The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-22
OLNEY is AROUSED.
DR.. Ruiz's Fate Causes Him to De.
mand an Explanation.

New York. Feb. pa dispatch to the
World from Havana says:
DR.. Ricardo Ruiz,a naturalized Amer
lean citizen, arrested on suspicion by
the Spanish a week ago, was found
dead in his cell in the Guanabacoa Jail
Tuesday. The body bore marks of
violence. The jailer said he died by
suicide.
Consul General Lee sought the privi-
leeg of viewing the body and asked for
a full statement of the circumstances
of his death.
The Spanish at first ignored both re-
quests. General Lee telegraphed to
Washington. No reply was received.
On Friday General Lee imperativelv
demanded that the body of DR.. Ruiz be
turned over to him and that an AUTOPSY
be made by two physicians, one Of
whom should be designated by General
Lee.
The Marquis of Ahumada acting
captain general in place of General
Weyler, who is in the field, issued the
necessary order, but so long was the
delay that, although Guanabacoa is less
than three miles from Havana General
Lee was not admitted to the prison
there until Friday afternoon thirty
hours after DR.. Ruiz's DEATH and bare
ly in time to stop the burial of the
American physician in a plain pine cot
fin by squad of negro Spanish serv-
ants.
When the coffin was opened it was
found that DR.. Ruiz's face had been so
battered with blows and so cut with
wounds as to be almost unrecOgnizab BILE
The other prisoners said that piercing
cries were heard from his cell on the
night of his death. General Lee could
reach no other conclusion than that
Ruiz had been murdered. He immedi-
ately ordered an autopsy made, the re-
suit of which will not be made known
until late today.
He cabled the results of his investi-
cation to the state department, but
again no response came
Dr. Ruiz was a naturalized American
citizen. He studied and practiced dem
t1stry in Philadelphia for some time,
and returned to Cuba about the begin
ming of the present Instruction. The
charge upon which he was arrested is
conspiracy.
New York. Feb. ga dispatch to
the Herald from Havana, Cuba, says:
Secretary of State Olney has demanded
here and in Madrid full explanation
and investigation of the death of DIR.
Ricardo Ruiz The status of the Scott
case is unchanged
General Lee has asked that he be in
structed to demand the release of all
American citizens who are held in Cuba
under circumstances of illegality SINH
lar to those which characterized the
Ruiz case.
These instructions will have to be
8
sent to Havana. General Fitzhugh
Lee, the descendant of two signers Of
the Declaration of Independence, can
not and will not speak with author
ity-allOw his name to be associated
with a policy of ignominy and surren-
der.
New York, Feb GA dispatch to the
Herald from Washington says: The
administration is determined to have a
full investigation of all the circum-
stances surrounding the death of DR..
Ricardo Ruiz. The question of repair
alton, if the facts justify it, will follow
the investigation.
Secretary Olney has sent a cable dis
path to Minister Taylor in Madrid in
forming him that DR.. Ruiz died under
suspicious circumstances and directing
him to inform the Spanish government
that the United States desired a full in
quiry into the affair In the meantime
Consul General Lee is prosecuting his
inquiry and just as soon as his reply Is
at hand it will be considered with a
view to defining the policy of the ad
IniniStratiOn in the matter.