, and that prominent government officials
have been fully aware of the fact by written
and verbal notifications, yet have winked at the
outrage and, apparently, have been in COLLISION
with the perpetrators. One thing in this con-
nection is certain, and that is that if Mr.. Hatch
had been a British subject Baez would never
have imprisoned him, or if he did, and refused
to surrender him on demand, even without
diplomatic formality, British frigate would
have made the temperature even more than
tropical about Baezs domicile.
Mr. Hatch was released by BaeZ, with his SEN
tence comnuted to immediate and perpetual
banishment, and has since that time been de-
tanned in st. Thomas, endeaVOring to effect a
settlement OF his business and private affairs in
st. Domingo. This he was unable to DO before
leaving, as by the arrangement between Rear
Admiral Poor, commanding the United States
West India squadron, and Baez, Mr.. Hatch was
Obliged to ''make tracks" direct, in a "bee
line" from his prison quarters to the ship
which bore him away. He was, in fact unable
even to procure his necessary wearing apparel.