The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-09
FILIBTSTERS ON TRIAL.
Taking Testimony in the Case Of
the Schooner Competitor.
URGING A SENTENCE OF DEATH

UhULNU y bN lbNUh VI DbA i H.
Each of the Prisoners Declares That lie
Was Forced 60 Remain on Board the
Vessel While There to Bid Good-by TO
Friends.
HAVANA, May 0-The trial by court
martial of the men captured on board the
American schooner Competitor of Key
West, Fla, by the Spanish gunboat Men
sajera, on April %, began in the court of
justice at the navy yard here yesterday. A
guard of picked marine infantry soldiers
brought in the prisoners.
The first to enter the court room was
Alfredo Laborde, who is classed as the
leader of the filibustering expedition.
After Laborde came DIR. Elias Bedia, a
man named John Milton, said to be ma
tive of Kansas; William Gildea, said to be
a British subject, and Teodoro and Mata,
described as fishermen and classed as wit
nesses
Lieutenant Butron, in command of the
gunboat Mensajera, who captured the
Competitor, testified that when within
hailing distance of the schooner he called
upon her to show her colors The schooner
did not do so and men on board of her
jumped overheard and swan for the shore.
Two Of the latter were seen to go down
and others may have been drowned. In
addition two more of the so called fllibus-
ters were killed by the rifle fire of the crew
of the gunboat while trying to reach the
shore Lieutenant Butron said he found
on board the captured schooner, in addi-
tion to quantity of war material, a num-
Der of documents, inscribed and classified,
orders from Colonel Munson, an insurgent
officer; recommendations from Estrada,
the insurgent commander, to Collazo, an
other insurgent officer; proclamations
signed by Laborde; lists of the members
of tho expedition and of the war material
on board, and permit for the Competi-
tor to be used as a ''lifeboat."
LabOrde, the alleged leader of the Com
petitor insurgents, was the first of the pris-
oners to be examined. Labordo testified
that he was 80 years of age, and that he
came from New Orleans. He said that he
left Key West with twenty-four passen-
gers, whO at Cape Sable, Obliged him to
put in towards the shore and forced him
to take on board arms, ammunition and
explosives, saying that they would trans
fer this material to a steamer which would
meet them mt sea. Colonel Munson, La
borde added, landed on the coast of Cuba
eventually, and he, Laborde remained on
board the Competitor He did not fire on
the Spanish gunboat, although the men
on shore did so When the prisoner was
questioned regarding an insurgent flag
which was found on board the schooner
he said that it belonged to one of his pas
sengers, man named Quesada, who was
among the drowned.
DR.. Elias Bedia testified that he was 81
years of age, and medical student. He
declared that he had repeatedly refused
to take part in any expedition to Cuba,
and that he merely went on board the
schooner Competitor in order to say good
by to some friends. But, when the boat
| left, these friends refused to allow him to
go ashore, and when they landed on the
coast of Cuba he (Bedia) not being desir-
GUS of landing, remained on board the
| Competitor until she was captured and he
was made prisoner. He said they did no t
hoist the national flag.
Teodoro Mata, the next prisoner, de-
clared he went on board the Competitor in
order to see the expedition leave, and that
the men on board obliged him to go with
them He added that he did not land, and
asserted that not one of the five prisoners
in court fired shot at the gunboat. Mata
said that at Key West he was considered a
spy of the Spanish government and he
further claimed that he had fought with
the Spaniards against the insurgents and
was known to General Prats.
William Gildea declared that he was,
like Mata compelled by the Others on board
to accompany the expedition although he
had only gone to see them start, and for
this reason, he added, he did not land.
Gildea confirmed the statement that Que
sada was drowned
John Milton, the fifth prisoner, declared
that he had also been compelled against
his will to accompany the expedition,
which he had gone to see start. He added
that he believed Laborde, the commander
of the schooner, was not aware that he wa:
taking party of tilibusters until it wa:
too late.
The prosecutor classed all the prison er.
as traitors and as assisting in the insur
rection, The schooner was classed as
pirate, worth about 81 900, and having OF
board an insurgent flag valued at ont
cent He denied that Mata could be con
sidered a friend of Spain, as he was treateC
on board the schooner in the same man.
ner as the other members of the expedi
ton. AS to Laborde, the prosecutor pointed
out that he was the man who had signed
schooner when she was captured.
In his defense Laborde firmly declared
that he had not written or received the
letters and other papers found on board
and that he had not signed the proclama
tions captured on board the schooner,
Lieutenant Butron, recalled, declared
that the prisoners had not fired on the wai
vessel and asserted that no cartridges had
been found in their pockets.
The prosecutor thereupon read the forma
act of accusation, declaring the prisoners
to be tllibusters, and asked that the deatl
sentence be imposed ON all the prisoners.
Lieutenant Pardo, for the defense sait
that he did not consider the prisoner
should be treated as being all equal,
guilty, He said that Laborde and Bedii
were more guilty than Milton and Gildea
and that Milton was only guilty of exces
siye zeal in trying TO obtain information
Admiral Navarro approved of the deatl
sentence being imposed.