The morning times., 1897-03-03
THE RUIZ CORRESPONDENCE
Mr.. Olney Declines to Transmit
1t to the Senate.
AN ABSTRACT OF THE CASE
The Accounts of the Treatment of
Ruiz and Manner of His Death
Radically Differ-The Two Gov
ernments Have Agreed Upon
Full Investigation.

Secretary olney yesterday responded to
dence in the Ruiz case by sending an
abstract OF the matter, declining TO send the
full correspondence on the ground that
lit would not seem TO be in the public
interest"
The abstract furnished by the State
Department shows the following facts:
That Ricardo Ruiz was native born
Cuban, and came to this country during
the progress Of the Cuban insUrrection
which terminated in 1878 He received
his final papers as a naturalized citizen
IN January, 1880, in Philadelphia. I'm
mediately after he returned TO Cuba, en-
tered upon the practice Of dentistry, mar
ried and reared family, and has resided
there permanently and continuously ever
since.
He was arrested February and thrown
into prison on the charge OF participation
in the capture and robbery OF a railroad
train. His arrest was Ueported to this gov
ernment By telegraph on the same day, and
until the 18th nothing more was heard OF
the case by the department, which as
sumed that it was being attended TO by the
consulate In the regular course; that at
the end Of seventy-two hours the prisoner
would either be put incomnunicado. or, if
not that, proper demand for such relief
would be made; and that if such demand
were made and were not successful the
department would at once be notified. No
off 1rrr1 foI-
though the prisoner remained incommuni-
cado, and on the 18th the consulate re-
ported to the department that Ruiz had
been found dead in his cell under circum-
stances which justified and led to a de-
mand for immediate investigation.
The consul-general reported that Ruiz
was kept 3l5 hours in q small, closed and
most filthy cell three by five feet, having
rough stone floor, with lao window and only
q aX-inch square opening In the door for
the admission Of food, which aperture was
Kept shut except when used: that no one
was allowed to see hiin: that he died from
neglect and violence; that he became de-
ranged; that an autopsy showed severe
Contusinns on top Of the head: that he died
from congestion OF the brain: that there
was no fracture Of the skull; that all knowl-
edge was conIlned 10 officials, and 1t was
difficult to ascertain tie facts.
Secretary 0lney then quotes the re-
port OF the acting governor general of
Cuba to show that Ruiz was kept in q
large. Oomy cell, lighted and ventilated;
that he had an easy chair, and mattress,
sheets, pillows, etc. that a blow being
Eeard IN his DOM on the 18th, he was
found very much excited, with n con-
tuS:On on the head, and was at once re-
M owed to a better room, where he could
one easily tie watched and placed under
medical treatment that on the 18th he
was found by an attendant in the act of
buttiHg his head against the grating of
the door, and though quieted toy the at
tcndant, shortly after died. that an
Hm opSy being held, the ply sician present
concurred in the opinion that death en-
sued fIom cerebral congestion, not induced
by the wound on the head, which was
superficial and that the pIisoner's treat
ulent during the confinement was mo-
considerate and better than in -
of other prisoners, an att"-
Bis room whenever
Secretary o.
of tn