The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-11
DEATH awaits Americans
Five Men OF the Competitor Con-
dcmncd in Havana.

Five Men OF the Competitor Con-
dcmned in Havana.
no EVIDENCE AGAINST THEN
Witnesses Admit That the Prisoners We're
Not Armed when Capturcd-Inciude
Newspaper Correspondent aud
Other American Citizens.
Madrid, MAY tO.-A desnatch from
Havana saws that the five prisoners
captured on the schooner Competitor
have been sentenced to death.
The names of the prisoners are AL
fredo Laberde, native of New Orleans,
the leader of the filibustering party;
Owen Milton. of Kansas: William Kin
lea, an Euglishman. and Elias Bedia
and Theodore Maza, both Cubans. Their
trial began in the Havana Arsenal yes
terday morning. The accused men
pleaded not guilty, and witnesses ad-
mitted that when the men We're captured
they We're no. armed and offered no
resistance. Nevertheless, the prosecut-
ing officer demanded the conviction of
the prisoners and their condemnation to
death. United States Consul-General
Williams made a written protest
against the :rial.
Jacksonville Fla, May 10.-In refer
cnce to Owen Milton. the Kansas hoy
condemned to death by the Spaniards.
the following despatch was sent to Sec
retary Of State Olney:
"Owen Milton, who was captured by
the Spanish authorities on board the
Competitor and condemned to death,
left Key West as newspaper corre-
spondent, hoping to consumnate plans
for furnishing reliable news to the cor
respondents of the Florida Times-UniOn
at Key West, who, in turn were to
transmit such reports by cable to the
Southern Associated Press and 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 its duly authorized renre-
sentative. Such letter was furnished
him by me.
Il send YOU this letter to assist you
in your Efforts In behalf of young Mil
Ion.
ct T. stockton.
General Manager Times-Union."
A CRISIS All HAND.
Washington, May lO.-The passage
of the death sentence on the men
caught on the flibuster Competitor is
Liable to bring about a crisis In the re-
lations between Spain and the United
States. 1t is understood that this gov"
ernment will not allow the executions
to take place without an earnest and
vigorous protest against the summary
manner in which the trial was coz
Quoted. Secretary Olney several days
ago sent instructions of no uncertain
tone to Consul General Williams, and
these formed the basis for the repre-
sentations made by Mr. williams to
the court martial yesterday. Every
effort Is being made to prevent the
execution of the sentence until this
government can make thorough In
vestigatiOn on which to base appeals
or demands.
OF the five men convicted and sem
fenced two are native born Americans,
and a third. William kinlea, described
as an Engiishman. is understood to tie
naturalized citizen of this country.
The state department Is informed that
Owen Milton is from Kansas and that
Alfredo Laborde was born in New Or
leans.
citizens for alleged completely in the
insurrectiOn. the United States govern.
ment has insisted on civil trials for
those who were not captured In the act
of using arms against the Spanish
forces. practically conceding. however,
that those bearing and using arms
might be tried by military courts.
Secretary Olney had a long interview
with the president on the subject yes
terday morning. and on his return 10
the state department sent telegrams TO
Madrid and Havana.
The Competitor sailed from Key West
between 10 and II o'clock on the night
of April 90 and had on board twenty
five or thirty Cubans. She was COM
manded by Captain Alfredo Laborde. a
resident of Tampa, but it was rumored
that Captain.Bussel Wacca. who COM
manded the Schooner Martha. lately
forfeited to the United States for vio-
lation of the revenue laws. was in hid
ing on one of the keys north of Key
West. waiting to take command of the
Competitor and run her over to Cuba.
The customs officials at Key West had
watched the schooner for several days
before her departure. suspecting that
she would attempt to take out an eX
pcdition.
a few days after the schooner sailed
from Key West she was captured by the
Spanish gunbcat MesaSerr near Rer-
races, on the northern coast of the
province of Pinar Del Rio She was
loaded with arms and ammunition.
The schooner Competitor is a vessel
of forty seven tons,l2 feet inches long.
20 feet wide and feet in depth. She
was built at Bsllport, l.. l., in 1867.
The American Record gives the name of
her captain and owner respectively as
A. Albury and :. Pindar and her sail
ing port as Key West
PROTEST FROM MIR. WILLIAMS.
Havana. May 1O.-The report reaches
here Fl ON the United States that Cap
| tain General Weyler has notified Sec
retary of State Olncy that the Ameri-
cans captured on the schooner Com
petitor, will be executed in accordance
with the sentence of the court martial
which tried them, despite the protest of
Mr.. Olney. 1t is not known here that
the captain general has done anything
| of the kind. The only thing that he has
said about the case is that Consul Gen.
eral Williams has presented a claim
| that the Americans should be tried by
a civil tribunal, as they were not bear
ing arms when captured. 1t is believed
| that the matter will be decided at q
| cabinet meeting to be held in Madrid.
| The British consul has presented a
| claim in favor of Kildea, the English
man. who was captured on the Com
petitor
| Great secrecy has been observed re-
garding the proceedings in the case and
the fact that the men were sentenced
to death has not been made generally
public here. All that is said is mere
| talk.
| On Friday last rebel bands invaded
the town of Hoyo Colorado. eighteen
miles from Havana. and burned 15S
houses, including the town hall
Cornelio Alvarez will be shot at Co.
lon, province of Matanzas, tomorrow
morning, and at the same time sentence
of death will be executed on Jose Blan-
CO Alfonzo in the Cabanas fortress