Evening star., 1897-02-22
DR.. RUIZ'S DEATH
Consul General Lee Directed to In
quire Into the Facts.
BE had BEEN ILLEGALLY IMPRISONED
Spanish Officers Say That the
Doctor Killed Himself.
POSSIBILITY OF FRICTION

No further steps have been taken by the
State Department today in the case OF Dr.
Ruiz, the American citizen who was fouud
dead In his cell at Guanahacoa Cuba nm
der suspicious circumstances. Consul
General Lee. who is Investigating the af-
lair, under the orders CT the department
has not yet reported the results of his in
quiry. Meantime all talk of ultimatums
and calls for warships is officially pro-
nounced to be without foundation The
Department Of State has in this case as
in others preceding it, insisted upon a fun
investigation of the conditions. and has
asserted its right to know the charges
upon which persons of American citizen-
ship are detained in custody. Minister
Taylor at Madrid has been Instructed 10
| push this demand to the end
There has all along been some friction
| between the Spanish officials in Cuba and
Consul General Lee whenever the latter
was obliged to intervene In favor of arrest
| ed American citizens. This has grown out
of a radical difference in construction
placed upon the organic law.
Insisting ON Their Right.
The State Department has instructed the
consul general to insist upon his right TO
have arrested Americans released at the
end of period of detention of seyenty-two
hours, or else that they be confronted with
fcrmal charges. Under the Constitution
governing the island 1t is provided that
persons so arrested must be brought before
judge within forty-eight hours and must
be confronted with charges in seyenty-two
hours released.
But on occasions when the consul gen.
eral claimed this privilege for an imprison-
| ed American citizen the Spanish officials
from the captain general down. set up the
plea that in times of strife like this the
civil code was suspended and with IL the
privileges claimed. Inasmuch as Il would
amount to total remuneration of the berle-
fits derived from the Gushing protocol TO
accept thu; view, regardless of the fact
that protocol was drawn TO meet lust such
conditions as now exist the island, the
Department of State has steadfastly in
sisted upon claiming the right to have
charges preferred against imprisoned
Americans. 1t is asserted that the practice
| of the Spanish officials has not been con-
slstent, for in some Instances they have
allowed the justice of our claims and have
discharged or tried the persons In whose
behalf complaint is made, but in others
| they have ignored our representations and
| the indications are that they will only
yield the point under strong pressure.
| Americans Illegally Imprisoned.
At the beginning of the present month
| the State Department had information that
three natufaiized American citizens were
confined in Cuban jails, against whom no
I
| interest demands for release are pending.
| They are Frank J. Larrieu, who was ar
rested at Cardefas, away back in May last
year, Esteben Nenero, who was naturaizal
1885,, and arrested at Los Palos lhabana
prov v-nce) September ~ last, and Jose Con
zalez ratUral!zed in 1SS2, arrested al Las
Mangas November 10 last, and now in
prison at Pinar del Rio. This is the OH
cial list, but there may lie, and undoubtedly
are, a number of other American citizens
| in detention OF whose arrest neither Con-
sui General Lee nor the State Department.
is aware. The difficulties surrounding the
effort to secure knowledge of all such cases
are very great, as Will be seen when II
considered that many of the arrests are
made in the interior, remote from telegraph
ana all other means OF communication, and
in places where there other Ameri-
cans to report the facts TO the consul gem
eral. 1t is said that the Spanish officials
are at no pains to take notice of an appeal
based on American citizenship, to re-
port the fact that they have arrested an
American citizen to the American consular
officers
Report of Suicide.
High officials of ,he administration say
that it is not at all likely that the case
Of DR.. Ruiz will lead 10 international COM
plications. The matter was brought TO
the attention of the State Department in
the latter part of the past week through
complaint of some of the friends of The
doctor in this country. The allegation was
that the had been imprisoned beyond
the period allowed ny treaty for Amer
lean citizen TO be kept IN Jail without the
lodSment of charges, and that ne had been
murdered by his jailors.
Consul General Lee was immedia tely di-
rected by cable to investigate the affair,
although il appeared from mis- dispatches
that he had already had his attention di-
rected to the case. The Official reports of
the Spanish officers said TO show that
Ruiz committed suicide While in jail, but
this has not yet been communicated TO the
Department of State. Meanwhile Consul
General Lee is investigating the matter
and the State Department is awaiting his
report.
DIR. Ruix's Onense.
In the abseLce of IL is the department
officials feel no apprehension OF any COM
plcations and all stories that warships
have been called for by Gen. Lee or that
this government is making ready to take
forcible measures In the case are without
foundation.
DR.. Ruiz a naturalized American
citizen. He studied and practiced dentistry
in Phila6 a6elphia for scme time and re-
turned to Cuba about the beginning of
the present insurrection
The charge upon which he was arrested
was conspiracy, In having participated in
the derailing of a train carrying Spanish
troops as a result of which two Spanish
officers were captured by the insurgents.
1t is said at the State Department today
that there is no truth in the report that
General Lee had notified the department
that he would resign unless the admn!stra-
ton should uphold him in the demand for
the immediate release of DR.. Ruiz.