The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-25
NO INFORMATION.
Government Knows Nothing of
the C0urt-marliaI.

Washington, Nov. --24. The State De-
partment has received absolutely no in
formation of any kind from Havana or
elsewhere concerning the report that the
Competitor prisoners have been tried in
Mora Castle by secret and summary
courtmartial Under these circumstances
no statement will be made ut the depart
ment concerning the report, butin view of
the plain provisions of our treaty and also
of the clear requirements OF the domestic
laws of Spain, the officials are 10th to
believe chat the report is correct.
1t is pointed out that under the law for
public order promulgatel in Havana
some months ago it is absolutely essential
that counsel shall be allowed prisoners
on trial and that there shall be no secracy
in the proceedings Under the protocol
of our treaty with Spain there likewise
is provision for publicity in trials and
for full representation of accused by
counsel. 1t is believed, in view of these
provisions of law, that the authorities at
Havana would not make such fragrant
breach of law as the report alleges.
From further inquiries it is apparent
! that the reports concerning the COMPETE
tors prisoners are mt least based on mis-
conception of the nature of the present
proceedings. They have not yet been
word, the facts being that the Spanish
authorities are making an investigation
of the Competitor cases similar to that
provided for under our grand Jury SyS-
tem-thatis, IL sort of preliminary eXumi-
nation.
The consuls and vice.cuusuls of Spain
in this country are investigating the
claims of the prisoners arrested of Amer
lean citizenship. For instance one of the
men claims to be II resident of Kansas
and the consul for that district is engaged
in an inquiry as to his citizenship either
by birth or naturalization.
From Spanish sources 1t is learned that
there is no intention of dealing with the
Competitor prisoners in IL harsh or I'M
idst manner.
Consul General Lee was ut the State
Department again to-day. When asked
as to the report that the Competitor pris-
oners had been tried ut Mora Castle, con-
trary to protest made by MIN before he
left Havana, Gen. Lee said:
81 do not believe any trial has oc-
CURED. If it had the facts would be
speedily reported here by Vice Consul
Springer. There have been some prelim-
mary steps toward the trial, and the de-
positions of the prisoners were taken, but
further than this nothing has been done
so far as know"
When Gen. Lee.,was asked rs to the
protest referred to rs having been made
by MIN he said it probably referred to the
presentations made by him before the
first trial of the Competitor prisoners,
and renewed in the present instance, that
the men being taken on an American snip
were entitled to IL civil trial rather than
trial<>by cou tmartial. as provided in
the treaty and protocol between the Uni
ted States and Spain.
The consul general referred to an open
letter from Il Fredericksburg. Va, editor
TO President Cleveland, which was pub
lishcd to-day, urging the President to act
on Cuba. Coming from fellow towns
man and n close friend of Gen Lee some
significance might attach toit, but Gen.
Lee said he desired to have it understood
that he knew nothing about the letter
and had nothing to do with it.