Evening journal., 1897-01-21
THE Be TAkC0URT CASE
An American Citizen Held on
Flimsy Charges.
THE INSURGENTS HANG A TRAITOR.

Train with Spanish onicers and Paymas-
tiers DeraiIed. and the Cubans Add s., 900
to Their Trcasury-The Unspeakable
Brutality of Weyiers Soldiers.
HAVANA. via Key West, Jan. s1.-The
following is q summary of the charges
made against Casper Betancourt, an Amer
lean dentist, who has been a citizen
of the United States since 1877 ard who
was arrested some time since. The charges
and Mr.. Betancourt's defense are as fol-
lows:
First 1t is charged that he was a rebel
leader in the last war Which is false, be-
cause he left the island in 1862 residing
in New York and New Orleans until 1878,
at which time the war was ended, as is
proved in the official books of passengers
arriving at Havana
Second.--A policeman, Alberto Esca-
lante, charged that Betancourt had a meet
ing at Havana Central park with suspi-
cious persons, who We're cOnspiring. But
the fact is that those persons were Major
Sanity or Ianity, Castor Cuadrado and
Antonio Fernandez, the municipal chief
of police. Spanish officers have declared
that they had met BetancOurt, but had
never heard him speak about politics and
never saw him in company with Separa-
lists
Third.-It is charged that Betancourt
visited the College of Pola Calsado la Rel
ma and there conspired in company with
Professor Essor Rafael Molina, who was
sent to the Chafferine islands, and Gus
taye Martinez and Jose Daz, who were
placed in Jail together with Mr.. Betan-
court The director of the college, Mr..
Secundo Pola, aresident Spaniard, declares
that it is untrue that Betancourt visited
the college, and that he never could have
consented TO his conspiring against Spain
there; that it was all the vengeance of
Spanish teachers who had been expelled.
Francisco Sanchez Vivar, a Spanish resi-
dent who denounced Betancourt, ON be
ing confronted with him in Jail, said that
he was not the man who visited the col
lege, but that It was a younger man call
ed Manuel or Antonio, of a different size
and appearance
Fourth. He Is alleged to be the father
of Lorenzo BetancOurt, the correspondent
of a New York paper, n resident in New
York. But Casper Betancourt declares
that his son has never been correspond
ent, but only translates for correspond
ents. and if he were correspondent his
father has no responsibility in case it is a
crime to be a correspondent
The fiscal has decided, however, that
there is ground for suspicion in the decla-
rations of the secret police that Betancourt
was concerned in the rebellion. The latter
has named Senor Cola TO undertake his
defense.
Cubans Capture a Train.
There was great CONSERVATION in Ha-
vana on Sunday last, Jan. Il, when the
report gained currency that the insurgents
had hanged Senior Serrano, lieutenant col.
onel on General Weyler's staff 13 officers
and many passengers at Guanabacoa.
As the usual train left Regla at 10
O'Clock p. IN. on Saturday for Guanabacoa
the train was derailed near the switch at
Canbute. The passengers believed that
only trivial accident had occurred and
jumped out of the windows Suddenly q
number of herculean negroes, armed with
carbines and machetes, invaded the three
coaches
1t seems that the insurgent Colonel
Arangueren, with 100 cavalry, had laid two
bulls on the rails, which threw the train
off the track. The insurgents captured
two captains and IL other officers, fOul
soldiers, the second chief of the municipal
police of Havana, who was returning
home; the engineer and fireman and three
employees of the railroad.
They took from the officers their jewelry
and from several paymasters, who were OF
the train, over 50, 600 in money.
The insurgents then carried their pris
oners by forced march TO farm neal
.Jaruco, where they hanged Lieutenant
Bernardo Banos, "a native Cuban, as g
traitor to the insurgent cause.