Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-25
COMPETITOR PRISONERS SAFE.
Arrnignment of No Particular Im-
portance mt Present.

Arrnignment OF No Particular I'm
pOrtnnce Mt Present.
Copyright, 1895 by Press Publishing Company.
HAVANA. Cuba, Nov. 24.-(New Yorl
World Cablegram-Special Teegram) THE
proceedings on November IA in the case Of
the Competitor prisoners were simply ,ht
taking OF the prisoners declarations as
preliminary step to their formal trial.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-The State de
partment has received absolutely no infor
nation of any kind from Havana or else
where concerning the report that the Com
petitor prisoners have been tried in MorrC
castle by a secret and summary court
martial. Under these circumstances NJ
statement will be made at the department
concerning the report. but in view OF tn,
provisions OF our treaty and the clear right:
of the domestic law OF Spain, the officials
are lothe to believe that the report is cor
rect. 1t is pointed out that under the Law
for public order promulgated in Havana
some months ago. 1t is absolutely essential
that counsel shall be allowed TO prisoners
on trial and that there shall be no secrecy
in proceedings. Under the protocol OF ouI
treaty with Spain likewise is a provision
for publicity in trials and for full repre-
sentation OF accused by counsel. 1t is be-
lleved. in view OF these provisions of law
that the authorities at Havana would not
make such a flagrant breach of law as the
report alleges.
From further inquiries 1t is apparent that
the reports concerning the Competitor 5
prisoners are at least based on a miscon-
ception of the nature of the present proceed
ings. They have not yet been placed on
trial in the general sense Of the word the
facts being that the Spanish authorities
are making an investigation OF the Competi-
tor cases similar to that provided for under
our grand jury system, that is. a sort of
preliminary examination. The consuls and
vice consuls Of Spain in this country are
investigating the claims OF the persons ar
rested to American citizenship. For in
stance. one OF the men claims to be resi-
dent OF Kansas, and the consul for that dis
trlct is engaged in an inquiry as to his
citizenship. either by birth or naturalization.
From Spanish sources II is learned that
there is no intention OF dealing with the
Competitor prisoners in harsh or unjust
manner.
Consul General Lee was at the State de-
partment again today. When asked as to
the report that the Competitor prisoners
had been tried at MORO castle, contrary to
the protest made by himself before he left
Havana. General Lee said: Il do no. be-
lieve any trial has occurred III II had the
facts would be speedily reported here by
Vice Consul Springer. There have been
some preliminary steps toward the trials
and the depostlons OF the prisoners were
taken. but further than this nothing has
been done that | know Of" When General
Lee was asked as to the protest referred to
as having been made by him. he said it
probably referred to the report made by him
before the first trial OF the Competitor
prisoners and renewed In the present in
stance that the crew of the American ship
was entitled to a civil trial rather than
trial by court-martial. as provided in the
treaty and protocol between the United
States and Spain. The consul general re-
ferred to an open letter from a Fredericks-
burg Va, editor TO President Cleveland,
which was published today. urging the
president TO act on Cuba. Coming from a
fellow townsman and a close friend OF Gen
eral Lee some significance might attach to
II. but General Lee said he desired TO have
II understood that he knew nothing about
the letter and had nothing 70 do with H.