The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-30
RUIZ CASE CLOSED.
Mysterious Messenger Arrives to
Take the Report to Washington.


Havana, May 29-The commission con-
Quoting the inquiry into the circum-
stances surrounding the death of DR.. Ruiz
closed its labors at an early hour to-day.
A mysterious messenger from Washington
came from Tampa on the steamer Mas
cote this morning, but did not land.
Mr. Fishback, secretary Of the commits
sion, accompanied by Consul General Lees
son, went on board the steamer before she
sailed, and held brief consultation with
the stranger, and it is supposed that they
delivered to him the report of the commits
sion and other highly important dis
patches from Consul General Lee and Mr..
Calhoun, who was selected to investigate
DR.. Ruiz's death, to be conveyed to the
state department at Washington.
The messenger was registered upon the
Mascotte's inward passenger list as H.
w. Kimball, and the same name appeared
on the steamers outward list.
DR.. Jose Congosto, the Spanish consul at
Philadelphia, who represented the Span
ish government in the inquiry, is also
said to have forwarded a long report to
Senor de LONE, the Spanish minister at
Washington, by to-days mail. Messrs.
Calhoun, F!shback and Congosto will
leave next Thursday direct for New York.
1t is believed that a long conference
was held yesterday morning between Mr..
Calhoun and Marquis de Oroton, the
chairman of the autonomist party, at
which the political reforms for the island
offered by Spain were thoroughly discuss
ed in the presence of DR.. Congosto, which
fact is much commented upon.
OF the two reports understood to have
been sent from Havana to-day by the com
mission investigating the death of DR..
Ruiz the one by Mr.. Calhoun, who rep
resents the United States and the order
by Jose Congosto, the Spanish consul at
Philadelphia, who acts for the Spanish
government. the former will, it is said,
agree with the statement of Consul Cen
eral Lee that DIR. Ruiz died from con-
cussion of the brain, the result of violence,
after solitary confinement of more than
thirteen days regardless of his treaty
rights. Consul General Lee declined at
yesterdays session of the committee to
question the witnesses, who were interro-
gated only by the Spanish representatives.
Consul General Lee will shortly make a
report on the Ruiz case and Mr. Calhoun
will make a further report on other mat
ters, such as the money question, the state
of the instruction the condition of
American interests and the general suf-
fering due to Capt. Gen. Weylers style of
campaigning.
NOlSul NIEuGIdl Lee DOSitlOil - just
what it was in February last. He holds
that Spain is responsible, since DR.. Ruiz
died because he was deprived of his
treaty rights. The exact facts as to how
DR.. Ruiz received the blow which killed
him, Gen. Lee and Mr.. Calhoun could not
learn, because half of the witnesses eX-
amined by the commission were prisoners,
and it is believed, were afraid to testify
fully. The remaining witnesses were the
jailers, who would not testify so as to
incriminate themselves.
The relief of suffering Americans by
Consul General Lee goes on daily. Sew
eral hundred have already been assisted.
A prominent and influential Spanish res
ident of Havana, upon being questioned
with reference to the suggested sale of
Cuba, authorized the representative of the
Associated Press to tell the American
press that he favors the sale of Cuba, not
to the Cubans, but to the United
States, for the sake of avoid
ing in the future ruin, desolation and
bloodshed. 1.-The sale of the island to the
Cubans," he said, means a step back
ward and carries US to barbarism, as many
Of the chiefs Of the revolution were for
merly bandits The United States as an
industrious country, symbolizes progress
and civilization and the Spanish residents
in Cuba cannot be Indifferent to the well
fare of Cuba, having fertilized the island
with the sweat of their brows, and they
win always protest against the sale of the
island to the Cubans.'