New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-30
BERMUDA'S MEN ON TRIAL.
FOUR OF THE LEADING FILIBUSTERS
FACE \ JURY.
TESTIMONY AGAINST HART. NUNEZ. o'BRlEN AND
MURPHY BEGUN IN THE UNITED STATES
CIRCUIT COURT-sYMPATHY FOR THE
CUBAN CAUSE EXPRESSED
BY JURORS.

CUBAN CAUSE EXPRESSED
BY JURORS
The trial % John D. Hart Emilio Nunez Captain
John O'Brial and Mate Edward Murphy, accused
% aiding a military expedition TO Cuba IN 'he
steamship Bermuda. was begun yesterday III ''e
United States Circuit Court. IN this city, before
Judge Brown For the Government there were
nrosent United States District Attorney Wallace
Nacfarlane ana his assistants. j. Human ana Max
J. Kohler Hora,io Rubens represented knlho
Nunez j. Ianglon Ward had been engagrd 10
conduct the defence the part OF Hsr'. y brieI
and Murphy but Mr. Ward III. and John +.
Lewis and ". W. Kerr. of Philadelphia, were intro
duced 10 the Court as the lawyers who would pro
vsionally conduct the defence" Of Mr. WARDS three
clients.
Tn. fury was sworn. after a very thorough course
NJ questioning as 10 sympathies. inclinations ana
qualifications for impayally hearing the case anu
rendering verdict. The first three jurors sara
they sympath,zei with cuba. but could render an
impartial verdict upon the evidence. The iouEh
Juror. Simon Kayton. of No ltI East oeNe'''ie'''-
st. said that his sympathy for CUBA was so s"o'e
that il would be very difficult for him 10 render an
impartial verdict. He challenged by MI nm
man and excused Charles W Isabel said he couid
not under any circumstances. render 'eTu'c'
against any Cuban sympathlzer, ana he was en-
cused Several other talesmen were excused io'
less emphatic statement Of sympathy with "e
cuban cause Then came William II. Pogsenp'rs
8 broker OF No l55 Broadway. who SAID MS SYM
,a,hies we're with Spain as against the Cuban IN
,urgents He was excused. George H. Burforu o'
No 36l Broadway said he had suDscrioeu "'o''oS
for tho Cuban cause. District Attorney Macl"'
lane wanted him excused and the defence uesreu
Very much that lie should be retained There was
an argument over ii. and then Mr. Buriord stepped
down and out upon a peremptory challenge When
the Jury was completed twenty-one taIesmen ""'
declared their Cuban sympathies. three hau eN-
pressed no sympathy either side and one had de-
clared against Cuba
District-Attorney Macfarlanc. in his opening al,
dress to the Jury read Section 526 OF the Revised
Statutes upon which the indictment against 'ne
accused man is based. Then he outlined the eV'-
,ence he proposed 10 produce. on March 10 last
he said Captain John O Brfen procured papers d.
the Custom House to clear the Bermuda lor vera
Cruz Mexico. with d cargo OF arms and aihniuhl-
ton. declaring that the vessel was 10 carry Ho
Messengers Then the Bermuda subsequently took
on eighty men off Ocean'City. ~ j. Additional arms
and ammunition shipped or the isaid vi
Chcopee between Capes Henopen and 81 Chailes'
The arms had been left the island by the steam
shin Laurada In which Hart and NuneZ mad maze
the trip to the island from Philadelphia mart r.
turned to Philadelphia, but Nunez, . hiieh anu
Murphy proceeded the Bermuda to CUBA where
on March q, the men, arms ana ammunition were
landed in the middle Of the night with every pre-
caution 10 AVOID observation Nunez during me
trip and unloading. gave the oiNefs anu was -
charge ,>. ,..,a,,or ~ th.
~ occurring OF the Bermuda's clearance papers ~
captain O'Brien and the contents OF the snip
manifest describing the cargo of arms anu aInmu-
uit.on Robert g. Clipperton. British ConsuI d.
philade, phia testified that the Bermuda was unuer
British register during the first four months OF TINS
wear. Certain letters he had received. puipoi ing
10 come from John ID. Hart, were marked t0I
Identification John NJ. Nandeveer, a Philadelpha
custom House broker. called TO TESTIFY ~
John d. Harris signature OH various papers -
The letters and papers were introduced 10 sho"
that Hart managing owner OF the beInuua
James A. Smith at first the second stewart ana SUD
seouently chief steward the Bermuda during he'
alleged Cuban voyages testified - having seen tdr
Captain O'Brien and Mate Murphy on board the
steamer The witness told about the voyage OF t1e
bermuda after she sailed from New-fOrk on March
IL OF her stoppaga off the Jersey coast and Inc Deid
ware Breakwater. where eight surfboats were taken
on board OF the Jersey coast, the witness SAID
eighty-one men were taken on bOari the bermuda
from a boat named the Atlantic city Among them
was General Garcia. -, X
A number of the men told the witness that they
were going TO free cuba" The witness describe.
how the men Incl up in the cabin. where they
loaded their guns and listened 10 speeches OF General
Garcia and Nuncz That night the lights on the
Bermuda extinguished, and u boat, COMMANDED
nv Mate Murphy. went ashore. Then other boats
eight or more took and arms ashore. Inc men
carried their cartridge belts. knapsacks and rifles
After that the Bermuda sailed for Porta Cadez
Honduras The Bermuda did not touch at Vera
Cruz the port for which her papers had been taken
out.
This witness still on the stand when adjourn
ment taken until 10 a. m. to-day.