The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-01
The CUBANS ON TRIAL
FILIBUSTERERS UNDER AR
REST ARE GIVEN A PRELINI- z
NARY HEARING.
THEY WERE HELD IN $500 BAIL

ish LegatiOn--Twenty-s Boxes
OF Arms and Ammunition Were
Found and Also Several Letters to
Gen. Gomez--TheV Will BE Tried BY
the. United States Court Sept. 10,
WILMINGTON, Del, Aug 31.-Ralph
De Soto, who eluded the Federal officers
yesterday afternoon at Penn's Grove,
while they were searching for Cuban fill
busterers, was in the United States court
room this morning and during a portion
of their hearing served as interpreter
The prisoners remained in the court
room all night. Not having beds, most
of the men did not go to sleep until 4
o'clock. They passed the time talking
and smoking.
The court room was thronged long
before 10 o'clock, the time set
for the trial of the prisoners
to begin. The hearing did not
commence until 1926 O'Clock 1t took
place before United States Commissioner
McAllister. United States District At
torney Vandegrift. conducted the prose
cation, and H. q. Ward was counsel for
the defendants. The proceedings began
with Commissioner .McAllister reading
section 5,266 Of ssaa Revised Statutes Of
the United StatasSs Next he called the
names of the prisoners and read to each
the charge preferred against him. Each
plead not guilty.
Mr.. Ward contended that the prison
ers were arrested illegally, claiming
United States Marshal Lannen appre
hended them outside the jurisdiction of
the court. The District Attorney and
the commissioner stated that the COM
plants and warrants had been made
out since the defendants were brought
to this jurisdiction, and the commits
sioner announced that the case would
have to go on.
Branlia Pena was then arraigned
singly.
Marshal Lannen was the first witness
called upon TO testify. He testified as
follows:
Pursuant to instructions put in my
hands yesterday, | chartered the tug
Meteor and went to Penn's Grove. There
/ captured twenty seven boxes of arms
and ammunition and arrested the de-
PENDANTS. | opened two of the boxes.
One contained sharp carbines and the
other contained metallic cartridges. The
boxes were thirty feet from the outer
end of the Penn's Grove wharf"
The witness produced circular let
ter respecting Cuban sympathizers which
he had received from the Attorney Gen
eral. 1t was offered in evidence.
Continuing, the Marshal said:
81 acted on orders issued by the Assls-
tant Collector of the Port. He showed
me telegram, which was the basis of
his authority for issuing the orders.
When the baggage arrived in Whining
ton it was dumped promiscuously in the
patrol wagon and sent to the custom
house,
On cross examination the witness said:
''The defendants were not near the
place where the ammunition and bag
gage were seized"
Thomas H. Nicholson, master of the
Taurus, was next called. He told Of
taking the party of filibusters out on
Thursday night. Ralph De Soto told
Nicholson to 60 out on the river between
Gordon Heights and the mouth of the
creek. They were to meet ship, which
was to bow three whistles, but the ship
did not come. The cases, Nicholson said,
were put ON board the tug by the de-
PENDANTS.
Edward S. Gaylor, the detective, then
told of being informed by theSpanish le-
cation of the shipment of arms from Phil
adelphia, and told how he had detected
the goods shipped by the Wilmington
Steamboat Company.
Detective Gaylor further told Of find
ing package of letters, which he turned
over to District Attorney Vandegrift.
Upon being opened the package con-
tanned several sealed letters directed to
Gen. Maxine Gomez, who has charge of
the Cuban revolution.
After some further testimony of little
Importance recess was taken until 3
o'clock.
When the hearing was ended the fill
busterers were held in $500 bail, each
for United States Court, which meets
September 10th. DR.. ]. A. Draper,
Gen. j. Parkepostles and DR.. Ralph De
Soto were their bondsmen.
Reinforcements From Spain.
HAVANA, Aug. 31.-The steamer Cata-
luna, having on board 146 Spanish Off
GERS and / 200 troops, as well as bat
terry of artillery, arrived here from Spain
to-day. Gen. Lachambre, attended by
a number of officers and committees of
citizens, boarded steamer with band
of music, and went outside the bar to
meet the Catalina. They and the yes
sels' barber were decorated with
flags and large crowds of peo-
Pile assembled TO welcome the re-
Inducements. The committees, repre-
senting the different branches of com
meree of this city, distributed the sum
of 81 to each soldier. In addition, the
manufacturers of tobacco and cigarettes
gave banquet to the officers at the
Hotel ~ Louvre, and dinner to nom
commissioned officers. A committee of
citizens provided banquet and enter
tainment for the soldiers.
The city was illuminated TO night.
lit is rumered in official circles here
that the column of Spanish troops com
manded by Col. Palanca have had a
skirmish with the insurgent forces COM
manded by Roloff and the latter is said
to have been wounded.
An Expedition For Cuba.
FERRY, o. T., Aug. 31.-It was made
known here to-day that two hundred
men had signed their names to go to
Cuba and fight for the country's freedom.
1t is said that the band will organize
Monday and that an agent has been in
Kansas City for some time getting re-