Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-24
ROBERT AND MINNIE.
THE SCHOONER CHARGED WITH
ALL SORTS OF CRIMES.
Libel-The Accusations Against the
Little Craft.

Libel proceedings were yesterday COM
menced in the United States district
court by District Attorney w. Cole,
ME. which is now lying at San Pedro
under arrest, to forfeit that vessel to
the use and advantage of the United
States government. The information
of libel" as it is technically called, is an
interesting document, and in substance
is as follows: 1t recites the seizure OF
the vessel by Marshal Gard, ON May the
9th, near Dead Mans island, and asks
her forfeiture to the United States for
the following reasons:
"That heretofore, viz, on the 21st day
of April, 1891, at the port of San Fran
cisco, state of California, and on waters
which are navigable from the sea for
vessels of more than ten tons burden,
and within the limits of said state, one
George A. Burt, and divers persons to
the attorney unknown, were knowingly
and unlawfuly concerned in furnishing,
fitting out andarming the said schooner,
called the Robert and Minnie, with in
tent that the said schooner Robert and
Minnie should be employed in the SER
fiCC Va SCit1ih ioiCtSh PSoktC, VIZ, cOA
tain persons known as the Congressional
party, then citizens OF and residing in
the republic OF Chile, organized and
banded together in great numbers in
AIMED rebellion and attempted revolution
and carrying on war against a
certain foreign state, viz, the
said republic of Chile, and the
government thereof; to commit
hostilities against the citizens and prop
erty of foreign state, viz, the republic
of Chile, with which the United States
now are and then were at peace. And
the said Burt and the other persons SO
concerned in furnishing, fitting and
arming said vessel called Robert and
Minnie in pursuance of such intent
did on said 2lst day Of April, 1891, at
said port of San Francisco, on waters
navigable from the sea by vessels of
more than ten tons burden, place and
canse to be placed on such schooner
large quantities of arms and munitions
of war, viz, 10000 rifles, 10000 bayo-
nets, 10 900 muskets and 500,0 900 rounds
OF ammunition therefor, and transported
the same on said schooner to an anchor
age on the Pacific ocean near. to and
within three miles of the island of San
Clemente, which island is part of the
state of California, and is in the south
ern district of California and within the
jurisdiction OF this court, and after
wards, viz, on the 10th day of May,
1891, then and there did commit hostili-
ties against the republic of Chile by then
and there unlawfully delivering said
arms and munitions of war on board of
certain steamship called the Itata,
which was then and there warship in
the possession and under the control of
said insurgents, and to the officers
thereof, to be used by said insurgents
and by said ship i'm carrying on war
against the citizens and property of the
said republic OF Chile, and said warship
Itata was at the time of the delivery to
her of said arms and munitions of war
on the Pacific ocean and within three
miles OF said island of San Clemente,
within this district and the jurisdiction
of this court"
The court is then prayed that all per-
sons interested in the vessel be cited to
appear and that the vessel be declared
forfeited to the United States.
AS asked for in the libel, Judge Ross
ordered 'monition" to issue to the
marshal commanding him to attach the
schooner Robert and Minnie, cher
tackle, apparel and furniture" and to
detain the same in his custody until
the further order of the court. The
marshal is also instructed to give due
notice to all persons claiming the
schooner to appear before the court on
Tuesday the 10th day OF June to defend
their rights and show cause why the
vessel should not be forfeited.
The grand jury accomplished but lit
tie yesterday in its investigation of the
Itata case. 1t is said by those well in
formed, that a final report will be
handed in to the court Tuesday noon.