Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-10
BANDITS IN CUBA,
Men Murdered in Cold Blood or Kidnapped in
the Streets of Havana.
PltfSbur- Chros icle

Pittsburg Chrosicle.
1t IS an everyday scene in Havana TO
see man stopped on the streets by
desparadoes snd, after relieving him of
what he carries, he is bratally murdered
IN cold blood. If an honest citizen
should see the crime perpetrssed and
attempted to make known the facts TO
the authorities, he is either exposed TO
TO be murdered by some of the murder
ers' "chums" or he is srrested and kept
in jsil for six or eight months, so that
he will be on hand when required TO tss-
t1fy against the criminals; consequently,
If an honest citizen should see auy crime
committed he dare not say word about
1t.
Thus crimes are boldly committed in
broad daylight and on the most crowd
ed streets, such as e. Parque, Central
Gala, De Oblspo, C,lzsda, De La Reina,
Ii Louvre, etc, and the most remarkable
feature concerned in these outrayes, and
that reflects very little credit on the
Spanish tyrants that now occupy the is
land, Is that the entire ,ity of Havana is
patrolled by no less than 6CCO polic
soldiers, who are paid about SIS per
month, and get paid two months 10 the
year. Consequently, they rob and plum
der. and even murder q man for % cents
IN Spanish paper money, which Is about
10 cents in our currency. Matanzas has
always oeen the residence of rich sugar
planters that Own large plantstlons, and
during the dull season they generally
come to the city as / change. Kidnap-
pers, formed in bodies of from fifteen to
twenty men, come boldly into the city
and watch one of these planters as he
l. i.
amusement, and when he least expects
any trouble he Is pounced upon suddenly
by two or three of these murdererS, who
Immediately put him into a carriage and
he Is driven he does not know where,
and he Is bhudfolded, and Is kept in the
den until ransom is paid for his release.
The same thing happened to Senior For
res, rich planter, in Matauzas last week.
He was ''secuestrado' (kidnappedl and
held prisoner fifteen days, and was re-
leased after his check for $4,000 in
Spanish peoos was paid by the "Banco
Espauol de Matauzas" Spanish bank
of Matanzas).
The pirates have another way OF kid
nappipg. They will watch planters
maid go out with his children for walk.
when they deliberately come up, seize Il
child and away they so. Two or three
days after the occurrence the parents re-
ceive q letter by mail, bearing the cisy
stamp, saying: IF You don't deposit
such and such an amount in such and
such q place, We will in ten days send
you the child's head by a peon." LAST
week the merchants of Havana gathered
to the number of over two hundred, and
accompanied by hundreds OF citizens
| appeared before the palace of Capt.
Gen. Marin and demanded protection
He said ne was doing all he could, end
would do no more.
No one in Havana nor in any other
city of Cuba is allowed to carry arms
under heavy penalty, yet all criminals
in Cuba are always armed to the teeth,
and ready at any moment to kill. About
a month ago thieves broke into the cap
tain generals garden, "Quinta de Los
Molinos,' occupied by whole regiment
of guards, and not only stole all the
furniture, but went so far as to carry
away over ore hundred gas fixtures be
longing so the premises. The Spanish
authorities claim they cannot stop the
brigandage in Cuba, yet it Is hardly ex-
pected of them to do so, when they re
! quire all the time they can get to prose
| cute the editors of the Cuban press.