The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-08
DR.. Ruiz Was Arrested
Upon a False Charge.
Was Given No Chance to
Prove His Innocence.
Died From a Blow on the Head.
Spanish Officials Responsible.

New York. June S-Ths Journal this
morning publishes the full text of Con-
sui General Lees report on the Ruiz
case TO Secretary Sherman. 1t is dated
Havana, May 81, and says, In part:
/ deduce from my knowledge OF the
facts the following conclusions:
First-Dr Ruiz was arrested on
false charge.
Second-He was placed under an inn
proper Jurisdiction, and died before the
proper tribunal considered his case,
thereby giving him no opportunity TO
prove his innocence.
Third-He was kept "incommunicado"
in a solitary cell for 3l5 hours, in vio-
lauon Of his treaty rights. which limit
such confinement 10 72 hours.
Fourth-He died from congestion OF
the brain, produced by a blow on the
top of his head.
Fifth--There are two theories con-
nected with the wound on the head.
One that in a state Of mental excite
mcnt he ran across the CELL as described
by one of the jailers. and butted his
head on the door in frantic effort TO
get out Another that he was struck
over the head with one of the clubs car
ricd by the jailers-by the immediate
watchman-who had probably ordered
him 10 cease his cries for relief and for
his children, and upon his not doing so,
struck him with more force than he had
intended. or 1t being possible the blow
was delivered to make him confess or
give evidence against others.
1t Is possible he went mad. and many
Al fpe a 10 "a
His knowledge of his own innocence
his confinement i'm q gloomy cell, where
he was not allowed to communicate with
family or friends--or 10 send or write.
Alone, all alone. the thought doubtless
impressed itself upon his mind that he
was liable i'm the reign of terror then ex-
listing i'm and around Guanabacoa to be
summarily executed at any moment.
He loved his wife and children. and in
the darkness and ieniiness OF his cell he
was constantly crying out for them.
The thought that they were but a few
rods away and yet he might never see
them again or hear the sound of their
voices or feel the touch of their lips and
hands maddened him and proved too
much for the mind OF the distracted and
unhappy man, and thought it not i'm
may have given way and left him mad
man. His wife says his derby hat was
all battered up and his clothes greatly
torn when returned to her.
But whether when bereft OF reason,
he inflicted the blows which produced
brain congestion. or whether he died at
the hands of others. the truth will prob
ably only be known when the hearts OF
all are revealed-the fact remains. his
unjust confinement killed him. and had
he been released from incommunicado
by the hand Of man at the end OF 72
hours the hand Of death might not have
released him at the end Of 315 hours. and
today the widow would have had the
support of her husband and the means
OF his fatherless children would never
have been heard in the land
Therefore. conclude. saying. as I have
done in all previous reports about this
case. that whether Or. Ruiz killed him
self or was killed by some one else, will.
under existing conditions. always re-
main unknown.