Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-09

Connection. He did not fits On the
Spanish Runboat, although the men on
shore did 20, When the prisoner was
questioned regarding an iusurgent nag
iound on the schooner, he esid II be-
lOngod 10 one Of his passenger, q man
named Quesads, who was among the
drOw Btd.
Dr. Elias Bedla said he wha q years
OF age and n medical student. Budis
declared he had repeatedly toiueed 10
take part In any expedition TO Cuha,
and that he merely went on board the
schooner Competitor to say good.bye
TO some friends. But when the sooner
left, these friends refused 10 allow him
him 10 10 nshute. When they landed
on the coast VI Cuba, he remained on
board the Competitor. lie said they
did not hoist the national nag,
TeodOro Mata declared hu went on
board the Competitor Ia order 10 see
tho expedition leave, and that the men
on board obliged him 10 90 along. lie
asserted that not one Of the nvu PRISON
sls in court fred n shot nj the guuboaL
Contiuuing, Mata said that At Key
West he was considered a Spy for the
spanish government, and no further
claimed that he had fought with the
5panlgtis against the Insurgents aud
was known 10 Den. Pfatt.
William Gildsa testified that he was,
like MstA, compelled. by the Others on
board 10 accompany the expedition, nj.
though he HAD only gone " teo them
start
John Milton declared no also had
been compelled against his will 10 nc.
company tue expedition, which ho hhd
gone " SEQ start.
The Prosecutor chased all the
prisoners ~ traitors ana M assisting IN
the Instruction. Tue schooner wsa
olAtsed ~ pirate worth about 5000.
anu having on board an iBuufgout Dag
valued At cent. lilo denied that MAta
could be considered n friend Vt Spnin,
"a no was treated on board the schoob.
W In the same manner as the other
membufe Of the expedition.
As 10 LabOfde, the prosecutor point
cd out that he was the man who hsd
siguod the proclamation found on
board the schooner when he was cap
tured.
The pilot Of the Menabjera aud the
crew OF that RunbOat declared that at
the time the schooner was captured
Bhe was not showing any Hug.
In his defense LAborde firmly de.
clATed no had not written or received
tue letters and other papers found ON
board, snd that hs had not signed the
Proclamation captured on the schooner.
The prosecutor then real the penal
record VI Laborde, showing him 10
have boun n iofgef, thief and kidnnp.
per, and produced letters written ~
MIN on hoard the Competitor 10 por.
sous ~ Koy West, advising them Of
the arrival of the expedition In Cuba.
Lieut. Button, recalled, said he could
not affirm that the prisoners captured
on board the Competitor fired on the
guuhoat, aud tue pilot on the Monsa-
lars, also recalled, declared tue prison.
ore had not firod ON tho war vessel,
aud asserted tuat no cartridges hHu
been found IA their pockets.
The prosecutor thersupon read tho
formal act Of accusation declaring the
prisoners 10 be filiDustefs captured IN
state OF rebellion against the Spanish
government and Classified the Com.
petilor a. being Key West lifeboat
found landing arms and ammunition
ON the seacoAst Of Cuba.
Therefore, Ia the uame OF the king
OF Spain, tue prosecutor asked that the
death sentence be imposed on oil the
prisoners.
Lieut.. Pardo, for the defense, said
he did not consider the prisoners should
DO treated Ms beiuR oil equally guilty.
For instance, he said, II seemed clear
that Laborde aud Bedia were more
guilty than Milton anu Glldea, and
That Milton was only guilty Of excessive
zeal In trying TO obtain information.
Tho cOuti-martial adjourned for the
day sh Tlly after II o'clock, without
having arrived at Judgment on the
cases.
THE CAsE WATCHED IN wAsHIN0ToN.
WAsHiNuToS, May S.-The proceed
inga OF tue spanish coutt.mhTtlal In tho
case OF men captured on the schooner
Competitor are being lelosely followed
here, nud there IL ground for the fear
thai unless the matter IL handled with
great discretion, itmay result In strain
ing lhe present friendly aud amiogblu
relations between tho United States
Rud spain. Strong representations
have been made 10 the slate depart
ment on the subject, and the depart
ment certainly will not fail 10 inter-
vene u II should appear that nj least
all the Americans among the capiives
under trial are not treated with all the
privileges accorded by the rules Of