Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
HUDSON UNDER FIRE.
CAPTAIN or THE wooDALL RIGID
Ly cRoss-ExAMiNED.
COUNSEL TRY TO TRAP HIN.
Their Effort 20 Make Him Admit
That the Spanish Government IL
Paying Him for His Testimony
Other Witnesses.

BALTIMORE, MD. March A.-For
two hours this morning Captain Hudson,
OF the alleged nlibuster steamer Wood
all. underwent searching cross-exami-
nation by counsel in the case or DIR.
Joseph J. Luis, who is on trial In The
United States District Court on the
charge OF conspiracy and sending a
military expedition against friendly
power.
The counsel attempted in every posi-
bic way 10 trap the Captain into an adj
mission that the Spanish Government
was paying him for his testimony. He
admitted that he had been engaged In
nlibustering in 1880 His sympathies. he
said. were with Cuba, and when re-
preached by General Johnson, in a ban
terlng tone. for trying to imprison a
Cuban patriot Roloff being meanD' the
CAPTAIN declared that Roloff had treated
him shabbily. He said that had he
known that Rolof was 10 so with him
on the Woodall he would have thrown
over the whole matter.
Michael V. O'Neill, OF Baltimore. a
dealer in nautical instruments, gave I'M
important testimony.
John Cronin, fireman on the Wood
all. testified that he shipped to Nucatan
for three months He understood by MS
contract that the vessel was TO be used
10 rlu up the small rivers 20 fetch frut
10 seaports. His first intimatlon that
ali was not right was when. outside the
oapes. the vessel was run without hghts'
When the soldiers came aboard at Ess
Harbor. Cronln and the other members
OF the crew registered a complaint we
ala not see the honor OF being called
heroes AZ the risk Of our necks,' he
sss The CAPTAIN evidently feared trou-
Ne with his crew for when the water
ran short he manned a boat with Gu
hans 10 20 TO a small island TO procure
81 supply. When at Progresso the mai
contents tried 10 reach the United states
Consul but failed. At New Orleans
the United States Commissioner was
sought out. They had been badly treat
"a and wanted their money and dis
charge. The money was paid the crew
after q day or two.
Tnder cross-examination, Cronin ad-
nitted that for the past eight weeks he
had been paid $40 weekly by Mr..
Douglass" He professed ignorance as
20 where the money came from and
,ould not swear that the Spanish Gov
srnment did or aid not furnish 1t.
PAID BY A PINKERTON MAN.
John Iockney, fireman. told practically
he same story as Cronin. Edward
,arev whom he understood was superin-
,endent OF a Pinkerton agency, had paid
hin $40 weekly for the past eight weeks
$50 that l would be on hand when the
trial came up"
William A. Lawrence. of Newport
News Va. Observation-Disclosures on the
WoodaU was next called, but nothing
new was developed.
John Erickson. seaman, said ne ana
five other members Of the crew had been
paid $50 each by Rolon after the SOL
diers came aboard. The crew had pe-
come dissatisfied. and did not much
relish the chance Of being oYerhauled
by a Spanish warship.
Captain Hudson was recalled. lie
was asked by the prosecution about
letter written in March, 1880. by Dr.
I,tlis TO John l.. Smith. Hudson remem-
be,ed the letter, and a legal battle arose
as TO the admissibility Of his recollec-
ton OF its contents. Counsel Tor LUIS
nointed out that great evil might arise
should the witness make the slightest
mistake. The letter should be produced,
or the whole matter thrown out. Judge
Morris overrlrled the objection, and Cap
tain Hudson said that to the best OF
his recollection, the letter, which was
very brief was as follows: DO you
knov II Carrain Hudson is in town? II
he IS find out If he VIII take ano'hei
party and let me know
At this point an adjournment was
taken till morning. 1t Is expected that
he cas-. AVN be concluded tomorrow.