The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-10
MAY Be TROUBLE With SPAIN
OYa tha Sentence Of Death Passed On
American Citizens
CAPTURED ABOARD THE COMPETITOR.
Young Milton Was Newspaper Corres'
pondent and Had Credentials To Ihse
Effect Secretary Olney IL Taking
An Active Interest in the Cases.


Havana says the five prisoners captured
on the schooner Competitor have been
sentenced to death. The nen sentenced
are Alfred La Borde. born IN New Or
leans; owen Milton. OF Kansas; William
Kinlea. an Englishman. and Elias Bedia,
and Tcodoro Della Maza, both Cubans.
MILTON Is A CORRESPONDENT.
JACKSONVILLE FLA. May 9.-In ref
erence to owen Milton. the Kansas boy
condemned TO death by the Spaniards tho
following dispatch was sent to Secretary
Of State Olney this afternoon:
Jacksonville. Fla. May o. 1896.
Hon. Richard Olney, Secretary OF State,
Washington. d. c.:
"Owen Milton. who was captured by tho
Spanish authorities on board OF the Com
petitor, and condemned Ia DEATH left
Key West as a newspaper correspondent,
hoping to consummate plans for furnish
ing reliable news TO the correspondent
of tho Florida Times Union, at Key
West who in turn was TO transmit such
reports by cable to the Southern Associat.
ed press and the United Press
through the medium Of this pa
per. He must have had with him at the
time OF his capture credentials showing
his connection with the Times-Union as
It's duly authorized representative. Such
a letter was furnished him by me.
Il send YOU this Information To assist
you IN your efforts in behalf OF young
Milton.
(Signed) ''T. II. STOCKTON
Gen. Mgr. Florida Times-Union
MAY RESULT IN TROUBLE.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. May 9.-The pas
sage Of death sentence on the men caught
on the hlii59ster Competitor" II is
stated, is liable to bhng about a crisis
IN the relations bstween Spain and tho
United States. II il understood that
this Government will not allow the exc
cutlODs 10 take place without earnest
and vigorous protest against the summary
manner in which the trial was conducted.
Secretary Olney several days ago sent
instructions of no uncertain tone TO Con-
sul-General Williams. and these formed
the basis for tho representations made
by Williams to the court-martial yester-
day. Every effort is being made TO pre-
vent the execution Of the sentence until
this Government can make a thorough
investigation on which to base appeals
or demands.
OF the five convicted and sentenced,
two are native born American citizens,
and he thiyd William Kinlea. Is de-
scrbed as an Englishman. is understood
-, h.. If.a ..ft q
The State Department is informed that
owen Milton Is from Kansas and that
Alfredo Laborde was born I'm New Or
leans. In all cases OF the arrests Of
American citizens, for alleged completely
ia the lnsurrection. the United States
Government has insisted on civi! trials
for those who were not captured IN the
act of using arms against the Spanish
forces, practically cOncedins, however,
that those bearing and using arms
might be tried by military courts. Ihis
90 instruction complicates matters In tho
present instance. as Milton, Laborde. ana
Kinlea are stated TO have been captured
with arms in their hands. secretary
Olncv had n long interview Win INC
President on tho subject this morning.
ANA on his return 10 the State department.
sont teleerams to Madrid and Havana
DECISION TOO HASrY.
II is understood that the friendly offices
which the State Department Is eAsruhB
i'm behalf OF owen Milton, II kansas sen
fenced by court-martiai TO be shOt III
Cuba. are limited to the complaint that
the deciAon was reached IN summary
manner without giving any opportunity
for defence and too basliy TO eA"ihi1"
into all the circumstances OF the eA0e.
The effort now being made al Maori" "llt
Havana is. therefore, 10 oe in the me OF
occurring "A delay OF execution for SUM
ciant time TO permit such an lnvesusa-
tiou of the Competitor incident as Is "e-
manded in the interests or humanity.
II is not thought that any attempt VIII
be made TO secure u civil triai Tor NIL
Ton or any OF his associates VINO may
be found 10 ba bona Hde American ciu-
zens. the treaty under which such trans
fers Of Jurisdiction have hitherto u'eh
made appearing 10 have no pearlhs III
the present instance. The nfs' diNS''
of the protocol between the United States
and Spain. signed January T. ~ con-
cerning judicial procedure provides AS
follows:
"No citizen OF the United States re-
siding In Spain. her adjacent islands or
her ultimate possessions charged with
acts Of sedition. treason or conspiracy
AGAINST the institutions. the public se-
curitv. the integrity Of the territory, or
against the supreme government. or any
other crime whatsoever shall be subject
To trial by aLy exceptional tribunal but
exclusively by the ordinary jurisdiction.
except In the case OF being captured with
arms In hand"
Under this article many American rest-
dents in Cubs. have in the past year had
their cas6s transferred To- civil courts
through the Intervention OF Consul-Gen-
eral Williams. but there does not appear
TO be the slightest ground for claiming
owen Milton 10 be n resident 81 Cuba
and the article cannot. therefore. be made
to apply 10 him. The same protocol. how
ever (Which was negotiated by Caleb
Cushing Further provides that those taxi
en- with arms In hand as excepted In tho
article quoted shall be tried by ordinary
council Of war. shall have counsel 10 de-
fend them and the right 10 compel the
attendance OF witnesses. This clause a.