Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-23
CASE OF GENERAL ROLOFF.
Examination of Alleged Cuban Fill
buster--The Testimony.


buster--The Testimony.
NEW YORK, September 22.-General
Carlos Roloff, who was arrested last
week, charged with having aided and
abetted a filibustering expedition TO Cuba
in August last, appeared for examination
before United States Commissioner Alex
ander this afternoon. He was represented
| by Lawyer Horatio Rubens Assistant
| United States District-Attorney Hinman
appearing for the government.
Jacob +. Burns, clearance officer at the
! Philadelphia custom-house, the iirst WIT
ness, testified that on the 81 OF August
last the steamship Laurada was cleared
! for Wilmington, Del, the papers being
sworn TO by Edward Murphy.
George H. Townsend. collector of the
port Of Wilmington, also testified to the
| clearance of the Laurada from there foI
! Port Antonio. He also Identified the en-
! trance papers OF the vessel on her return
to Wilmington on September 10th.
Collector James +. French, OF Port An
| tonic Jamaica, told OF the arrival or the
Laurada there on August 18th. Witness
said 1t struck him as peculiar that AFTER
| leaving Wilmington on August 9TH, as the
papers showed, the vessel should not
have reached Port Antonio until the Zotn,
as il was only a six-day voyage. lie
| questioned Captain Murphy, who said the
| vessel had sailed slowly, and denied that
| he had stopped anywhere en- route OF
disembarked any passengers. witness
examined the vessel and found three rifles
| hidden between 1.-The skin OF the snip
and the planking at the side He asked
| the captain for an explanation IN writing,
| but received none The rifles We're Rem
| ingtOns. The vessel only carried her
| regular boats.
Under REORGANIZATION. witness said
| he was employed by the British Govern
ment He had been asked by the Spanish
| Consul TO come TO this city 10 tesu1y.
He was paying his own expenses. ana dld
not know whether he would be reimbursed
or not. He had searched the vessel by
order OF the Colonial Secretary.
Jabez Bowen, one Of the water-police
at Port Antonio told Of having searched
the Laurada three times. the nrst tlrn 1's
he found cartridge-belt. the second
time three rifles, and the third time a
number of cartridges. Under cross-exam-
natlon Bowen said he had been sent here
by the British Government, and he sup
posed the Spanish Government would pay
his expenses.
George Towley, o seaman. 10 ne had
bean transferred from the 81 ip Ber-
muda TO the Laurada. A. -, ON the
morning after leaving VIII lgton four
surf-boats were taken on BOARD After
leaving the mouth OF he Delaware river,
the vessel steamed north. That was not
the way to Jamaica. Later the i.aurada
lay TO- and the steam-launch Richard Il.
etc were taken on board the Laurada
from the other vessel. Later. the witness
said the boxes and bags were opened,
and from them were taken rifles and car
| tridges. and in one large bag there was
| a cannon There were also packages
marked dynamite" About twenty-four
men were taken on board the Laurada
| from the three vessels. Among those VINO
| came on board was General Rolon.
Did you see any one else come on
board who was called the Colonel?' wit
ness was asked.
IT did sir" he replied, and then he
gave a description of the "ColoneF as
| being a tall, slim man, with flowing sioe-
whiskers. The description strongly sug-
gested Colonel NuneZ.
Witness said the cargo and men were
| landed on Navassa Island, and from
| there they were taken TO Cuba In tug
| boat. which made several trips. captain
| Murphy had told witness that he was
| expecting the steamship Three Friends 10
meet him. .,.
The witness. under cross-examination,
became considerably mixed. and was not
anywhere nearly as sure whether he had
seen dynamite, etc, on board the lauraua
as he had been under direct examination
He would not swear that any or the
men taken on board the Iaurada went 70
or remained IN Cuba or not, ana ne an-
mItted that the rifles were unloaded IN
boxes and not carried in the hahdS OF
the men. ,,o,oee,s
Other witnesses testihed 10 hoioh ,
presence on the IAurada, and one witness
swore TO having seen Colonel Nunez 80
on board. Most OF the witnesses admit
ted that they expected to have their sN-
nenses paid by the Spanish consul. Inc
hearing was adjourned until Thursday.