Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1896-04-24
DR. DIAZ IMPRISONED.
THE CUBAN BAPTIST MIS-
SIONARY INCARCERAT-
ED IN MORRO CASTLE.
UNDER FALSE CHARGES
Rev. Dr.. Blackwell urges our
Representatives at Washing
ton to see that DR.. Diaz is ac-
corded his rights rs an Ameri-
can Citizen.

can Citizen.
Havana, April IS, via Key
West, April I9.-The Rev. DR.
Diaz, the Baptis. minister now
i'll MORO Castle, was taken from
his home last Thursday night
His wife and children had re-
tired when the police entered
and read the order of arrest tc
| him, and from that moment he
vas not allowed to speak a word
to anybody except the men who
| have him in custody. His bro
ther, Alfred Victornio Diaz. also
an American citizen, was arrest
led at the same time.
| The Rev. DR.. Diaz's family
knew nothing OF what had hap
pened. He and his brother were
taken from the house SO quietly
| that neither Mrs. Diaz nor the
| children were disturbed In the
morning she was thunderstruck
to find that her husband and
brother-in law, whom she had
left the night before quietly talk
ing together, had not slept III
the house She was preparing
to come into the city in search
Of her relatives when police
agent arrived at the house with
the information that her hus-
band had been arrested.
The poor woman hurried to
til Office Of the Chief Of Police
but was informed that she could
not see him. She went to those
higher in authority, and to Gene
eral Weyler himself but without
SUCCESS. She succeeded i'll arous-
ing the American Consul-Gen-
eral in the mems behalf, but
even this zee counted for
nothing.
Rev. DR.. Diaz' s sentence may
be imprisonment for life at
Ueuta, and this terrible punish
meut may be inflicted upon a
charge that may have no more
foundation in justice than 4
charge against all infant would
have, yet even that poor salts
faction may be denied his family
and friends 1t may be that the
names Of the clergyman and his
brother were mentioned III dOCu
lnents that were seized, but even
such small cause is sufficient to
warrant imprisonment Of human
beings on this Island.
This arrest has aroused the
people OF the United States as
has no other inerdent of the war
in Cuba. Here are a few of the
first notes Of warming and appeal
from the people i'll and out of
| Congress.
Washington, April 2o.-Re-
preventative Black (Dem.), of
Georgia, had an interview today
with the State Department Off.
cials in regard to Rev. Diaz, the
Cuban Baptist missionary, who
is under arrest In Havana for
completely in the insurrection.
After the interview Mr.. Black
said that there was no doubt that
Diaz had taken out naturalization
papers during his residence in
the United States. The State
Department, he said, will see to
it that Diaz is given a fair trial
and is accorded his rights as an
American citizen. Many re-
quests are members from the
South from Baptist Churches
which contribute to the support
of the missionary work carried
on by Diaz, that :he Congress-
men will use their influence to
secure the missionary's release.
Savannah, Ga, April 2I-At
a massmeeting of the Baptist
Congregations of Savannah to-
night resolutions Of sympathy
with Rev. A. J. Diaz, the mis-
sionary now under arrest in
Cuba, were adopted. They call
upon the Home Mission Board
to provide Rev. Diaz with nec>
essary comforts and means for
his defense, and state the will
lingness of the Savannah Bap>
fists to bear their portion of the
expenses thereby incurred.
Dr.. Blackwell of this city who
represents in North Carolina the
Board that supports DR.. Diaz has
sent the following strong letter
to Washington:
ELIZABETH City, n. G. APRIL ~.
| Hon. Harry Skinner,
Washington, D. c.
DEAR SIR AS the Vice President OF
the home Board OF the Southern Bap
tist Convention to represent North
Carolina, write to ask that you use
your influence with tie State Depart
IL. 4 A. ,1.Ea ~