Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-03
THE BERMUDA CASE.
II Is Duly Opened in the Circuit CourI
Of New York.
THE QUESTION TO DE DECIDED,
Did the Defendants Set on Foot or
Aid a FiIibusteriDg Expeditions
sympathy for Cubans Should Play
No Part.
No Part.

O'Clock this morning the case OF the
government against Bernardo j. Bueno,
Captain Sam Hughes, John ID. Hart Cap
tain Lawrence Brabazon, and Benjamin
Guerra, charged with having violated the
neutrality laws by aiding and abetting
an alleged Cuban filibustering expedition
on the steamship Bermuda, was opened in
the criminal branch of the United States
| Circuit Court before Judge Brown.
on the part of the prosecution, the jury
was told that the only question to be
decided at the trial was whether or not
the defendants had set on foot or aided
the alleged nlibusterlng expedition. No
matter what sympathy might be felt for
| the struggling Cubans, that should bear
no part and have no weight in the con-
sideration of the charges against the ac-
cused.
"If we were not citizens OF the United
| States" said the Assistant United
States District Attorney, some
not all OF us. might be glad
to take part in military expeu-
ton which would aid the Cuban insur-
gents who are to-day fighting against the
| tyraunical laws Of Spain, but the Revised
| Statutes forbid our doing so. and make
our aiding or abetting such an expedl'ioh
q high misdemeanor. That is what the ac-
cused are charged with-taking up arms
against a foreign power--the Kingdom oi
| Span-with whlcA tne ohi'eu " ~
/ now at peace
| Tha bermuda expedition, the prosecu-
| tor asserted. was but a continuation OF
| the Inflated steamship HAWKINS e&peul-
| tion. and the same persons, at the hedu
| of whom was General Garcia, had peen
| Interested in both. John ID. Hart had
| purchased the Bermuda, and the chechs
with which the purchase-money had been
paid were signed by Benjamin Guerra,
| of the Cuban Junta.
| TO this statement William NJ. lvins' OF
counsel for the defence, objected.
| wish TO distinctly state" he said, that
we do not acknowledge the existence OF
a Cuban junta. 1t exists only In the
| IMAGINATION of the District Attorney
| office"
"And in the newspapers" was the reply.
And then the Assistant District Attorney
went on TO tell Of the various parts
played by the defendants IN the prepara-
| tions for the alleged expedition.
THE TESTIMONY.
Augustus Il. Outerbridge, the first
witness called, said that the Bermuda
| had been transferred from the Quebec
| Steamship Company, through him, to
| Thomas A. Thompson. The checks IN
payment for the Bermuda were given TO
witness by Mr. Walsh, of the firm OF
Bennett, Walsh q Co. The first pay
ment was 300. and a second check. Tor
over $200G0, was also given the witness
| William $ Walsh, a steamship agent
and ship broker next called. testlhed
| that he had conducted the negotiations
| for the purchase Of the Bermuda from the
| Quebec company, with Mr.. Outorbridge.
| Witness said he had purchased the
| steamship at the instance OF John ID.
| Hart. He had paid 5000 for the ves-
sci. Hart had telephoned from Phila-
dephia that he wanted to buy steamer
suitable for a fruit-boat Witness had
received the first check, for $500 from
| Reniamin Guerra, by whom II was
| signed. He met Guerra at the business
place Of NJ. Barranco & CO., tobacco
merchants.
The prosecutor asked the witness 10
| fell about a certain conversation that had
taken place in his Office between John
! ID. Hart and a man named Smith. This
| was objected TO, and a squabble between
fine LAWYERS ensued. The Judge al
lowed the question, but there was a
| laugh at the prosecutors expense. Wnen
| the witness said: II cannot tell you
what the conversation was. because dik
| not overhear it..
| Then the prosecutor turned the witness
over 10 Lawyer Horatio g. Rubens. of
| the defence for cross-examination. Wit
| moss said that ne had on several occa-
J sions chartered and negotiated the sale
| NJ vessels for John ID. Hart When
! British vessels are purchased by an
| American, witness said. IL is customary
| 10 nut her papers i'm the name of British
subject
EXPLOSIVE CARGO.
| After recess. George Il. Murray. the
| fire department inspector OF combusti-
| bles. testified TO the explosive char
| acter OF the cargo of the lighter ). 5. T..
| Stranahan, which, 1t is claimed, was
! one OF the vessels employed in loading
| the Bermuda Counsel for the defence
| objected TO this testimony. but the
| Court overruled 1t. Then proclama-
| tion OF peace between the United States
| and Spain, made by the President of the
| United States. was offered IN evidence,
and despite objection by the defence,
| Judge Brown allowed it TO be read.
The report of Edward A. Mahnken, an
inspector OF customs. who examined the
cargo of the Stranahan, was offered in
evidence. He denied that the govern
ment officials had any right TO either
seize or detain the cargo of the Straha-
han. and said that the Attorney-General
had rebuked the District Attorney for
having caused the detention by re-
storing the cargo TO its owners.
Felix A. Feuntes, a Spaniard. testified
| that he had seen a man whom he be-
| ueyed TO be General CaliXto Garcia at
| the headquarters of the Cuban junta.
The witness told how he had offered his
| services 10 General Garcia TO go TO
! Cuba, and how the General declined
them; how, subsequently, he became
enrolled. as he supposed, for some ex-
petition, and had signed paper. He
further stated that he had been given s.
| a week for two weeks.
The witness said that he went aboard
the steamer Hawkins on January I'D or
| oath from a dock, somewhere at Harlem.
He said the Hawkins foundered the day
after she sailed, and he and others
were rescued by two or three vessels
and taken 10 Boston.
The witness was still on the stand,
when court adjourned until Monday.
THE BERMUDA'S DETENTION.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-The Spanish
Minister here has received, confirmatory
dispatches bearing yesterdays date from
the Spanish Minister 10 Central America
Senor Felipe Garcia Ontiveros-now in
San Jose. Costa Rica, saying he is in
communication with the Honduras Gov
ernment regarding the Bermuda. which
has been seized in Puerto Cortez. and Is
still held there. Consul Reig, OF Spain.
at Puerto Cortez, Is also in constant cable