The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-24
The Baltimore Investigation.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch
NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-The Herdld's Val
paraiso special says: Judge Of Grimes
Foster has concluded his inquiry into the
assault upon man-of-war's men of the
United States cruiser Baltimore in the
streets of Valparaiso on October 16 last,
and passed the testimony over to the pro-
curator fiscal for his opinion. The fiscal,
or attorney, in accordance with Gillian
criminal procedure, will lay down the law
In the case, after which the judge will give
his decision. | have seen the entire testi-
mony; there are 300 pages of 1t, 1t goes on
to say that the BaltimOre's men, who were
arrested, stated that citizens and other
parties assaulted them. There was not the
slightest evidence of Handwriting or bad
treatment by the police. Seaman Garrett
thought, but was not sure, that policemen
stabbed him. All of the Baltimore's sail
ors, with the exception of Brown, who ap-
peared TO have been perfectly sober, &C
knoTledged that they had been Thinking
Thirty American sailors were arrested in
the first instance. The court of inquiry
was kept waiting far evidence that was
valuable in arriving at any conclusion be-
cause Captain Schley, OF the Baltimore.
stated that Minister Egan. would procure
other witnesses to the sffray. The Judge
adds that the inquiry is now concluded
without these promised witnesses having
been produced. -Four of the accused riot
ers are held.
Gomez, one of the four, acknowledged
stabbing Coal HEAVIER Turnbull three
times in the back. Turnbull received in
all eighteen wounds in the back, two of
which penetrated his lungs and caused his
death, shortly after the death of Boats
vans Mate Charles Riggin. Gomez,
however, while admitting that he stabbed
Iurnbull, asserts that he was defending
some friends of his whom Turnbull had
knocked down. He does not think the
stabbing was the cause of Turnbulps
death.
Ahumad, another of the four prisoners,
denied all participation III the assault, but
evidence of the other witnesses is to the
effect that he engaged in 1t.
Rodriguez, the third of the accused pris-
oners, acknowledged that he stabbed
Boatsw ANS Mate Charles Riggin because
Riggin assaulted one of the sailors of the
| Gillian torpedo boat Almirante Cochran.
Seeing his countrymen illtreated, Rodri-
guez plunged his knife into the American
sailor. Riggin, it will be remembered,
after being stabbed was let to die in the
street. Petty Officer johnson lifted him
in his arms to carry him to a neighboring
| drug store. AT that moment, 1t Is alleged
by the Baltimore's men, the Gillian police
came up, fired at Riggin over Johnson's
shoulder and killed him.
Cortez, the fourth prisoner who is
Santa Cruz negro, claims that he was not
at all mixed up in the riot. He had re-
volver in his possession. but alleges that
he carried it simply to defend himself The
judge says that there is strong doubt as to
Cortez's completely in the affair.
One of the witnesses testified that he
saw three policemen holding Riggin when
he was shot. Our sailors stories were the
same as they gave aboard the Baltimore
after the assault. The evidence Of saloon
keepers and other witnesses was very CON
ficting. These are all the important points
in the report.
After the fiscal has reviewed the testi-
mony and returned it for Judge Foster
to pass Judgment upon, it will be submitted
to the supreme court for final decision
Every step In the investigation is now be-
ing hurried up by request of the govern
ment.
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Malta has
sent reply to the letter of the Argentine
minister, Senior Urribun, in regard tc
Gillian police espionage upon the Ameri-
can legation. Senior Malta promises tt
withdraw the detectives from the neigh
borhood of Ministsr Egan's house but say.
he will continue to maintain uniformed DO
lice around the leg alton.