Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-05-21
VIGOROUS MEASURES
HON The COMPETITOR PRISON.
ERs' LIVES WERE SAVED

Cs1.zl-GsnerAT. PronPs Aet-WeVler
IhreHtened to Ke.iEu Unles. the
Anenezu. Were shOt-Proe-edings
s1.Pendea By Order. From Hsdrid-
Sg~ Tork. Nay zQ.-A Herald
Ep7sizl trun Havana SAYS: The action
q Co1zul-Ge1e-zl Willizuz, n pEO-
testing against t5s methods Of the E-ial
q Et= prisoners Of TIE s>5oo1sT Con-
pe1in-. mz6s u ths Spanish zuthO-i-
E=z, l. worth nore than 5 passing nen-
I'M
Before the courr-nzrrizl closed, Con
E1l-Gs1e-al Williams letter Of protest
~z= rsz6. The representative Of the
United States quoted ths treaties exist
ing between the United States and
spain, and doubted the right Of the
LATTER 20 1T American cirlzens and
otlers sailing under the American flag,
" other than civil law. adding that
II the letter they must bs judged BY
ordinary and not by military and naval
courts, and be permitted 10 employ
Iegzl counsel ami present witnesses IN
cT:5c--e.
! note by the judge sdyocste-gen-
ersl, which had also been endorsed BY
Admiral Navarro. the highest naval
o6osr Of Spain in Cuta, ruling Consul
General Williams protest as without
good ground and out of order, was also
read and noted.
Within four hours after the court
martial closed It's session, at special
meeting in the afternoon, its members
sent 70 Admiral Navarro sealed yer-
dict, which was Immediately approved
by the naval chief. The sentences Of
all five prisoners 70 death, IN accord.
ancs with the verdict, was signed at
once, and preparations made TO have
the men shot.
Receiving no satisfactory response
from the amdiral, nor even sn invita-.
tion 70 attend the proceedings, neither
Consul-General Williams nor any at
tache Of his ofice was present at the
court-marrial, nor was ne allowed 70
see the prisoners until after the uial
had closed. Naturally he laid the
whole case before the state department.
at Washington early, and received in
Etructions as prompt as energetic.
When these arrived, he went imme-
diarely 10 the palace, where a stormy
interview with Captain.GeneralW Wey-
ler occurred. The general told the
consul-genersl that # the men had been
convicted, as the latter supposed, they
would most certainly be shot at sunrise
the following morning, despite any
protest the United States might make.
:" II you shoot them" said Mr.. Viii.
liams, my government instructs me 10
close its consulate here and demand my
passports, and l shall most certainly
hold you and your government respon.
sible should these prisoners be executed
before our protest be given due con.
siderarion."
When Mr.. Williams bowed himself
out Of the generals presence, he drove
back 70 his Office. The excitement
that followed at the palace was indie
| scribable
The judges of the civil tribunal and
the chairman Of the leading conserva.
tive party and the managing director
OF the Spanish hank were called and a
consultation began. The majority of
these personages advised the authorities
to suspend the execution, pending fur.
ther instructions from Madrid.
General Weyler said that if the men
were not executed he would resign.
De so telegraphed the Spanish min.
istry, it is reported.
In the meantime it appears the Unit.
ed States was, through Minister Tay-
lor, bringing pressure to bear also al
Madrid. Orders came from Spain to
suspend all proceedings and directing
the captain.general and admiral 10
transmit all documents in the case 70
Madrid for consideration there by the
supreme military and naval council and
cabinet. Consul.General Williams
had won. The transfer Of the case 70
Madrid will give the prisoners at least
month or six weeks respite.
Fatal Runaway Accident.