The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-03
TEE CAsEOE DOCTOR RUE.
Secret"rS oincy Gives Outn Abstract
of the eCarrckDOutlcncr

"I the eC0rrckpOltIcncc
Washington. d. c.. March o-socr.-
tary OincN to- day responded to ,hr san
aye resolution calling for the corrcspon- :
nthcc IN The Ruiz case by sending. an
n''s'racl ~ OF the matter declining to semi
~ IN correspondence OH the ground
mat ii would not seem to he In ,ho
public interest.
Inc abstract furnished hy ,ha S,,,o
Doparlment shows the following facis.
ha lflchard0 Ruiz was a native born
Ennah and came to this country during
.ne progress of the Cuban insurrection'
mnlch W., c, terminated in 1878. He received
MS llnal papers S naturalized citizen
~ January. 1880, in Philadelphia. I'm
ihedlaiely after he returned to Cuba.
entered upon the practice Of dentistry
married and reared a family ana has
resided there permanently and con-
llnu0uSly even since
lie was arrested February an MA
thrown INTO prison OH the charge OF par
'clpa llon In the capture and robbery
OIL 4 railroad train. His arrest wns ~,
ported to this government BY telegram
on the same day. and until the nth
iio.ninG was heard of the case by the de-
Deins attended TO by the Consulate In
ne regular course; that at the end of
SeEenlS-,wo hours the prisoner would
eilnef be put communicate or If moi
ma q proper demand for such relief
would be made; and tnar II s1IrT da-
| mand were made and were not s,Iccess-
1uh inc department would Mt once be
notified -. ''~ "'
no measures Of the sort wer. taken.
however, though the prisoner remained
lncoinmunicado, and on the 18th The
Consulate reported to the donartncut
| hat Ruiz had been found dead IN he
cell under circumstances which iustifind
ana led TO Il demand FOR Immediate in :
NcStigation.
Ihe Consul General reported that Ruiz
WAS kept 3l0 hours In q small, closed and
most filthy cell, three by five feet hnv-
ing rough stone floor, with no window
anu anu only a six inch square opening in
we door Tor the admission Of food.
Wnlch aperture was kent shut cXcept
When used; that no one was allowed TO
see MIN; that he died from neglect and
violence: that he became dcrauccd. TIM I
an autopsy showed severe contusions on
top or the head; that he died from con-
EeStion or the brain; that there was no
fracture OF the skull; that all knowledge
was confined To officials and !, was diff
cult TO ascertain the facts.
secretary Olney quotes the report Of
the acting Governor General of Cuba to
show that Ruiz was kept in large,
roon1y cell. lighted ana yentilated: that
ne had nm easy chair and mat trass,
Shccis. pillows, etc; that blow being
heard In his room on the 18TH, he was
found very much excited with a con-
fusion on the head, and was at once re-
moved to q better room where he could
more easily he watched and placed un-
der medical treatment; that on the nth
he was found by an attendant In the act
OF buttinG his head against the grating
or the door, and though Qucted by the
attendant, shortly after died; that an
autopsy being held. the physician pres
ent concurrcl In the opinion that dca tn
enSued from cerebral congestion not in
duced by the wound on the head, which
was superficial, and that the prisoners
treatment during confinement was most
consdcratt and better than in the ca ses
OF other prisoners an attendant going to
his room whenever called for
Secretary O!ney says that the cOnc!u-
sinnS Of the official reports OF the two
Governments being thus radically con-
fict!nf. another open and thorough in
VeStiSaiion seemed to this Government
Indispensable. IN this view the Spanish
Government concurred. and Il letter
from Minister DeI0ue is quoted. bear
ing upon this caZ, dated February 27.
In this note Minister DeLome says:
The Spanish Government has ordered
that most thorough !nvestiga ton be
made in order 10 throw l!gh. upon the
facts. 50 thai If 1t appear therefrom that
there has been cu!pabiity or negligence
all the weight OF the law may fall upon
the guilty 70 this end, after receiving
General Ahumada's telegram, the Gov
ernment ordered by cable that a Judge
be designated who, in view Of the facts
charged and communicated by Manister
Taylor at Madrid. shall institute a judi
cial process in which all the circum-
stances shall be scrupulously and ac-
lively ascertained. His Majesty's Gov
crnment wishes. and 10 that end directs
that the Consul Of the United States be
IL; vi n Suh r,1it- If Cp flpsiras nv
evidence which may assist in making
the facts clear and OF which he may
have kn0wlcdGc. and also TO take cog
nizance Of the proceedings of the case
ii the Consul OF the United States de-
sires to become = party In the proceed
lngs he can DO so, and to ygthafaend lie
will 'be afforded every facility he may
need. ss$ - Essss slss II 81
In this note Minister De- Lon1e s. calls
attention to the failure OF iRiii. tos an.
noGnce his citizenship }uEon the occasion
OF his arrest. III conetGsio iors the nj III.