Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-11-18
Tba state Department now announces

direct to New York to-day. Ii Is noe
donbted here that the prisoners are
liberated on some such conditions as
ware imposed in the case OF former
prisoners; that is, that they Will not re-
turn to Cuba.
1t is singular that the men should nave
been for four days in the custody OF
Consul General Lee without the TACT
having become generally known, but IT
is supposed that secrecy was observed
in order to ensure departure FROM Ha-
yana without exciting trouble from the
extreme conservative Spanish faction.
There were four prisoners; namely,
Alfredo Laborde, the captain of the
Competitor, native of New Orleans;
William Glldea, the mate, a centralized
citizen; Goa Melton, who claims Kan
sss as his native State and who went
on the Competitor in the capacity of
newspaper correspondent; Charles Bar
nett, of British birth, but who claimed
the protection of the United States
ty virtue of his sailing on an
American vessel. The defense of the
men was that they were forced into the
expedition against their will by the in
surgent party aboard the boat. This
government through its Consul General
at Havana, then Ramon Williams, and
also through Minister Hannis Taylor,
at Madrid, interposed an energetic pro
test against the execution of the death
sentence. The new trial had been order
ed by the Madrid Supreme Court on
the ground of irregularities in the
original trial, not because OF any con
cession OF the soundness of the objec-
lions interposed by the United States
officers. 1t was to have begun
last Monday and it is thought
would have resulted in the i'm
position of the death sentence again.
But the Spanish Queen has cut the
diplomatic tapgle by the pardon OF the
men before the second trial. IT is be-
lieved that the Spanish government is
voluntarily about to revoke the decree
made by General Weyler prohibiting
the expectation of tobacco from Cuoa;
A business man Of this city showed
the Gazette's correspondent to-day a
letter from a federal Office holder whose
duties make it necessary for him TO
visit many parts of Virginia. in which
he saws that from what he sees and
hears. times were never harder than
they are now. While reading this let
ter, well known merchant OF the city
came up, who, being asked if his busi-
ness had revived, replied that neither
his nor that of any of his acQualntancas
had, and that he bad never known
business duller, except that 10 the
stores in which women's clothing ana
cheap holiday goods are sold.
Senator Morgan, who is now mere,
said o.day sit is our national duty
and will be in every way Il tvantageous
to all concerned to annex Hawaii 10
this country"
Colonel Christie, one of the best, and
b 81 known, members OF the bar OF this
city, says be recently inclosed i've
dollar note to the Governor of South
ern st,te to pay the legal fee
for legal paper, but that the paper,
when it came, was accompanied by q
check for three dollars, which showed
that the Governor is honest, that the
6nancies of his State are in good conoi'
ton, and that he, the Colonel, was
stupid in not knowing the correc
amount Of the fee.
The attendance at the races hare,
even on good days, is small; not half as
large as that at previous races here,
even of recent years, but the betting at
them is so unrestricted that the pool
room at St. Asaph has been compare
lively broken up for the time being,
The races, however, have greatly bene
| fited the laborers, the feed dealers, the
hotel keepers, and many other people
OF this city.
Mr.. McCaull, the defeated republi-
can candidate for Governor of Virginia,
is and has been for some time at the Ed
bitt House in this city. He says in
Wow of the circumstances he thinks the
vote he received at the late election
was remarkably large and be is proud
of it. All the federal officers, he says,
said the administration was opposed to
him, though they had no reason to cay
80. Mr.. McCaull says he was an appl!-
can't for the consulate at Rio but he
" thdrew his application when he ao-
cepted the gubernatorial nomination,
and that he now wants nothing from
the administration for himself, but oil
it has to give, for mis- friends.
Among the employees al enc of the
restaurants here is white man who
opens the steamed oysters that are or
dered. He is republican end under
Mr.. Harrison's administration held a
responsible position in the Treasury
Department and performed its duties
efficiently. He tried to be re.instated
under the Mckinley administration but
was unable to answer the required quiz
questions.
The following tourth-class Virginia
postmasters were appointed to-day:
Crewe, Ii. G. Kelley; Kinsale, V. 3.
Esrdwick.
Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire,
in an interview to-day predicted the
enactment of an anti.imraigration law;
for the relief of the Cuban insurgents;
for the ratification of the Hawaiian
treaty, but said GAS to financial legis,
latiou, especially as TO a revision of the
banking laws, l cannot see how any
such legislation eau be passed"
Senator Daniel Of Virginia and his family
have returned here for the winter. Senator
Martin his colleague, WIS here yesterday to
make arrangements FOR his family's residence
during the coming session of Congress. Rep
resentative Swanson OF tie Danyille, Virginia,
district, arrived this morning, also to select
accommodations for himself and wife for the
winter. Mr. Swanson says silver is on top in
his district. and that though three of the