Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05
REFUSE HIM A CIVIL TRIAL
Oscar Cespedes, an American 0itiSen, in
Danger at Matanzas.
WAS TAKEN WITH ARMS IN HAND
supreme Court of the Province Holds
that He liz Outside the Pale
of the Protocol
~ of 1877.

Copyright, 1896 by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA, Cuba, Dec. 4.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram Oscar Ces-
pedes, an American citizen. imprisoned in
San Severino castle, Matanzas, has been de-
MED q civil trial.
The Matanzas supreme court holds accord
ingto an extract from its decision. printed
in La Lucha, that Cespedes, having been
captured with arms in hand in open rebel
lion against Spain, is not entitled to civil
trial under the protocol of January H. 1877,
The case. Therefore, is sent back to the mil.
tary authorities for consideration by court
martial" Cespedes landed in Cuba with
Trujlla's fibustering expedition, June % OF
this year, and shortly afterward Joined La
cret's insurgent forces in Matanzas prov
iree.
Madrid dispatches quote Premier Canovas
a. having assured the queen at yesterday
cabinet council of his confidence that Presi-
dent Cleveand's forthcoming message will
he in no wise unfavorable to the Spanish
interests. After the cabinet meeting the min
lister Of war Senor Azclrraz, had another
long conference with Lieutenant General
Pandc.
A British firm has obtained a contract frcm
the Spanish government to construct in Ila-
d
receiving ships Of l0, 600 tons, to cost $685.
900, and to be completed within eleven
months.
Todays government reports announce the
defeat of Castilos rebel force in Havana
province. near Nazareno.
HARD ON THE PACIFICOS.
Pinar del Rio field dispatches report that
in accommodating the coast settlements OF
Naranjo, Sabana, Lamar and Baylem, Cen
eral Melguizo surprised an insurgent camp
near Ayllo1, his troops dspatching twenty
five pacfcos with their bayonets and side
arms without losing a man.
The Asturias battalion, after two hours
engagement" near Santa Catalina, killed
two rebels, captured the prefecture, seized a
hospital and burned many huts.
General Lono, the military governor OF
Havana province, has gone to Pinar del Rio
to command a column operating on the north
coast. General Barraquer temporarily sue
ceeds to the governorshp. One company
of Havana volunteers left today for the
field
DR.. Casuso. o Cuban political prisoner in
Cabanas castle, in letter to the afternoon
newspapers of today, pleads innocent of the
charge of disloyalty to Spain.
Trujillo's expedition, to which Oscar Ces-
pedes belonged. originally was part of the
expedition organized in New York by Lyle
Vidal The irtention was to sail from Phila-
delphia last June on the Bermuda, put tha'
craft was stuck in the mud and the men
went to Jacksonville, where they divided into
two parties. One party, under command OF
Vidal sailed on the Three Friends Ihe
other, led by Ricardo Trujillo, went on the
Commodore There were eighteen men ,n-
der TIujillo, Oscar Cespedes, Dr. Emilio
Cabado, Camille Echarte, Segundo Corvison'
Lorenzo Hernandez, FREDERICK Hernandez
Jose Vadot. Francisco L.. Padron, CreScenlos
Cabrera Martini Quierdo, Pauliuo Lesca,
Antonio Mayol, Pablo Rrujillo, Antonio Fer
nandez, Abeardo Medina, Jose Perex- Arocha,
Casiano Fernandez and Carlos Muecke.
Andres Fernandez was the pilot.