The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-09
THE PENALTY WILL Be DEATH
Crew of the Competitor Tried
by Courtmartial.
Tho Trial Began at Havana Yesterday
morniDR-Among Those Arrsigned
Was an American Named John Mil
ton, Said to DO From Kansas City, anal
William GiIdeas Reported to be q
British Subject.

A@AAsA VI sne uien captured on the CorFk
petitor, OF Key West. Fla, by the spaM
ish gunboat Menssjsra. on April 3S
began in the court of justice ut the navy
yard here shortly before O'Clock this
morning as . tropical rain shower wss
falling.
Before beginning their work the mem
bers Of the court assembled in the chapel
OF the navy yard and reverently wit
messed the mass, going thence directly
to the court of justice, where many other
officers had assembled. A guard O.
picked marine infantry soldiers then
brought in the prisoners.
The first to enter the court room WAS
Alfredo Laborde, who Is classed as the
leader Of the flibustering expedition.
After Laborde came Medrelia
Beds, man named John Mil
ton, said to be q native of Kansas
City; William Gildes, said to be
. British subject, and Theodore Mata.
The prosecutor opened the proceed
lingo by describing the capture of the
Butron, in command of the gunboas
Menssjera, was notified by some fisher
men on April 25 last that suspicious
looking schooner. apparently pilot
boat, was of Berrscoa.
The Menssjers was headed for that
part OF the coast and when within hail
Ing distance Of the schooner called upon
her TO show her oolors. The schooner
did not do so and men on board jumped
overheard and swan for the shore. Ten
OF the latter were seen to 20 down and
the others may have been drowned. In
addition two more Of the so-called fill
busters were killed by the rife fire of
the gunboas while trying to reach the
shore: The filibusters, who were
already on the land, continued the
prosecutor. opened fire on the gunboat,
but did not succeed in hitting anybody.
The schooner Was then seized. Lieu
tenant Commander Busron. of the Men
sajera, confirmed the statements of the
prose eutor.
The lieutenant Is about 80 years of
age, @ tall, finely built man Of dark COM
plexion and has fine expressive eyes.
Continuing, Lieutenant Butron said he
found on board the captured schooner Q
number OF documents inscribed and
classified; orders from Colonel Munson,
an insurgent officer; recommendation
from Estrada, the insurgens chief. TO
Callazo, another insurgents leader; proc
lamstions signed by Laborde, LETS of
sAO AAAoAAS SAo Va shO GA PO0Aboh ona VI
the war material on board, and q per-
NIT for the Competitor TO be used 90 o
''life boat" Lieutenant Butren also said
that the war material captured con-
sisted Of sixty Remington rifles, forty
carbines. two hundred pounds of dyn.
amite and 10000 cartridges. Lsborde
WAS the first prisoner to be examined.
The prosecution thereupon read the
formal act of accusation, declaring the
prisoners to be filibusters, captured in
3 state of rebellion against the Spanish
government, and clsssing the COMPETE
tor as Key West life bsas found land.
ing arms on the coast of Cuba; there
fore, in the name OF she government of
Spain, the prosecutor asked that the
death sentence be imposed on all the
prisoners.
Lieutenant Psrdo for the defense said
that he did not consider the prisoners
should be treated ss being all equally
guilty. For instance he said 1t seemed
clear thst Lsborde and Bedia were more
guilty than Milton and Gildea and that
Milton was only guilty of zeal In trying
10 obtain information.
Colonel Navarro approved Of the death
sentence being imposed.
The court martial adjourned for the
day shortly after 10 O'Clock without hav-
ing arrived at judgment on the cases
before them.