Evening journal., 1897-03-23
A BRlT0a THE VICTIM.
Spanish Soldiers Murder an
English Subject.
HIS LOYALTY THE ONLY CAUSE
He Avenged an Insult to the Queen by
Thrashing Lieutcnant--H Had Never
Been an Insurrcctionist- British Colony
In Havana Indignant.

Been an Insurrcctionist--.s British Colony
In Havana Indignant.
HAVANA, via Tampa, Fla, March %.
In q ranch at Artomisa the Spanish troops
captured the family Of Luis orcz, an IN.
surgont chief who has been very active OF
late in pinar del Rio province.
The family consisted of the following
persons; Ccllma Perez and Flvira Pore'
sisters OF the chief, and eight children,
from the age of 4 months TO IA years.
They were al brough6 10 Havana and
placed In the prison for disorderly women.
a very popular and capable civil engi
neer, Henry Dabregon, was recently kin.
cd at his homo ia Cnrtagena, near Cienfu-
eQos. His death has been hitherto an un.
raveled mystery, and, though Dabregon
was very popular and prominent in many
ways and many circles the occurrence was
fast falling into oblivion, when the follow
ing declaration was received from an eye.
witnoss of one Of the most cold blooded |
murders that has occurred on this stricken
island:
Dabregon was French Canadian and |
British subject, having beon educated In |
Paris and Belgium In his profession. For |
many years no was the administrator of
Parque Alto, one Of the largest sugar es
tatos In the island.
How Dabregon Met His Fate.
Dabregon few years ago, having saved |
money, bought several plantations and be |
gan 70 grow cane on his own account neal |
Cartagena, and it was in his home that he |
met death in the brutal manner which Is |
described as follows:
"On Oct ." runs the declaration, rpe. |
pi Calada, sergeant Of the guerrillas in
Cartagena, called about O'Clock In the
afternoon at the home of Dabregon, in the
limits of the town and with fort on
either side not 100 yards away, and asked
to see the owner
He was told that Dabregon was not at
home. About o'clock he returned nc
companied by two soldiers. The sergeant,
as we'll as the soldiers, wore the regular
uniform Of the guerrilla forces He was
told that Dabregon was in bed, suffering
with neuralgia
Tho sergeant would not leave, how.
ever, and insisted upon seeing the sick
man, saying that he had an import mt
message TO deliver TO him from the com
mandant, and that it would only take a
minute 10 deliver it.
Upon this tho sergeant, Callada with
one Of the other guerrillas, was admitted
into Dahragon's room. where in great
pain, he was lying on his bed. At the foot
of the bed sat pabIegOn's wife a Cuhrn
woman. with the youngest OF her children
in her lap Over the back Of the bed was
drapod the English flag
"Dabregon greeted the intruder with
cheerful salutation and asked him what
no wanted and why ho was so urgent The
sergeant began TO talk about getting fod
/ der for the horses but IL was noticed that
a
TO the bed where the unsuspecting man
lay.
Blew on the Top of Dabregon's Head.
Finally, when right by Dahregon s
side the soldier lifted his carbno quickly
and, placing the muzzle within an inch Of
the victims head, fired blowing tho top
of the skull of entirely and bospatierine
| the British flag, from which Dabrogon had
expected protection, with his life blood
THUS was Dabregon killed before the
/ eyes of his wife and child.
But, still not content, the second sol
| dior came forward and emptied his carbine
into the loiy Of the hapless Dahregon,
who was air 1ady dead.
"The two guerrillas then ran out OF the
! house without a word jumped upon their
/ horses, which had been held by the third
soldier, who had remained outside TO
guard against interruption, and galloped
quickly away"
On the following day the commandant
of Cartagona took down tho widow dec
laration He persisted in saying that the
murder must have been committed by in
surgents.
British Consul Takes No Action.
The widow, however, on her part, in
sisted that Callada was the murderer and
offered to pick him out of q regiment Of
soldiers dressed as no was, but the COM
mandant refused even TO allow hor 20 bo
confronted with the murderer OF her hus-
band
The widow reported the murder to Mr.
Fowler British vice consul at Cienfuegcs
who sent statement of the case on to tho
British consul general at Havana, but mp
TO this date no investigation has been
made by that gentleman.
Three weeks after the murder Mrs. Da-
oregon gave birth TO her seventh child. She
had taken refuge with friends who dur
ing her illness, fearful Of their own safety
kept her whereabouts secret
During this time the house OF Dabregon
was burned, as were all the cane and cat
tie and horses taken from the plantation,
until now the widow. with her half grown
children. is In destitute circumstances and
dependent for support upon the charity OF
friends
There is the greatest indignation here
among British subjects at tho inactivity
of their consular authorities IN falling 10
demand an investigation. Papers in the
case have been sent TO London, and the
British colony feel assured that an ener-
getic demand will soon be forthcoming.
Henry Dabrogon was quiet man, Of
good record. He took no part or interest
in the insurrection whatever
The only clew TO the cause Of the cold
blooded murder is to he found in the fact
which is learned from several most reli-
able witnesses-that several days before
his death Datregon had a dispute with the
lieutenant Of the Cartagena garrison. who
used insulting language in regard e
Queen Victoria. AS he refused 70 retraci
his words Dabregon gave the Spanish ON
Ger o thrashing
Shropshire Denies n.
LoNDoN, March 23.-Clydo shropshire