The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-13
WAS BETRAYED.
1t Was Undoubtedly IA Premeditated
Assassination.

Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 12.-The Constitu-
TONS Key West special gives the fol-
lowing account of Maceo's death, in
dicating his betrayal, and implicat-
ing Dr. Zertucha. Your correspondent
is now enabled to state upon the most
undoubted authority that the death OF
General Maceo was a premeditated as
,sassination, and that the failure TO
produce his body is because 1t is mu-
tilated and would shock even Spanish
official sensibilities.
1t seems that General Maceo had
planned a successful crossing of the
trocha and that. taking the sea route
with a body guord, he was to rejoin
his forces east of Aariel. This was
accomplished in safety. and while
standing alone. within sight of line
of sl1irmishers, the general was shot
down by men in hiding, who were
awaiting their victim. His body was
then hacked up by the assassins.
1t has been well known for Z year
past, that there was a price Sc upon
Maceo's head, and that CAPTAIN Gen
sral Weyler's first official act uDon
reaching the island was to give recog-
milton to the Dlateodos, bands of free
hooters. These men, following in the
wake of both armies. would murder
and plumber. and when chased down by
the indignant Cubans would find pro-
lection within Spanish lines, while the
latter would officially deny all knoWl-
edge of the murderers.
a few weeks ago a band of these
men attacked q convent in the province
of Puerto Principe, which was filled
with young girls, who were most
shamefully abused. Some of these men
were caught by General Lacet, the in
surgept leader, and executed. while the
greater part OF them found protection
within Spanish lines. Although the
enormity of their crime was known
and their victims were convent school
girls. the rlurderers were protected,
and are today free
These are the men whom General
Weyler has spent hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars to attach to his cause.
and through them he has ordered the
killing Of foreigners whom he dared
mot call ~ in court. He has made
Dffers of reward for the assas sination
Of insurgeEt leaders. For three weeks,
it has been known in Havana that a
clever bride was out for the surrender
IF General Maceo. It was TO the effect
that he held the ticket which called
Tor the grand prize OF $50, 900 in the
Havana lottery and upon Weyler's de-
parture for the hills several days ago
it was breaIhed about that the man
who killed MaceO could have the prize
The story Of Maceo'S death as told
from Osuclal sources, SuSLalnS lOlly the
theory of assassination. General Ma
Geo. instead Of crossing the trocha, di-
rectly with his men, was, through some
covert influence, induced to pass Mariel
by boat and his forces on the east
side of 5iie death line. There every
thing was in readiness by the con-
spirators and the brave leader fell a
victim TO the trao into which he had
walked It is considered very singular
that Aaceo's physician Zertucha was
allowed 10 surrender. and is treated
with distinction
The depression into which the Gu
bans were thrown upon the first an
nouncement of ! ceo's death, now that
the fact of his assassination is con-
hTmed. has changed TO that Of desDer-
ATE determination