The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-09
THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OFF AMY M0RTH GAR0LlA DAILY

eral Prats.
Gildea confirmed the statement that
Quesda was drowned.
John Milton, the fifth prisoner, was
then called up, and he declared that
he had also been compelled, against
his will, to accompany the expedition,
which he had gone to see start. He
added that he believed Laborde the
commander of the schooner was not
aware that he was taking party of
filibusterers uRtil it was too late. Mil
ton further said that he was going as
newspaper correspondent to the in
surgent camp in order to interview the
members of the insurgent government
He afterwards intended to returne to
the United States.
The prosecutor classed all the prison
ers as traitors and as assisting i'm the
insurrection. The schooner was classed
as a pirate, worth about $4,000 and
having on board an insurgent flag
valued at one cent. He denied that
Mata could be considered a friend of
Spain, as he was treated on board the
schooner the same as the other mem
bers of the expedition.
The prosecutor pointed out that La
bOrde was the man who signed the
1 lJLOblct1ltttliOliS IOtAiAtl VII DOtAIh TIC
schooner when she was captured
Referring to Bedia, the prosecutor
| said he was well treated while on
board and was believed to have known
the object of the expedition.
The commander of the Mensajera,
| Lieut.. Butron, testified that while pur-
suing the insurgents in boat with six
| men, some of the flibusterers were
drowned and two were captured while
| in the water. The men made prisoners
in the water were Laborde and Gildea,
/ and the other three prisoners were
| captured on board the boat
| The pilot of the Mensajera and the
| crew of that gunboat declared that at
| the time the schooner was captured she
was not showing any flag.
In his defense, Laborde firmly de-
| clared that he had not written or re-
ceiyed the letters and other papers
| found on board, and that he had not
| signed the proclamations captured on
| board the schooner.
| The prosecutor then read the penal
| record of Laborde, showing him to
have been a forger, thief and l1idnap-
| per and produced letters written by
| him on board the Competitor to per-
sons at Key West, advising them of
the arrival of the expedition in Cuba.
/ On May 6, thep reliminary examina-
| ton of the prisoners was ended and
| the case was taken to the Superior
court. Admiral Navarro, as the pre-
| siding officer of that Court of the
| Navy declared that in conformity with
the orders he issued on that day the
| prisoners were allowed to communi-
| 40 1~ I.a ~,
! pointed Lieut.. Pardo, of the Spaish
Navy, to act as counsel for the prison
| ers and to defend them at their trial
The prosecutor afterwards read a
letter addressed by United States Con.
| sui General, Mr.. Ramon O. Williams
to Admiral Navarro, in which Mr.. Will
liams stated he had heard of the cap
| ture Of the Competitor, an American
pilot boat, and that it was supposed
that some of the persons captured
| on board her were American citizens
| Therefore the Consul General re-
| quested information as to the ante
| cedents of the prisoners in order that
| he might communicate on the subject
with the government at Washington.
Lieutenant BuTon, recalled
| said that he could not affirm
and Lieutenant of the Men
seiera. also recalled said the
prisoners had not fired on the
| war vessel, and asserted that no car.
| tridges had been found in their pockets
| The prosecutor thereupon read the for
NAL act of accusation, declaring the
| prisoners to be filibusterers captured
| in a state of rebellion against the Span
| ish government, and chasing the Com
! petitor as being a Key West life boat
| found landing arms on the coast OF
| Cuba Therefore, in the name OF the
! King of Spain, the prosecutor asked
that the death sentence be imposed
upon all the prisoners.
| Lieutenant Pardo, for the defense.
said that he did not consider the pris-
oners should be treated as being all
equally guilty. For instance, he said
| it seemed clear that Laborde and Bedia
were more guilty than Milton and Gil
dea, and that Milton was only guilty
Of excessive zeal in trying to obtain in
| formation. Admiral Navarro approved
| of the death sentence being imposed.
The Court martial adjourned for the
day shortly after u o'clock, without
having arrived at a judgment on the
cases before them.