The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14

ten by him on the Competitor to persons
at Key West, advising them of the ar
rival of the expedition in Cuba.
On May g the preliminary eXamina-
ton of the prisoners was ended and the
case was taken to the superior court.
Admiral Navarro, as the presiding OIL
Ger of that court of the navy, declared
that in conformity with the orders he
issued on Monday the prisoners were
allowed to communicate with their
friends and he appointed Lieut.. Ramon
Pardo of the Spanish navy to act as
counsel for the prisoners and to defend
them at their trial. The prosecutor
afterwards read n letter addressed by
the United States consul general, Mr..
in which Mr. Williams stated he had
heard of the capture of the Competitor,
an American pilot boat, and that it was
supposed that some of the persons cap
tured on board her were American citi-
zens. Therefore the consul general re-
quested antecedents of the prisoners in
order that he might communicate on
the subject with the government at
Washington.
Mr.. Williams also referred to the
treaty between the United States and
| Spain and requested the name of the
attorney for the defense.
Mr.. Williams protested against the
prisoners being tried by summary court
martial, holding that they should be tried
| before an ordinary court, in accordance
with the treaty obligations.
| In another document dated April 30
| Mr.. Williams requested permission to
speak with the prisoners against whom
proceedings were pending. The reply
accused were. American citizens they
were being proceeded against, and the
pilot boat was captured because they
were taking part in an expedition against
Spain and because the schooner did not
carry a flag and landed arms, ammuni-
ton, etc, on the coast of Cuba, contrary
to the military and naval laws.
An alleged contradiction was then
pointed out to Mr.. Williams as being
contained in his letter when he com
menced by saying that he had ''heard
talk about the case, without knowing
how the prisoners were being treated"
and afterwards, according to the au-
thOrities here, saying that he would pro-
coed to call attention to the treaty, etc.
1t was further pointed out that the
treaty applied to persons who inscribed
themselves at the consulate and at the
proper government offices. Therefore
the government could not accept Mr..
Williams protest because he was i'm
error as to the right of the prisoners
under the law.
Mr.. Williams was, however, allowed to
communicate and converse with the
prisoners.
In conformity to the information gath
cred and in conformity to the laws, Ad-
miral Navarro at II o'clock last night
formally delivered the case into the
for the defense.
Lieut.. Butron, recalled, said he could
not affirm that the prisoners captured
on board the Competitor fired on the
gunboat and the captain, recalled, also
declared the prisoners had not fired on
the war vessel and asserted that no
cartridges had been found in their
pockets.
The prosecutor thereupon read the
formal accusation and asked that the
death sentence be imposed on all the
prisoners
Lieut.. Pardo, for the defense, said he
does not consider the prisoners should
be treated as being all equally guilty
For instance, he said, it seemed clear
that Lab0rde and Bedia were more
guilty than Milton and Gilda and that
Milton was only guilty of entering tc
obtain information.
Navarro approved of the death sen
tence being imposed.
This ended the days proceedings.
The campaign in Pinar del Rio has
taken an active turn. Gen. Ochando
Gen Weylers chief Of staff, gave orders
that Gen. Altemira should be sent in
pursuit of Antonio Maceo. Complying
: with these instructions, Gen. Altemira
! came up with Maceo at the farm of Can
deleria at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
The insurgents made firm stand and
stood the fire of the troops for five hours
Apparently they had no idea of retreat
ing until reinforcements in the shape of
column commanded by Col. Vacriel
joined Gen. Altemra and the insurgents
then began to give way. The march
was made toward Gucamaya in series
of skirmishes from position to position
The insurgents in their fight received
the cannon and musketry fire of the
troops. The report says that the troops
! had seven killed and Capt. Manuel Her
rera and Lieuts. Isador, Santa Marena
Cecil Gomez and twenty-five soldiers
wounded