Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-27
SHE WAS NOT SENTENCED
Consul General Lee Says Miss Cisneros Case
Has Been Misrepresented.
Statement by Minister dc LONE 90
Mrs. sherman American Public
Advised Not 10 Become Excited.

The Secretary of State has received n
telegram from Consul General Lee at
Havana. who had been instructed 10 in
vestigate the case of Evangelina Cisneros
saying that he had been unable to ascer-
tain that there had ever been any inten-
ton to deport her. and that the case had
evidently been misrepresented and exag-
gerated in the United States.
Among the distinguished American wo-
men who have interceded with the queen
regent in behalf OF Miss Cisneros is Mrs
John Sherman, wife of the Secretary of
State. She has received a letter from Senior
Dupuy De LONE. the Spanish minister. in
regard to the case. in which he says:
Dear Madam: Her majesty, the queen
regent of Spain, commands me to inform
You that size has received the telegram
you have addressed her i'm union of Mrs
John G. Carlisle and Mrs. William c. Whit
ney. asking the pardon OF Miss Evangelina
Cossio V Cisneros.
When her majesty received cableerams
from the United States in behalf of Miss
Cossio nothing was known of her case by
the authorities in Spain: the queen directed
Immediately to telegraph to Havana for in
formation. and the answer shows that the
matter has been grossly misrepresented to
you by the paper agitating this question.
Miss Cossio is accused of having lured
to her house the military commander of
lSidiu OF t-lllOS. ndAlnS IN ner mouse
men concealed. who bound him and tried to
asSasSinate him. in connection with an
uprising of the prisoners i'm that island.
From your telegram IL appears that Miss
Cossio has been convicted and sentenced,
and is to be transported to a penal settle
ment.
Miss Evangelina Cossio Y Cisneros has
rot yet been tried; the public prosecutor
has not yet presented the case for the gov
eminent: he has not yet as our law re-
quires, asked a sentence to be imposed on
her, and the case is not yet ready TO be
finally disposed of.
Those facts are very easy to prove. The
American consul general, any of the for
eign consuls i'm Cuba, willing 10 get in
formation, could convince themselves of
the truth, and could have been applied TO
if the papers had been prompted by a SEN
timent of humanity instead of being
prompted by the desire TO start a new sem
sation by fresh calumny against Spain.
Her majesty. the queen. who has re-
ceived favorably your earnest plea. COM
mands me to inform you, and I pray you
to communicate il to the other ladies that
have signed your telegram, that as the
case stands, and before sentence has
been imposed. she is not allowed by the
law to interfere, but that instructions have
been cabled 10 the commander-in-chief to
expedite the trial, and in the meantime 10
grant Miss Cossio all possible cares and
regards
Gen. Lee Advises Goodness.
ing statement in regard TO The Cfsneros
case:
The whole matter has been much mag
Lifted and exaggerated. / am right in say
ing that when the case reaches the captain
general for final action he will not indorse
such sentence as is reported in the public
press.
Il remember calling the attention of the
acting captain general to the condition of
the building she was confined in when first
brought here, beCaus l visited some Ameri-
can women there. and the general very
promptly sent two of the staff officers TO
make an inspection. Upon their report inn
mediate steps were taken to construct adj
ditional rooms and quarters in Mich this
girl and other prisoners of the better class
would be separated from the lower and
viler criminals.
passions are excited and RAINY horrible
things done which could not be justified IN
times of peace. For instance. in our civil
war, a woman was hanged on charge Of
conspiracy, charge similar in some re
spects TO that against Evan;.ciine Cisnt.-
res L think thar If the American public
would go slower and not get aIidu:y
cited the action OF the authorities nero
would incline much more to The Iscrciful
size of such qucstioIs.
Il do not think nay intention has
existed to Danish this girl, and SO far no
sentence whatever has been imposed upon
her by any court"