San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-05-27
ON EVERY HAND THE INVES-
TlGAT0RS ARE MALICIOUS
LY THWARTED.
Prisoners Promised PariOnS To
Swear That Ruiz Attempted
Suicide And That He Was
Afflicted With Mania.
Calhoun DOdgei.

New York, May 27.-A dispatch to
the Journal from Havana, via Key
West, says:
The Congosto-Lee commission of in
quiry into the Ruiz case has so far
accomplished nothing. When the con-
sui general accompanied by Commits
sioner Calhoun and Secretary Fish
back, went over to Guanobaco, they
found everything had been cut and
dried by Commissioner Congosto and
his Spanish co-adjutor there. The
prisoners, political and criminal, in the
Jail where Ruiz met his death, who are
usually kept in close confinement, were
walking about the yard and promptly
lined up anxious, apparently to earn,
the pardons reported to have been
promised them to perjure themselves
in SPANS favor If called to the wit
ness stand by any member of the COM
mission.
One, alleged to have been a trusty,
doing service as a guard before Ruizs
cell, was ready to swear that he sat
silently by for half an hour and heard
Ruiz beating his head against the iron
door; then he heard dull thud, look
ed and saw the American lying on the
floor in the agonies of death.
Another said he had known the de-
ceased for years and never regarded
him as being altogether right in his
mind.
A third was anxious to give testi-
mony to the effect that his grandmoth-
err had told him that several of Ruiz's
ancestors had been subject to epilep-
tic fits.
Congosto wished to pass lightly ov-
err the original and principal point rails
ed by the Americans to the effect that
whatever might be the manner in
which Ruiz met his death, his end
came while illegally and secretly held
in communicate in military prison
beyond the limits prescribed by treaty
and therefore in violation of the same
and make the secondary question,
that of his alleged assassination, the
whole issue.
Supported by Calhoun, Lee opposed
this, the discussion with Congosto and
his cousel becoming quite heated be-
fore the meeting was closed.
After returning to Havana, Lee and
Calhoun sent a note to Congosto, the
ing that the original evidence. taken
by civil as well as military authorities
in the Ruiz case, including the writ
ten declarations of witnesses called in
such preliminary proceedings, be sup
piled to Secretary Fishback for trans
lation into English, for examination
by the consul before the next meeting
of the commission.
Congosto replied that all the docu-
ments had gone to Madrid some time
ago. Since this response came, how
ever, by mutual agreement, certified
copies have been accepted and are I'M
der examination.
But there is nothing but the assur-
ance of Judge Vidal and other Span
ish court officials to show that these
papers supplied are genuine and ver-
batim extracts from the record as the
American delegates have been offered
no opportunity to personally inspect
the archieves.
Friends of Fonsdeviela claim that Te-
jeriz, his successor as military COM
mander of the town, has purposely held
back certain papers in order to screen
Marur, the agitator from possible CEN
sure at the commissions hands for
failure to comply with an order alleg-
ed to have been issued by Fonsdeviela
some days previous to Ruiz's death, d.
recting that he be released from soli-
tary confinement and permitted to
communicate with his family and
friends.
Congosto has opposed the expressed
wish of the American delegation that
Fonsdeviele be brought before the
commission. He is absent and in ac-
tive field service, 1t Is explained, and
cannot well obtain permission to come
to Guanabaco. 1t is believed, in view
of this, that Lee and Calhoun will not
ask to have any other witnesses sum-
moned or put any cross-questions to
others which Congosto may call, the
documentary evidence on hand being
regarded as quite sufficient after ex-
ceptions are noted to justify the Amer
lean contention as to fragrant violation
Of the treaty and warrant Lees orig