Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05
Americans Who Have Been Arrested
by the Spanish.
SANGUILLY AND CEPERVS CASES
The Latter Talks With the Star
Correspondent.
TALES OF CAPTURED REBEL
From The Stars Special Correspondent.


HAVANA, January %, 1896.
1t Is strange that when an American cit
izen Is arrested in Cuba and thrown into
prison by the authorities, local Spanish
papers forthwith adjudge him guilty of such
crimes as are punishable by capital exc
cutions. and clamor for an immediate
carrying out of the sentence. In numerous
instance. during the past six or eight
months has the prompt and determined
Intervention Of the American consul gen.
eral, Mr.. Williams, alone saved the lives Of
citizens of the United States.
Mr.. Williams, like most officers of the
consular or diplomatic service, has no use
Tor bogus citiZens+those who for a few
dollars have purchased notarial certificates
somewhere or another in the United States
and who know little and care less concern
Ing the American government and people
out this particular representative of our
country in Havana has shown himself a
capable, willing and unf1inching defender
of the true American citizen who may by
some means IT other get into trouble with
the Spanish authorities.
Julio Sanguilly, now in the Moro serving
n life sentence, was ordered shot, when the
consul general protested in no uncertain
manner and saved his life. The same Is
true Of Jose Lorenzo Cepero, recently made
prisoner on the steamer coming from Cien-
fuegos.
The Evening Star correspondent visited
Cepero in his cell at the Moro today He
denies that he is or was in any way con-
nected with the revolution, and cites off,
cial dispatches from the field showing that
the rebel leader Cepero is still with the in
surgents. and. by the way, doing some
hard fighting with his little band. Cepero,
the prisoner, is certainly a bona fide Amer
lean citizen Of fifteen years standing He
came to Cuba some time ago, not for the
purpose of taking up arms against Spain,
but Of going to work upon plantation as
assistant manager in the grinding mill.
However, his case has been transferred to
the jurisdiction Of the civil courts and If
he is granted a trial within year or two
he probably will not receive more than a
life sentence.
Despite the transfer of his case to
the civil courts by the local authorities,
Havana newspapers today demand that he
be Immediately tried and punished. One of
them, Ell Pueblo says that it Is shame
that Spain will allow such man even a
show of his life. He should be given over
to the people in the Streets" the flimsy
sheet declares, land torn limb from limb"
Pooling the Spanish.
In cells alongside Of Cepero's are two
"plateados," bushwhackers, who were cap
tured near Bahia Honda few days ago.
They were not shot as soon as taken,'
which would be in accordance with an or
der issued some time ago with reference to
''pIateados," but were brought to Havana
and allowed to live, at least up to this
time. because they assured the authorities
that Maxine Gomez was wounded.
The government does not seem to be
awake to such stories which rebel prisoners
and ''plateados" know SO well how to tell.
A rebel is captured in fight. He is NOR
ally certain that he will not be treated like
a prince unless he happens to think Of
those two unfortunates in Richard lid,
and he at once informs his captor that he
has a bit of important information for
him. Gomez was wounded All, the Span
ish officer is much pleased! Now he will
wire to Havana the glorious news. and he
will receive a decoration for having COM