The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-19
LAURADA'S WORK FOR LIBERTY
THE TRIAL OF DICKMAN AND NU-
NEZ STILL IN PROGRESS.

James Quinn who Went with the
Expedition TO Cuba ON the Steamer
Testifles Against the Defendants.
Went to the Camp of President
Cisneros and subsequently OBJ
tained Permission 10 Return
Home.
New York, Nov. 1S.-The trial of Col,
Emelio Nunez and Capt. Charles b. Dick
man upon the charge of having engaged
in Cuban tilibustering expedition in
May last, began in earnest in the United
States criminal court this morning.
District Attorney McFarlane opened for
the prosecution. He insisted upon the
necessity of preventing expeditions
against the Spanish in Cuba being sent
from this country If the United States
desired to remain at peace with Spain,
and as emphasizing this necessity the
verdict of the jury would be most inn
portant. He cited the law forbidding
the fitting out of filibustering expeditions
against a country with which we are at
peace and reviewed the charge against
the defendants, giving, in the course of
his remarks. brief history of the expe-
dition which left American waters for
Cuba in May last In the steamship Lau-
rada, and of which Capt. Dickman is
said to have been the commander. Mr.
McFarlane described Col. Nunez's alleged
activity in getting the expedition away
and told of the landing of a portion of
the men in Cuba, He also described the
return of the Laurada to Jacksonville
Fla, and the throwing overheard Of the
remaining arms and ammunition, which
had not been landed in Cuba. owing to
the appearance of a Spanish man-of-war
When he had concluded, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Hyman offered in evidence
President Cleveland's latest proclamation
in connection with the Cuban revolution
This was objected to by Mr.. Rubens and
was ruled out by the court on the ground
that the proclamation was issued after
the offense charged against the defend
ants. A previous presidential proclama-
ton regarding the Cuban matter was
however. admitted.
Thomas j. Dunn, clerk in the marine
division of the custom house here was
the first witness called. He testified to
having issued clearance papers to Capt
Dickman on May 8 last, the ships mani
fest giving her destination as Port An
tonic, Jamaica. The vessel for which the
papers We're procured was the Laurada.
Capt. Dickman. the witness said, took
the Masters oath" as to the accuracy
of the statements upon which the clear
ance papers were issued.
James Quinn testified that he sailed on
the Laurada on May 8. last He knew
Col. Nunez and Capt. Dickman. The wit
ness made arrangements with Gen. Ruiz
to go to Cuba and also had a conversa-
ton with Dr. Castillo in regard to the
matter of going to Cuba. DIR. Castillo
had also arranged for witness board pre-
vious to the sailing of the Laurada Wit
ness said Bernardo j. Bueno and San
American named Joyce were the leaders
of the party to be shipped on the Lau-
rada. He told of eighty men going on
board the lighter at Astoria and being
towed to the Laurada at Montauk Point
by the tug Commander. He saw Col.
Nunez, Capt. Dickman and Dr. Castillo
on the Laurada and saw another lighter
come along side loaded with bales and
boxes. Witness said they contained arms
and ammunition Witness said that there
were twenty-five boxes of dynamite
transferred from second lighter to the
Laurada, besides numerous other boxes,
from which rifles, ammunition, saddles,
electrical apparatus, etc, were taken.
Cuban officer drilled the men.
Witness next described the
arms on the island of Cuba and the third
and partially successful one. He said
that those who landed in this last attempt
buried such arms and ammunition as they
did not carry as their equipment and then
proceeded inland, the witness accompany
ing them After a march of four days
they fell in with troop of Cuban cavalry
with whom they marched fbr twenty days
until they reached President Cisneros
camp. Subsequently witness received per
mission to return home leaving President
Cisneros at San Bias.
On cross-examination by Gen. Tracy
witness said he had been allowed to reach
Havana by permission of a Spanish gen
eral. Then witness came to New York
Consul F'itzhugh Lee paying for his pas.
sage. Witness said that there was Pink.
erton detective with the United States
marshal who handed him a subpoena in
this case at Boston. Three or four days
ago witness was brought to New York by
man whose name he did not know, anG
lodged in the Morton house. The mar
promised to pay witness expenses. Wit
ness admitted that he had solicited a let.
ter from Cubans in Boston to enable him
to sail on the Laurada.
And So" said Gen. Tracy, you goi
this letter at your own request. You. went
to Cuba and you are now here testifyine
against the Cubans?"
In the course of his direct examination
the witness referred to the following let
ter he had received from President Cis
neros and 1t was offered In evidence:
MIR. James Quinn: l hope you will
never forget that Cuba needs the help oi
every man that loves liberty. Yours az
fectionately, Salvador Cisneros.
"San Bias, Aug /, 1885,
Under redirect examination the witness
said that he had gone to Cuba with every
intention of acting right by the Cubans
But they did not act right by me, anc
| that is the reason / came home," he said
| He also testified that he had never seer
District Attorney McFarlane before to-
day and had not gone to Cuba as spy.
| Gustav Broderman, who said he was a
native Of Cuba, refused to say whether
he knew Col. Nunez and Capt. Dicknsan
or not, on the ground that IL would tend
to incrminate him. Witness said he was
| in Havana last, on Aug. IA this year when
| he left for New York, where he arrived
| on Aug. II. He had been In Cuba about
| three months He refused TO say when
he went to Cuba, on the ground that 1,
might do him harm. Finally, however,
| he said he went in the latter part of April
| or the first Of May. Witness said he went
to Cuba on the Laurada. He had seen Or.
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