The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-03
RICARDO RUIZ CASE.
STATEMENT MADE TO THE SENATE
by SECRETARY oLNEy.
Another Open and Thorough Investi-
cation Ia 10 lie Commemorative
Correspondence Ia withhold.

Washington. February a.--Thc president
today sent 10 tho senate a report madc BY
Secretary Olncy Oh the resolution request
Ing tho correspondence In the case OF Or.
Ricardo Ruiz. Tho report suggests the In
adyisability OF supplying the corresponds
enco at this time. which suggestion tho
president indorses, saying that 1t would To
Incompatible with the public to do so pend
ing the public aud exhaustive investigation
about to be instituted. Tho president adda
tho suggestion, "That the consul should
have professional aid In such investigation.
though that matter. together with tho So
lection OF tho particular persons to AIT
with him. properly devolyes upon my sue
cessor In oilice."
Instead OF transmitting the official CORE
spondonoe the secretary supplios an account
of his own composition covering the esson-
| tlal facts In the case. lie says that Ruiz
was a native OF Cuba. came TO tho ooun-
| try during the revolution which formulated
| In 1873. ard studied dentistry In Thiladel-
phia, declaring his Intention to become a
citizen OF the United States In 1877. He
received his bnal papers in 1880.
After this he returned to Cuba and re-
sided there siuee.
Ito detailed Ruiz arrest on February I.
OF which be says the department was im-
mcdataly Informed but that nothing moro
was heard IN regard TO the matter until
February II. when tho consul general res
ported that Ruiz Ind been found dead. H0
rayR tho department had assumed that tho
| case was being attended to during this iu-
! terlih ind that demand would DO male
that the prisoner should be put IN cons
mnnicado. hut that Il afterwards developed
that no such demand had been mado and
tho prisoner had remained constantly in
| solitary confinement Tho circumstances ut
tending the death wore such as To lead TO
| a demand for an investigation.
After such personal examination as no
was able 10 make the secretary continues:
"1he consul general has reported to the
department that Ruiz was placed and Kept
| for 1876 hours In small closed and filthy
| cell, three by five feet. having rough
| stone floor with no windows aud only a
six inch square opening In the door for
| tho admission Of food. which aperture wap
kept shut except Whom so usod; that no
ono was allowed to see him; that he died
| from neglect or violence. that he became
derhngod, that an autopsy showed seven
Commissions on top OF his head, that ho
died from congestion OF tho brain; that
there was no fracture of the skull hut NIL
knowledge was confined to officials and
that It was difficult TO ascertain tho faeta.
lie says that on tho other hand the uct-
ing consul general of Cuba In report
made by his government on February 20
atatos that Ruiz was confined In a room
over eight feet by nineteen with a large
window. that tho room showed no signs
Of dampnoss and that Ruiz had an easy
chair and n comfortable bed This official
also reports that Ruiz was found in his
| room very much excited with n confusion
ON his head nftor blow was henrd In tho
room He says tho prisoner was then re-
moved TO better room that on the nth
no was found by tho attendant In the act
| OF buttng his hend against the grating of
the door and though quoted by tho ct
tendant shortly nfterward died,
Tho conclusion OF the official reports Ut
the two governments being thus radically
conflicting, the secretary decided that an.
other open and thorough Investigation to
this government seemed Indispensable, and
thu Spanish government concurrcd In this
| view.
Tho secretary incloses copy NJ Minister
de LomoB letter. according to this requcst.
| He said that Ruiz did not mako known his
| American citizenship when arrested. n cir
c,lmstance which nc aays often occurs ana
| always leads TO complications.