New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-29
AN INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
SEVEN PRISONERS QUESTIONED BY UNITED ETA
~pn IA

SEVEN PRISONERS QUESTIONED BY UNITED STATES
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BLISS.
At p. H., while the Juniata was at anchor of the
Battery, revenue tug came alongside bringing
District-AttOrney Bliss, Commissioner Davenport,
Assistant District-Attorneys TremaD, Post, and
Purdy with three stenographors and an interpreter
They were received in the cabin by Commander
Braine and began an official investigation OF the
passengers of the Vrginius, Mr.. Braine being the
only of the ships officers allowed TO be present
The proceedings were characterized by great Sc
crocy; no members of the press were allowed to
hear the investigation. The survivors of the Viz
ginus, clothed in navy blue. were gathered in the
forecaste and conversed freely among themselves as
enc by one they were summoned by the sergeant
Of marines to enter the cabin. The investigation
lasted till the Junata dropped anchor oil the
Nayy-Ya at Z p. m. The following prisoners were
examined: Henry Knight, Antonio Constantine,
Manuel Manases, Leopold RHO, Henry King, Thos.
Lindsey and Ignacio Valdes. The nature of the
evidence was not made public by District Attorney
Bliss, and he stated that he should continue the
examination to-day.
From conversations with the officers Of the Juni-
alta it seems that there is concerted plan among
the prisoners to profess entire ignorance as to the
nature of the Vrgnus at the time she was captured
and 10 the transportation of arms for the Cubans
I
with view to avoid any trouble with this govern
eminent through a breach of the neutrality laws.
There is certainly great unanimity among them re-
garding the main points at issue
Dstrict-Attorney Bliss declines to make public the
nature of the evidence sought to be obtained from
the Virginiuss prisoners. II is understood, however,
that the principal point sought to be cleared up is
the exact status of the Virginius, who her own
ers whether she is entitled to fly the American flag
and how far the neutrality laws have been violated
All these points will have strong bear
ing on the question whether or not the United States
Government will comply with the demand of Spain
for the surrender OF the vessel The fact that those
who could have thrown some light on these ques-
tions were shot by Gen. BuTrel renders 1t likely
that the examination will be prolonged and that
the evidence obtained will be anything but salts
factory in determining the status of the nationality
of the Virginius The prisoners were very guarded
in their statements to the officers OF the
Juniata. They deny that arms or ammunition were
thrown overheard from the Yrginius during her en-
deavors TO escape from the Tornado, evidently be-
lieving that such admission would criminate them
selves and render likely their surrender to the Span
ish authorities. in which event they feared they
would meet the fate of their leaders. So great
their fear in this respect that several were af-
fected to tears, and all less agitated.
Their tosti,nony tskon by stonosrspherr,
and sworn to. This will be written out and pre-
served for future action by the law officers of the
Government. The examination will be continued
to-day at length on board the Junata. Ii is under
stood that when the formal examination is con-
cluded the ban of secrecy Will be removed and the
prisoners allowed to make such informal statements
N they please to representatives of the press
and others. During the first four days of
the passage from Santiago de Cuba to
this port Commander Braine was engaged
in taking THE dispositions of the prisoners.
The statements were taken separately the services
of an Interpreter being brought into requsiton in
the case OF those who spoke Spanish alone and hence
of majority of the prisoners. 1t is understood that
little more than has already been made public was
obtained The witnesses either knew very little of
the intentions of the leaders of the expedition
were afraid of eliminating themselves by making
them public. The officers of the Junata agree in
saying that the only intelligent one of the survivors
is Samuel Gray alias Gratz and he refuses to make
any connected intellgible statement of the move
ments of the vessel or those on board The deposit
tions obtained by Commander Braine were sealed,
and have been transmitted to the authorities at
Washing ton. He declines to give the purport Of
these leaving it to the civil authorities to make
them public.
VOYAGE OF THE JUNIATA. .