The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-07
DIR. IIOUARD.

brief History OF his Sunerings-IIis I'm.
Er,.on~ent Conspiracy, ana his Trial n
A New York Herald correspondent
reports an interesting interview with DIR.
Houard in his prison in Cadiz. The
correspondent says DR.. Houard was so
pale and haggard that he seemed like a
man just arisen from bed of sickness.
His demeanor was refined, and marked
with that cautious, polite reserve so
frequent among gentlemen of his pro
fession. He was attired in deep black.
He is 81 years old. He speaks English
with the huency of native who has
never resided in foreign land, and his
accent is purely American. The corres-
pendent continues
Doctor" said, ~ trust that YOUR
misfortune will soon be over"
DR.. Hourd-I hope'I shall soon get
out of this horrible place. could not
live three months longer if | remained
here. am confined in dirty, filthy
room. $50 feet long, with not soul to
talk to. The room is full 81 vermin. 1t
is not fit for the habitation of a human
being.
Correspondent-How are you treat
ed?
DR.. Houard-As we'll as could be ex-
pected. When / first arrived | was
chained to the wall, but latterly my
irons have been removed, and thanks to
Gen. Durfies good offices, my condition
has been ameliorated in every respect,
but | cannot live if | stay here much
longer. ! am an old man, completely
broken down by the harshness with
which have been treated, and hardly
think | can live long anyway. While
imprisoned in Havana | swept the
streets Of the city, at least on two occa-
sions, with the rest of the chain gang.
During the voyage to this place, which
lasted II days, | was kept in irons
was i'll with dysentery all the way.
Correspondent-Have you at any time
renounced your allegiance to the United
States?
DR.. Houard--Never. | was educated at
Philadelphia, and was graduated ply
stefan at Jefferson College. After that
| returned to Cienfuegos, and practiced
my profession there up 10 the time of
my arrest. AS further proof that the
Spanish authorities were perfectly GER
tain that j was an American, the certi-
ficate of license granted me at Havana
to enable me TO practice medicine de-
clares me to have been born in Phila-
delphia. This fact is on record at
Havana.
Correspondent-Wha were the cir
cumstances that led to your arrest?
DR.. Houard-I am the victim of
conspiracy on the part of my enemies.
NV story is briefly told. Four ye rs be.
4 Al l.. 1f h.
ton, | sold a box of medicines TO q
young man. The box bore my name.
In the latter part of 1870 the Spaniards
surprised party Of Cuban insurgents,
along with the things captured was the
box of medicines, which still bore my
name. Now, does it not appear pre-
posterous TO any rational being, if | was
supplying the insurgents with medicines,
that | should have been foolish enough
to stamp my name on the packages of
drugs | sent them? Well, three of my
personal enemies forthwith informed
the government that | had been aiding
the Cuban insurgents, and furnishing
them with money. They also swore
that the box of medicines above alluded
to had been sent by me quite recently.
| was arrested on the 18th of Decem-
Der, 1870, at II o'clock at night, and
was ncarcerated in a dungeon for eight
months before / was brought to trial.
When arraigned before the court mar
tial, l was not even asked the usual
question whether | objected to
any member of the court. Two we'll
known personal enemies of mine acted
as my judges. was not present at the
trial, and only appeared again before
the court martial to hear my sentence
read. The witnesses, was informed,
were examined privately by the official
who called upon them and wrote down
whatever he pleased. This is the whole
case.