Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-17
VIOLATION OF TREATY RIGHTS.

uduc tue ulduucE anu lOELu lcdSb pTSlu-
'dicIaI to the person and reputation Of the ac-
cIsed.'
VIOLATION OF TREATY RIGHTS.
While the cOgniZance of his case being con-
ined, at first, to the jurisdiction Of the military
authorities was q violation of section l of the
protocol between Spain and the United States,
signed January IL. 1877. which stipulated that no
citizen OF the United States residing in Spain,
her adjacent islands or her ultra marine
possessions charged with any "crime whatso-
ever" shall be subject to trial by any excep-
Eional tribunal, but exclusively by the ordinary
jurisdiction, except in the case Of being cap
sEured with arms hand. The testimony shows
the lailer knew DR.. Ruiz was an American citi-
zen on the day of his arrest, viz 4th of Febru-
aTJ. 1s96-and that the acting governor and
.captain-general Of the island was informed of
the fact on the next day; but it was ten days
after his arrest and three days before his death,
'EiZ-, the 14th day Of February, 1se6-that the
.z1oSjng encouragement directed his case to be
s-etszTed TO the jurisdiction OF the civil court
and he died before said court considered it
The improper judicial proceedings in the first
piaee, and the length of time consumed in get
ting the case before the proper authorities,
during which the solitary prisoner was the oc-
. cupSat OF o CELL proved fatal
The testimony shows that DR.. Ruiz was q
healthy and unusually strong, able and athletic
man. That he had no hereditary mental or
heart disease or other body ailments.
He was confined incommunicado. and neither
his wife, children nor fr lends were allowed to
. communicate with MIN. tie was carrleu alive
to his CELL and at the end of 3l5 hours was
brought out a corpse. having been subjected to
''incOmmunicadO" Imprisonment in violation Of
his treaty rights e43 hours over and above the
- hour limit
From the time he was placed ''incommuni-
cado" until his death. all knowledge OF his con-
slitiOn was confined to his iailers and therefore.
there can be no other testimony except that of
these officials as to the mode of his treatment
or manner of his death, and il could not be ex-
hat f1s ,frTasaT
testify against themselves or against each 9TH
or So such testimony should be received not
sFitk "a grain Of salt but with a barrel
A witness named Rafael Galindo. who holds
government position. testified that he carried.
az Mrs Ruiz request, some bed clothes for the
use OF DIR. Ruiz to his cell on the same
day he arrested, but the testimony
M his most intimate friends, viz: Juan
sSratoeos and Jose Puiggros, does not
,pSaarm such testimony; and letter from Mrs.
Ruiz to me, written four days after his death, a
rOpy OF which is hereby transmitted, says:
During the IS days he remained incommunIca-
~ they did not allow me to take to him a cot
esSssYen hammock, but only hard chair. on
Vie 9Th Of February. when the jail official fiPal-
~. after my repeated requests, consented or al
lowed me to send to my husband the chair
~ nd YOU herewith. and in which You viii see
- 6 iast Impressions OF a man in his full mental
faruItieS'
The Impressions referred 60 and which I
nave seen, were sentences around the rim of the
stsscs, evidently indented with the nails OF the
Ginger and which read:
"AercsCes, Meme, EvsnSe'ine RicarSito-
Gooi-by children Of my life give YOU my
blessing. DC obedieHt to your mother They
VIII kill M " 7 ~ t"i5"9 - unrea1 tell
everything >IoO>I-by. AKA .. usY soul
This chair, Mrs. Ruiz says she sent for after
51er husbands death. and have seen lately
statements Of persons in whom place reliance
that uhe writing around the rim OF the back was
not discovered, as the chair was of light color
and the indented letters not distinct for some
days hitter x had been returned 20 her house
make these statements because found that
5ssitncsses who had testimony unfavorable TO
ans Spanish authorities would not give 1t for
OBVIOUS reasons, and IL the right to make them
=,ECsar was exercised IL would result. they said
5s Shclr giving Ron-committal evidence. for in
aaaesr opinion the mere fact of being summoned
yE0ald make them suspects" considered dis
.sczEAl % the .Snanish authorities on the island