Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-27
SHOOTS AN UNARMED AMERICAN.


Spanish General Guilty OF the Gross
est of Cruelty.
Copyright, 1886, by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA, (yia Tampa, Fla.), April 90
(New York World Cablegram-Special Telet
gram.)--An American citizen was shot by
Spanish troops near Santa Clara, it IS re-
ported from there, in spite Of the fact that
he presented proof of his nationality. The
victims name is said to be Lopez. While
General Melquizo is being honored by spain
his American victim lies wounded and Grip
pied for life within 1000 yards Of the spot
where am writing. So far as | can learn,
nothing has been done to punish the brutal
and cowardly crime of this officer against
an unarmed and peaceful citizen of the
United States.
The attitude of Spain in this case Is un-
fortunate. 1t will be remembered that
General Melquizo deliberately insulted the
Americans natiCuality by slapping his
helplesd prisoners face for showing his
certificate of citizenship, and then ordered
him to be shot without law or evidence.
Rev. Mr.. Daz, the Baptist minister, ar
rested last week and kept with his brother
In solitary confinement for $50 hours, says
that in spite of the treaty between Spain
and the United States guaranteeing Amerl-
can citizens trial In civil courts, he was
compelled to answer questions in a military
court. He refused at first, but the officials
threatened to proceed with military trial
and ignore his evidence, He then made a
sworn declaration under protest.
Mr., Diaz said TO me that the first day
In prison he got nothing to eat or drink, ana
his sufferings were dreadful He was for
hidden to speak and the sentry paid no at
tention to his appeals for water.
Il have taken no part In the insurrection.
directly or indirectly" said Mr. Diaz. ~
have simply organized White Cross society
to relieve wounded Spanish soldiers. Being
a physician as well as Christian minister,
j have gone TO the battlefelds with my
brother and helped to care for the Spanish
wounded"
Mr.. Diaz says he will go to Atlanta. Ga.
and allow the Baptist Board Of Missions to
decide whether claim for indemnity should
be made against Spain Tho present claimo
OF American citizens, whose property has
been destroyed, now amount 10 $4,000. 900,
Mr. LacOrta presented TO Consul general
Williams today a claim for S637 900 damages
10 his plantation Manuel Anton Morales, a
son of Marquis Real who long ago re
nounced his right 10 his fathers titles ana
became an American citizen, mas put IN
claim of $3.50 600 for the destruction OF his
plantation, Santisima Trinidad, in Havana
province. He says he asked the captain gem
eral for garrison to protect his place, and
General Weyler replied that he could not
spare the soldiers to protect individual prop
erty,
have just seen Mr.. Dawley CORE
epondent OF Harper's Weekly who wa
released from prison at Matanzas yesterday,
He has been arrested six times In three
woeks. but is happy ard undismayed He
will return to the district where he was
arrested and resume his wanderlngs He
4, the Mark Tapley OF the campaign. Daw-
ley was arrested the last time In insurgent
territory, near the village OF Alphonso XII
Matanzas province. He was with his COM
panion. Mccarthy oLeary, a Philadelphia
newspaper man. oLeary is six feet, two
inches tall, and could not crouch low enough
in the cane, when the Spanish negro guer-
rilas surrounded the spot. The insurgents
attacked the guerrillas aud tried to ressue
the prisoners. They also fired on the train
chat took the prisoners to Matanzas. When
Dawley was examined he declared that his
be was found was 10 show the American