The evening times., 1896-12-21
ziRTUcHA IElLsHs STORY
Supposed Betrayer of Maceo
Tries TO Explain.
HIS SURRENDER A MYSTERY
Processes to Know Nothing OF the
Charge That He Led MaceO Into
aTrap-Pretends to Have No Fear
of vepgeance-Says Pedro Diaz
Knows Where Body Is Buried.

New York Dec. 21.-An Interview with
DIR. Zertucha, published here, contains the
following:
interviewed q man last night who is
either the greatest rascal in the world or
a n uch maliGned patriot.
Ewes are the windows of the soul; but
the man with whom j was talking wore
shutters over his, Grd, looking into them
scarchinely, as might lie, l could Iot tell
if / read the truth.
The man to whom I talked was DR.
Zertucha on whose shoulder, according
to his story, Maceo's hand rested affec-
tionately almost the moment before he
fell at Punta Brava. Zertucha said it
was the first time he felt he could speak
freely.
Zertucha is hard man to study. He
wears spectacles, which conceal pair of
sufficiently honest-looking blue eyes. What
impressed me most unpleasantly was his
furtive glance and efforts to parry my
questions. He received me at the house
Of "a friend here in Havana, in the Gale
Animas.
SHOWED No FEAR.
"He received me readily and without
any show of fear He is a man of slight
ph hysique, narrow -sh ouldered and under
sized.
You do not look worried" said. Are
you not in fear OF your life?"
Why should ! be-" replied the doctor,
peering at me with apparent frankness
over his spec,aclcs.
DO you mean to say that you have not
heard that you are accused of having
foully betrayed Maceo to his death, and
that hundreds of Cubans are ready to kill
you on sight?''
Il have heard nothing l have seen no
papers, having only reached Havana to-
night But who says that
'.The news is already world-spread. In
Spain throughout Europe and America you
are known as Maceo's betrayer the Judas
of the century the Benedict Arnold of
the Cuban revolution"
Zertucha looked at me full in the face at
least a minute changed his cnair for one
where he could see me in better light,
and then said, slowly:
''Is that true?''
II have at least no occasion to lie. DR..
Zertucha. what 1 say is so.''
JUNTA KNOWS BETTER.
"Surely the junta at New York hassde-
MED that story" said the doctor adding
30 eaTntSliS lHdt hthrS'AeN hiNs
They know so much better
.sThe junta has made no such denial.
and why should they? 1t knows no more
than the rest of US, and is it not true that
YOU have always been known as Ter
tucha the Bad while your brother was
known as 'Zertucha the Good?
Perhaps 2lt one can say many things
without proof" said the doctor, uneasily.
pf 1aft 4 .aT.fc
dead body" / asked, breaking away from
generalities. .-#.
. II Jumped on my horse and rejoined Pc
dro DiaZ, who was in command or the
other portion Of Maceo's force"
why did you do that"
ITO tell him that Maceo and Gomez We're
dead. 1t was then he sent twenty five men
back to the spot indicated as the place.
where Maceo fell to get the bodies. As th-y
approached the bodies three guerrillas, in
the act of rifling them, fled preciptately,
and the Insurgents carried off the bodies
And where were you at this timer
Where was l." repeated the doctor, as
if to gain time; why, l was with DilZ.'
CAN'T TELL WHY HE SURRENDERED.
You were not ill or wounded or poor,
or had not changed your mind about the
justice of the Cuban Cause
NO"
Then, why did you return tothc Spanish
ranks and give yourself up"
THAT is something i cannot tell you,
replied Zcrtucha emphatically. My posi-
ton is a delicate one"
You have heard nothing about the
Spanish government having paid you
draft of S5O,OOO?''
"Such a question is an insult said
Zertucha, but with little spirit.
81 am not here to insult you, i replied,
..but to cover the facts
VERY well, Will write them out for
you," said Zertucha, VINO evidently did
not like my system of cross questioning.
''Yes, do that tonight" replied, land
1 will mail them over your signature.
But now / want to telegraph tonight.
Surely you are not afraid to answer few
questions?'
'.oh, no. bracing himself for the tr-
deal.
How far were you from Maceo when he
was shot:''
81 was sitting on my horse at his side.
He had just placed his hand on my shoul-