The evening world., 1895-08-31
20 FILIBUSTERS
PLEAD IN COURT.
Men Captured at Wilmington,
Del, Yesterday Say They
Are Not Guilty.
ALL ON A1UG, BOUND FOR CUBA
Arrested bv United States Mar.
shals with 27 Cases of
Ammunition.
PHILADELPHIA CONSUL ACTED.
TeIegraphed to Acting Secretary
Adee, Who Promptly Intercepted
the Expedition.


formation regarding the Cuban filibus-
tering expedition captured at Whining
ton. Del, yesterday afternoon reached
the State Department yesterday in the
shape of a warning from the Spanish
Consul at Philadelphia.
Acting Secretary Adee thereupon sent
the following letter to Secretary Car
Isle:
THE Spanish Consul at Philadelphia
IL about to make complaint under oath
at Wilmington. Del, on knowledge and
belief, that an armed expedition left
that port at midnight last night on tug
Taurus to be transferred to a steamer
for hostile purposes against the peace of
Spain In violation OF the neutrality laws
Of the United States.
Name of steamer to which expedi-
tion was to be transferred has not been
ascertained. Spanish Consul asks in
name OF Spanish Minister that steps be
taken to hold any steamer with suspi-
cious assemblage on board and to detain
Taurus until opportunity can be afford
ed to institute due judicial proceedings
to-day"
The Treasury Department acted with
great promptness. Acting Secretary
Curtis telegraphed the Collector of Gus
toms at Philadelphia, apprising him of
the reported expedition and instructing
him to despatch the cutter Hamilton
to Wilmington.
The Collector Mt Wilmington was in
formed that the Hamilton had been
ordered to report to him and that the
naphtha launch at the Delaware Break
water quarantine station could also be
used II desired. The result was that at
$50 last night MIR. Curtis received the
FOLLOWING telegram from Collector
Townsend at Wilmington:
Have captured the steam tug Taurus
bound for Cuba with arms. twenty men
and "a cases OF ammunition"
WILMINGTON. Del, Aug 81
Ralph Desoto. who, 1t was stated last
night. eluded the Federal officers yes
terday afternoon ut Penn's Grove, while
they were searching for Cuban iilibust-
ers, 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 filibusters presented a better ap-
pearance this morning than they did last
night.
The courtroom was thronged long be
fore 10 O'Clock, the time set for the trial
OF the prisoners to begin. The hear
ing did not commence until 10.i5 O'Clock
1t took place before United States Com
missioner McAllister
The proceedings began with Commits
sioner McAllister reading Section 5,2sG
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
pie AIDED not guilty.
Lawyer VI. IA. Ward contended that
the prisoners We're arrested Illegally.
claiming United States Mars hal Iannan
apprehended them outside his jurisdic-
tion and outside the jurisdiction of the
Court.
The District-Attorney and the Com
missioner stated that complaints and
warrants had been made out since the
defendants were brought to this jurs-
diction and the Commissioner an
nouroed that the case would have to
60 on. Braulia Peria was then ar
raigned singly.
Marshall Lannan was the first wit
Meteor and went to Penus Grove. where
he captured boxes of arms ana ammuni-
ton and arrested the defendants. He
opened two of the boxes. one contained
sharp carbnes and the other contained
metallic cartridges.
Detective Gaylor further told of find
ing OF package of letters which he
turned over to District-Attorney Van
dergrift. Upon being opened the pack
age contained several sealed letters di-
rected to Gen. MaXimo Gomez. who has
charge of the Cuban revolution.
After some further testimony of little
Importance a recess was taken until 3
o'clock.
Thomas II. Nicholson. master of the
Taufus, told of taking the party of
filiAIsters out Thursday night Ralph
Deabto told Nicholson TO go out on tho
rivd between Gordon Heights and tho
moSth Of the creek. They were to meet
snip. which was to blow three whs-
ties, 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 III" Spanish
Legation of the shipment OF arms from
Philadelphia and told how he had de-
tected the goods shipped by the VIII
mington Steamboat Company.