The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-13
ZERTUCHA A JUDAS
GEN. ANTONIO MACEO A VICTIM OF
BASE SPANISH TREACHERY.
Betrayed by His Physician Into the
Hands of Spanfards and Assassina-
ted Along with His stan.
STORY OF CRUEL DUPLICITY
THAT WILL THRILL WITH HORROR
ALL HONOR-LOyING PEOPLE.
The Cuban Leader Induced to Cross
the Trocha for the Purpose of At
tending a Peace Conference.
THEN HE WAS AMBUSCADED
AND ALL HIS PARTY OF 35 SLAIN,
EXCEPT DIR. ZERTUCHA.
Plot Hatched by WeyIer and His As
sfstant Captain CONGRATULATIONS
Accounts of the Massacre.
The Cuban Leader Induced to Cross
the TrOcha for the Purpose of At
tending a Peace Conference.
THEN HE WAS AMBUSCADED
AND ALL HIS PARTY OF 35 SLAIN,
EXCEPT DIR. ZERTUCHA.
Plot Hatched by WeyIer and His As
sfstant Captain CONGRATULATIONS
Accounts of the Massacre.

NEW YORK, Dec. 12.-The Cuban Junto
has heard, by way of Jacksonville, Fla,
from it's agents sent to investigate the
The dispatch to the Junto says that Ma
Geo was assassinated through the instru-
mentality of DR.. Zertucha, who led Maceo
and his staff across the trocha, where they
were met by Ahumeda, and Maceo and his
entire staff were assassinated with ma
chetes.
Estrada Palma made the following state
ment: Il received a telegram from my
agents in Jacksonville affirming the news
that General Maceo and his staff came into
conflict with Ahumada, weyler's lieuten-
ant, and were murdered DIR. Zertucha was
present. The news does not surprise me,
because the first reports of General Ma
ceo's death were so contradictory that 1
saw mystery in them 1 was inclined to be-
lieve that the news was false, but that If
General Maceo had really been killed it
was through the assassn's knife. 1t seems
now that he has been murdered. General
Weyler. on addressing the crowd from the
balcony of his palace in Havana, seemed
anxious to shun the responsibility of Ma
ceo's death. That was apparent when he
declared that the victory belong to Ahu-
mada.' 1t is possible that his conscience
began to feel the pangs of remorse. This
very act of the Spanish governor proves
the strength of the revolution. They can
not crush it by open warfare. They must
resort to the assassins knife. They dared
not face Maceo, so they had to stab him In
the back"
After making the foregoing statement,
DR.. Palma pondered a while and then ex-
claimed in the bitterness of anguish: "Oh,
where is the chivalry of which Spain so
proudly boasts? The towards! the cow
ards!'
1t was announced at the junto that a,
thorough investigation is already on foot.
Every detail that can be obtained will be
laid before the world, so that the whole
truth may be known. Suspicion. it is said
at the junto. points to DR.. Zertucha, the
personal physician of the lamented Maceo.
He had his fullest confidence and pre-
tended to be an ardent revolutionist. For
long time, 1t is known, DR.. Zertucha has
the trocha, and has time and again offered
to show him how easily it could be done
Maceo finally acceded, the members of the
junto declare and the knife met him and
his devoted staff. The surrender of Dr.
Zertucha the only member of the staff who
escaped DEATH his ready affirmation of the
story of the pitched battle and his anxiety
to go to Spain, it is said, are damaging
signs.
Discourage exclaimed one of the Gu
bans, when asked by the reporter if such
would be the tendency of the death of the
leader on the minds of the Cubans. Dis
couraged? No; the blow, though great,
will bear fruit profitable 70 the cause. 1t
will arouse public sentiment. 1t will show
the Spanish method of warfare. When the
truth is spread among the soldiers in the
field they will be spurred by the spirit
of revenge and fight with redoubled fury"
The junto makes the additional statement
that its members have been informed that
Dr. Zertuchas solicitations were seconded
by letter from Ahumada, inviting Maceo
to conference. A letter from the Marquis
Maceo thought was a pledge of honor, and
he hastened to meet the foe who wished
tied agent of the Spanish government, and
to bring about a peaceful termination of
the bloody conflict.