The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-12
LAURADA'S FORFEITURE
Argument Upon the Subject Now Going On
In the United States Court,

Argument was heard In the United
States Court this morning before Judge
Bradford upon motion for the forfeiture
Of tho Steamer Laurada
District Attorney Vandegrlft reviewed
the case at length. The steamer had beeu
at Baltimore and cleared for Philadelphia.
She took provisions aboaId and came to
near tho Breakwator. Then q schooner
came along and Eve largo boats were taken
aboard.
They wero life AMI surf boats and were
used IN making u passage way to the land
after her arrival In little bay ut Cuba.
Tho cannon md dynamite ssa arms were
takeu of tho schooner Donna M Briggs.
General 9oloif was ono of the men who
wero taken aboard the steamer.
After landing her cargoin Cuba the Laus
rada returned to this port. Sho anchored
off tho mouth of the Christiana creek.
Captain Hughes aud three other men wero
rowed ashore and have net appeared since.
MIR. Vandegrift said; Such being the facts
the Government Is of the opinion that the
officers Of the steamer knowingly engaged
in tho business whereby the Lqurada was
fitted up with IL military expedition, which
was landed in Cuba to BIO used against the
King Of Spain, u country with which the
United States is at peace.
There can DO no doubt upon tho intent
Spain. Ii the Laurada contributed any
part to furnishing these hostilltles then
sho is Just as guilty as il she furnished
them nil. He did not wish to say that
there could not be IL trading in contraband.
goods.
Was she employed by any colony or peo.
pie to wage these hostilities is now ques.
ton. The testimony shows that this was
an expedition to aid tho insurgents against
the King Of Spain. Tho testimony ia full
on tho point that the Laurada was employ
ed by these insurgents to wage hOstilltioS
against the King Of Spain.
In answer to tho court the District At
torncy said it was not necessary to have
an ~ gument between the Cuban people
and tho Laurada to prove that she was in
the service Of those insurgents.
Because she, BY prcconcertcd agreement
took on the Cubans of Barnegat ,and
then the arms and ammunition. Those
people were landed i'll Cuba with their
arms and ammunition, They are in an
insurrcction against The King of Spain on
his own territory. If the Laurada l. guilty
sho is gully in two aspects. First be- Il,
cause she was fitted out in Baltimore for
this trip. She was armed off San Saliva
dor.
She Ia an American boat and an Ameri.
can boat Ia within our jurisdiction, 50 long
as the American flag valves over her.
Judge Bradford did not think there was
much Importance to be attached to the
inference drawn from judge Buffers as-
cision in the W!borg case.
District Attorney Vandegriit-lf the
Laurada knew before she lett Baltimore
that she was to meet the schooner with
the beats; knew she was to take aboard
the Cubans, meet and tow tho Donna N.
Brigg, and take aboard the cannon and
other munitions of war, then she Is guilty
Of assisting this colony with carrying on
these hostilitiGs.
The argument will be a long one. The
Laurada owners are represented by Sena.
tor Gray, II. II. Ward and Andrew g.
Gray,