Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-30
RUIZ INQUIRY ENDED
A MYSTERIOUS MESSENGER FROM
WASHINGTON.
IMPORTANT DISPATCHES FROM, LEE.
Report of the Calhoun Commission
Also believed to he Borne by the
Autonomist Talk.

HABANA, May 29.-The commission
conducting the inquiry into the crcum-
stances surrounding the death Of d. Ruiz
closed its labors at an early hour to-
day.
\ mysterious messenger from Washing
ton came from Tampa on the steamer
Mascotte this morning. but did not land.
Mr.. Fishback. secretary OF the commits
sion accompanied by Consul-General
Lees son. went on board the steamer
before she sailed, and held brief con-
sultation with the stranger, and 1t Is
supposed that they delivered TO him the
report Of the commission, and other
highly important dispatches from Consul
General Lee and Mr.. Calhoun. who was
selected to investigate DIT. Ruiz's death,
to be conveyed to the State Department
at Washington. The messenger was
registered upon the Mascotte's inward
passenger list as H. W. Kimball, and
the same name appeared on the steam
er's outward list.
DR.. Jose Congosto. the Spanish Consul
az Philadelphia, who represented the
Spanish Government in the inquiry, is
also understood to have forwarded
long report to Senior DE Lone. the Span
ish Minister at Washington, by to-day's
mail.
Messrs Calhoun, Fishback. and Con-
gosto will leave next Thursday for New
York direct.
It IS understood in political circles that
a long conference was held yesterday
between Mr.. Calhoun and the Marquis
De Montoro, the chairman Of the Auto
-omist party. ut which the Cuban prob
lem and the political reforms for the Is
land offered by Spain were thoroughly
discussed. in the presence Of Dr. con-
-osto. which fact IS much commented
upon
CALHOUN AGREES WITH LEE
HABANA. via KEY WEST. May b
Of the two reports understood 10 nave
been sent from Habana to-day Nv me
commission Investigating the death OF Ut
Ruiz the one By Mr.. Calhoun. VINO repre-
sents the United States. and the other by
DR.. Jose Congosto. the Spanish Consul
at PHILADELPHIA who acts for the Spanish
Government. the former viii, II Is sald,
agree with the statement OF Consul
General Lee that Dr. Ruiz died from con-
cussion Of the brain. the result OF Vlo-
lence. after solitary confinement OF more
than thirteen days, regardless OF his
treaty rights.
Consul-General Lee declined AT yester-
DAVIS session Of the commission TO ques-
tion the witnesses. who were interro-
GATED only by the Spanish representatives.
Consul-General Lee will shortly make
report on the Ruiz case, and Nh Ca
houn will make a further report on other
matters. such as the money question. the
state Of the insurrecton, the condition
of American interests, and the general
suffering due 10 Captain-General Weylers
style Of campaign.
GENERAL LEES POSITION.
Consul-General Lees position is just
what it was in February last lie holds
that Spain IS responsible, since Ruiz died,
because he was deprived Of his treaty
rights
The exact facts as to how DR.. Ruiz
received the blow which killed him Gene
raj Lee and Mr.. Calhoun could not learn
because half Of the witnesses examined
by the commission were prisoners, and II
was believed were afraid to testify fully.
The remaining witnesses were the jailcrs,
who would not testify so as 10 incrimi-
nate themselves
The RELIEF OF suffering Americans by
Consul-General Lee goes on daily. Seve-
raj hundreds have already been assisted.
A prominent and influential Spanish
resident Of llabaca, upon being question
ed with reference 10 the suggested sale
Of Cuba. authorized the representative OF
the Associated Press TO tell the American
press that he faycrs the sale Of Cuba.
not TO the Cubans. but 10 the United
States. for the sake of avoiding in the
future ruin. desolation, and blOOdshed.