Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-23
THEY CAME FROM AFFAIR." OFF
SereneIy Confident of Being Re-
ImburSed by Somebody.
SPANISH MINISTER LIKELY.
The Examination of General Roloff at New
81 is Suggestive.
WHAT 8 ENGLAND TO DO WITH lT7
Me- Her Service at Port Antonio, ia
eica, Appear-some of Them Are
) ~ Tangled Somewhat in the
Cross-Examination.
SPANISH MINISTER LIKELY.
AT : ENGLAND TO DO WITH lT7

New York, Sept. 22.-Gen. Carlos Ro-
loH, who was arrested last week charged
with having aided and abetted a flibus-
tering expedition to Cuba in August last,
appeared for examination before United
States Commissioner Alexander this af-
tefnoon. lie was represented by Law
yer Horatio Rubens. Assistant United
States District Attorney Hinman appear
ing for the government.
Jacob +. Burnes, clearance officer at
the Philadelphia custom house the first
Witness testified that on the Sd of Au-
gust last the steamship Laurada was
cleared for Wilmington, Del, the passen-
gers being sworn to by Edward Murphy.
George f. Townsend, collector of the
port of Wilmington, also testified to the
clearance of The Laurada from there for
Port Antonio. He also identified the en-
trance papers of the vessel on her return
to Wilmington on September 10.
Collector James f. Trench of Port An
tonic, Jamaica, told of the arrival of the
Laurada there on August 20. Witness
said it struck him as peculiar that after
leaving Wilmington on August 8. as the
papers showed, the vessel should not
have reached Port Antonio until the 25th,
as 1t was only q six days voyage. He
questioned Captain Murphy, who said the
vessel had sailed slowly and denied that
he had stopped anywhere enroute or dis
embarked any passengers. Witness eX-
amined the vessel and found three rifles
hidden between 1.-The skin of the ship
and the planking at the side. He asked
the captain for an explanation In writing,
but received none. The rifles were REM
ingtons. The vessel only carried her reg
ul2r boats.
Under cross-examination witness said
he was employed by the British govern
ment. He had been asked by the Span
| ish consul to come to this city to testify.
He was paying his own expenses, and did
not know whether he would be reim-
bursed or not. He had searched the ves-
| gel by order of the colonial secretary.
| Jabez Bowen, one of the water police at
| Port Antonio told of having searched the
Laurada three times. The first time he
| found a cartridge belt, the second time
| three rifles and the third time number
| of cartridges.
| Under cross examination Bowen said
| he had been sent here by the British gov
ernment, and he supposed the Spanish
government would pay his expenses.
George Towney, seaman, said he had
| been transferred from the steamship Ber-
| muda to the Laurada. At half past l
o'clock after leaving Wilmington, four
surf boats We're taken on board. After
leaving the mouth Of the Delaware river
the vessel steamed north. That was not
the way to Jamaica Later the Laurada
|
Fox came alongside Men, boxes, bags,
etc, were taken on board the Laurada
from the other vessels. Later the wit
ness said the boxes and bags were opened
and from them were taken rifles and car
tridges, and In one large bag there was
a cannon. There were also packages
marked dynamite" About twenty-four
men were taken on board the Laurada
from the three vessels. Among those
who came on board was General Ro-
loft.
did you see anyone else come on
board, and who was called the colonel?'
witness was asked.
Il did, sir" ne replied and then he
gave a description of the colonel as being
a tall. slim man with flowing side whis-
kers. The description strongly suggested
Colonel NuneZ.
Witness said the cargo and men were
| landed on Navassa island and from there
| they were taken to Cuba in a tug boat
| which made several trips. Captain Muir
| ply had told witness that he was eX-
| pecting the steamship Three Friends to
meet him.
The witness under cross examination,
became considerably mixed up and was
not anywhere near as sure whether he
had seen dynamite, etc. on board the
Laurada, as he had been under direct ex-
animation He would not swear that any
of the men taken on board the Laurada
went to or remained in Cuba or not, and
he admitted that the rifles were unloaded
in boxes and not carried in the hands OF
the men.
Other witnesses testified to Roloffs
presence on the Laurada and one witness
swore to having seen Colonel Nu6ez go
on board Most of the witnesses adj
mitted that they expected to have their
expenses paid by the Spanish consul.
The hearing was adjourned until
Thursday,