Evening star., 1895-08-31
THE WILMINGTON FILIBusTERs.
They Were Arraigned Thi. Morning

WILMINGTON, Del, August 31.-Ralph
De Soto. who, it was stated last night.
eluded the federal officers yesterday after
neon at Penn's Grove, while they were
searching for Cuban filbusters, was in the
United States court room this morning,
and during a portion of their hearing
served as interpreter. The prisoners re-
manned in the court room all night. Not
having beds. most of the men did not go
to sleep until o'clock They passed the
time talking and smoking.
The flibusters presented a better appear
ance this morning than they did last night.
The court room was thronged long be-
fore 10 o'clock, the time set for the trial Of
the prisoners to begin. The hearing did
not commence until 10:45 o'clock. 1t took
place before United States Commissioner
McAllister.
United States District Attorney Vande-
grift conducted the prosecution, and H. III.
Ward was counsel for the defendants. The
proceedings began with Commissioner Nc
Allister reading section 52S6 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States. Next he
called the names of the prisoners and read
to each the charge preferred against him.
Each pleaded not guilty.
Mr.. Ward contended that the prisoners
were arrested Illegally, claiming United
States Marshal Lannan apprehended them
outside his jurisdiction and outside the
jurisdiction of the court.
The district attorney and the commission
er stated that complaints and warrants
had been made out since the defendants
were brought to this jurisdiction, and the
commissioner announced that the case
would have to go on. Braulia Pena was
then arraigned singly.
Marshal Lannnn's Statement.
Marshal Lannan was the first witness
called upon to testify. He testified as fol
lows:
Pursuant to instructions put in my
hands yesterday, chartered the tug Me-
teor and went to Penn's Grove. There !
captured twenty-seven boxes of arms and
ammunition and arrested the defendants.
I opened two of the boxes. One contained
Sharps' carbines and the other contained
metallic cartridges. The boxes were thirty
feet from the outer end of the Penns Grove
wharf.
The witness produced circular letter
respecting Cuban sympathizers which he
1t was offered in evidence.
Continuing, the marshal said:
Il acted on orders issued by the assist
ant collector of the port. He showed me a
telegram, which was the basis of his au-
thority for issuing the orders. When the
baggage arrived in Wilmington it was
dumped promiscuously in the patrol wagon
end sent to the custom house"
On crOSS-examlnatl0n the witness stated
THE defendants were not near the F.ace
where the ammunition and baggage were
seized"
Thomas H. Nicholson, master of the
Taurus, was next called. He told of TAX
ing the party of flibusters out on Thurs
day night. Ralph De Soto told Nicholson
to go out on the river between Gordon
Heights and the mouth of the creek. They
were to meet a ship, which was to blow
three whistles. but the ship did not come.
The cases. Nicholson said. were put on
board the tug by the defendants.
Edward S. Gaylor. the detective, then told
of being informed by the Spanish legation
of the shipment Of arms from Philadelphia
and told how he had detected the goods
shipped by the Wilmington Steamboat
Company.
Detective Gaylor further told of finding
a package Of letters, which he turned ovel
to District Attorney Vandegrift. Upon be,
ing opened the package contained severa
sealed letters directed to Gen. Maxine
Gomez, who has charge of the Cuban revo.
luton.
After some further testimony of little
Importance a recess was taken until
o'clock.