The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-12
DEATH SENTENCE POSTPONED.

| NE LII ols-N tdSNCLN A wa S-'NDs
American Prisoners Reprieved- Ofdcial
| From the United States War Depart-
| ment.
Washington, May 1.-THE state de-
partment gave out the following this
morning:
In the Competitor case it can be au-
thoritatively stated that at the request
of the United States the Spanish gov
eminent will postpone execution of the
death sentences upon American citizens
until the views of the United States re-
specting the application to their cases
Of the treaty of 1895 and the protocol
| of 1877 can be presented and consider
| ed
Previous to the announcement made
| by the state department of delay in the
| case of the Americans captured on the
| Competitor and sentenced to death by
! summary court-martial, all trustwor-
thy information here when Invested of
sensational surmises, led to the conclu-
sion that their position was not so pre-
carious as made out to be by the earli-
est reports from Havana.
Well informed state officers say that
the case is in many respects similar to
that of ex-Consul Waller in Madagas-
car, against whom, however, the evil
! dence was more of circumstantial
character, yet he was sentenced to PEN
al servitude for life, subsequently to be
fully pardoned upon the energetic in
sistence of Secretary Olney, whose
| prompt intervention in the Competitor
affair is not doubted will be as success
full ultimately.
Although the finding and sentence of
the Havana court-martial received the
approval of the admiral commanding
the naval forces, in capital case such
as this, his Endorsement has no effect
beyond referring the record for final
approval to higher officers just as in
our own navy, all capital court-martial
sentences pronounced upon any station
are not put into operation until ap-
proved by the president.
The sentences of the Competitor pris-
oners were forwarded to Madrid, where
they were met by Secretary Olney's
firm remonstrance against the precipi-
fancy and apparent prejudice with
which the extreme penalty was so has
ter is now under consideration, our own
authorities being confident that upon
calm reflection either a revision of the
trial involving proper representation OF
the defense will be forthcoming, or a
Communication of sentence will be grant
ed.
There is, of course, state officers say,
some danger of complications arising
from the incorporate language of the
Spanish newspapers based upon dis
patches sent from the United States,
and consequent outbreaks of the Span
ish populace, but these conditions are
, affected by the obligations under which
the existing Spanish government rests
to President Cleveland's administration
for it's conservative course in the past
few weeks, when notwithstanding the
overwhelming vote of both houses of
congress, by which the will of the peo-
pie for recognizing belligerency was
proclaimed, no overt action in favor of
the revolutionists has come from the
executive. 1t has probably occurred to
the Spanish cabinet that had belliger-
ency been proclaimed three weeks ago,
when congress demanded 1t, the sum-
mary sentence Of the Competitors cap
tives would have been utterly preclud-
ed by the plainest tenets of interna-
tional law.
WILL RESIGN WITH WEYLER
Madrid May u.-El Dia has advices
, from Havana that General Ochandc
and General Ahumado of the Spanish
army in Cuba have announced their
adherence to Captain General Weylel
and their intention to resign with him
if the sentences of death imposed upon
! the Competitor prisoners are revoked.
ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS.
London, May 1.-THE Globe, in an ar
ticle of the Cuban situation, says:
1.-THE present pretentious arrogance OF
the Washington statesmen has beer
) due to a determination to make Amer
lean commerce paramount in the west
, ern hemisphere. European sympathy
; is wholly with Spain.
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
1.-THE prisoners captured on board the
flibustering schooner Competitor will
be shot A contest between light AND
heavy weights, especially when the for
mer is not fit and the latter is spelling
for a fight, can have only one result"
The ST. James Gazette asserts that
the Spanish army and navy are strong
ly opposed to the submission Of Spain
to the demands of the United States
in regard to Cuba, and that the manu-
featuring classes of Spain are resolved
to keep Cuba a close borough Pre-
mier Canovas del Castillo, the Gazette
adds, must choose between rupture
between Spain and the United States
or a revolution at home.
MORE MUNITIONS FOR CUBANS
New London, May 1.-THE tug Com
mander of New York came into this
harbor last night. She reported that
she had left New York on SATURDAY.
night at 1880 o'clock, having in tow the
barge Release. The tug Volunteer also
left at the same time, pulling the barge
Greenpoint. Yesterday morning al
1870 o'clock the tugs and their conveys
came up with the steamship Laurada
six or seven miles off Montauk. Sixty
Cubans from the Release We're put
aboard the steamship and forty from
the Greenpoint.
The tugs and barges then put into