Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-15
THE RUIZ CASE.
Speculation Regarding Alleged Re-
port of Gen. Lee.
AN OUTLINE OF PROBABLE ACTION.
spain to lie Held Responsible for the
Death of Ruiz, and His Widows
Claim for Indemnity to BE
Supported.

Supported.
Washington, June 9.-Assistant Sec
rotary Day said Tuesday that the report
of Consul General Lee upon the results
the Ruiz case had not yet been received
Mt the state department. Consequently
it was not possible to learn whether the
publications purporting to be copies of
the report were accurate. Assuming,
however, that the consul generals con-
clusions are correctly set forth, in
brief that Ruiz died while in Jail in vio
lation of his treaty rights, the question
before the department of the largest inn
step? The wife of Ruiz has filed with
the department claim for S150,000 for
the death of her husband. The Span
ish contention has been that he was not
killed and that he was not treated
harshly. Gen. Lees inquiry is under
stood to have failed to bring out the
truth on these points, but his state
ment on another, namely, that of his
confinement in violation of treaty
rights, appears to make the first two
points non-essential and to leave the
case resting on the broad claim that in
confining DR.. Ruiz for more than ~
hours without permitting him to COM
municate with his friends or trying
him, the Spanish officials in Cuba have
assumed full responsibility for the re-
suits of that extra confinement.
The fact being established that DR..
Ruiz kept up his citizenship by regis
tering himself at American consulates
in Cuba from time to time as required
by regulations, is taken as an offset
against the claim that by continuous
residence in Cuba for nearly 20 years
he had forfeited his rights as an Ameri-
can citizen, SO 1t is surmised. that the
next step in the case will be the pre-
sentation of a claim against the Span
ish government in behalf of the family
of the victim of this illegal imprison-
ment.
Lees Alleged Report.
The New York Journal publishes
what is claimed to be the full text Of
Consul General Lees report on the Ruiz
case to Secretary Sherman. 1t is dated
Havana, May 81, and says in part:
II deduce from my knowledge Of the
facts tho following conclusions:
"First-Dr. Ruiz was arrested on false
charge.
"Second-He was placed under an Inn
proper jurisdiction, and died before the
proper tribunal considered his case. there
by giving him no opportunity to prove his
innocence.
"Third-He was kept incommunicado'
in solitary cell for 315 hours. in violation
of his treaty rights, which limit such con-
finement for " hours.
"Fourth-He died from conclusion of the
brain, produced by blow on the top OF the
head.
Theories Regarding Wound.
"Fifth-There are two theories connected
with the wound. One that in state OF
mental excitement he ran across the cell.
as described by one of the jailers, and but
fort to get out. Another, that he was
struck over the head with one of the clubs
carried by the jailers-by the immediate
Waterman, who had probably ordered him
to cease his cries for relief, and for his
children, and upon his not doing So struck
him with more force than he intended, or
1t is possible the blow was delivered to
make him confess or give evidence against
others.
1T is possible he went mad, and many
causes combined to produce such result.
AsOnies RUIZ Endured.
His knowledge of his own Innocence, his
confinement in gloomy cell, where he was
not allowed to communicate with his family
or friends, or to send or write. Alone, all
alone, the thought doubtless impressed it
self upon his mind that he was liable in
tho reign of terror then existing In and
afoundrG uanabacoa to be summarily exc
cuted at any moment. He loved his wife
l. H.
illness of his cell he was constantly crying
out for them. The thought that they were
but few rods away, and yet he might
never see them again or hear the Sound of
their voices or feel the touch Of their lips
and hands maddened him and proved too
much for the mind of the distracted and
unhappy man.
Truth VIII Meyer DC known.
II thought 1t not improbable as the long
hours passed by II may have given way
and left him mailman. His wife says
his derby hat was all battered up and
his clothes greatly torn when returned to
her.
inflicted the blows which produced brain
congestion, or whether he died at the
hands of others, the truth will probably
only be known when the hearts of all are
revealed. The fact remains his unjust
confinement killed him, and had he been
Of man at the end of " hours the hand
of death might not have released him
at the end of 3l5 hours and to-day the
widow would have the support Of her hus-
band and the means of his fatherless chill
dren would never have been heard in the
land.
II therefore conclude saying, as have
done in all previous reports about this case,
that whether DIR. Ruiz killed himself or was
killed by some one else VIII under the
existing conditions always remain up-
known"
May he Change of Policy.
Washington, june 9.-There was re-
vival of Cuban talk about the senate
Tuesday on account of the return of Mr.,
Calhoun. The republican senators,
some OF them members of the foreign
relations committee, say there is no
doubt that the president will take &C.
ton as soon as Mr.. Calhoun's report is
received. No definite information was
given concerning the attitude of the
president, but the impression of the
senators from such reports as they
heard was that there would be change
from the present negative policy and
the adoption of definite line of action
with view to endeavoring to secure
settlement of the present unfortunate
state of affairs in Cuba.
There was. nothing sectional IN the