The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-23
SHOT BENEATH THE FLAG
British Subject Murdered by the
Spanish as He Lay Sick.
BLOOD COVERED UNION JACK
DabregoB's Offense Was Thras hing
a Spanish Lieutenant for Insult
ing the Queen-yisited at His
Home and Killed In the Presence
OF His Family.

New York, March 23.-The Herald's
special from Havana says: A popular and
capable civil engineer, Henry Dabregon
was killed last fall at his home in Cartha
| gena, near Cicnfuegos His death has
been hitherto an UnraveIed mystery, and
the occurrence was fast falling into OBJ
livIon, when today friends succeeded liz
securing declaration on the subject from
an eyewitness Of the most eold-blooded
murder that has Come to my knowledge
since reaching Cuba.
| DabFegon was French-Canadian and a
| British subject. He had been educated in
| Paris and Belgium in his profession. For
| many years he was the administrator OF
| Parque Alto, one of the largest sugar es-
| tates in the island.
\ A few years ago, having saved money, he
| bought several plantations and began to
grow cane on his own account near Cartha-
gena. 1t was in his o n home that he met
death in the brutal manner which is de-
scribed as follows by one of the eye wit
nesses:
''On October 4 Pepi CaIada, sergeant OF
the guerrIIlas In Carthagena, called about 2
O'Clock in the afternoon at the home of
Dabregon, in the limits OF tie town, and
with fort on either side not one hundred
yards away, and asked to see the owner
He was told that Dabregon was not at
home
About O'Clock he returned, accompa-
MED by two soldiers The sergeant, as well
as the soldiers, wore the regular uniform of
the guerrilla forces. He was told that Da-
oregon was in bed, suffering with neuralgia
1.-The sergeant would not leave, and in
sisted upon seeing the sick man. saying
that he had an important message To de-
liver to himfrom the commandant, and that
IL would only take minute to deliver it.
Upon this the sergeant, with one or the
other guerrillas, was admitted into Debre-
CONS room, where, in great pain, the latter
was lying on his bed. A the foot of the bed
sat Dabregon's wife, a Cuban woman, with
the youngest OF her children in her lap.
Over the back OF the bed was dTaped the
English flag.
'-Ddbregon greeted the intruder with a
cheerful salutattou, and asked min W hat he
wanted and why he was so urgent The ser
geant began to talk aboutgetting fodder for
the horses, but it was noticed that he con-
tinued TO approach nearer and nearer to the
bed where the unsUsisecting man lay.
Finally, when right by Dabregon's side,
the soldier lifted his carbine quickly and
placing the muzzle within an inch OF the vic
TINS head, fired, blowing off the top Of the
skull and bespattering the British flag.
from which Dabregon had expected protec-
ton, with his hfe's blood
Thus was Dabregon killed before the
eyes of his wife and child. But still not
content, the second soldier went forward
and emptied his carbine into the body Of
the hapleSs Dabregon, who was already
dead The two guerrilias then ran out OF
the house without word, jumped upon
their horses. which had been held by the
third soldier, and galIoped quickly away
ION the following day the eommaDdant |
of Carthagena took down the widows |
declaration. He persisted in saying that /
the murder must have been committed by |
the insurgents. The widow, however, on |
her part, insisted that CaIlada was the |
and offered to pick him out ola |
regiment Of soldiers dressed as he was,
but the commandment refused even to allow /
her to be confr onted with the murderer of |
her husband
The widow reported the murder to Nr. /
4
who sent a statement of the case to the
British consul general at Havana but up To
this date no investigat ton has been made
by that gentleman.
Three weeks after the murder, Mrs L
DabTegon gave birth to her seventh child, /
She had taken refuge with friends, who,
during her illness fearful OF their own
safety kept her " ACKNOWLEDGMENT During |
his time the house OF DabFeg0n was
burned, as were all the cane, cattle and
lorses taken from the plantation Now TIE
widow, with her hslf-grown Children is in
destitute circumstances and dependent fer
support upon the charity of friends"
There is the greatest Indignation here
among British subjects at the inactivity of
heir consular authorities in failing to de
nand an investigation Papers in the
,ase have been sent to London, and the
British colony feels assured that an ener-
yetic demand will soon be forthcoming. |
Henry Debregcn took no part or interest
n the instruction. The only clue to the
cause of the cold bloOded murder Is to be
ound inthe fact which have from several
.eliable witnesses that several days before
lis death b. had dispute with the lienten-
mt Of the Carthagena garrison, who used
insulting language in regard to Queen Vic
orfa. As ne refused to retract his words,
Dahrpgon gave the Spanish officer thrash
ng-
FORMING AND SUNDAY TIMES, 35
CENTS A MONTH.