The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-06-05
PRACTICALLY A FARCE.

That Is What the Ruiz Investigation In
Cuba Amounts To-Spain Has Things All
Cut and Dried-COmmissioner CaIhoun's
Footsteps Dogged Wherever He Goes. and
No One May Speak to Him Without Be-
ing Spotted.
New YORK, May 2s.-A dispatch to
the Journal from Havana, via Key
West, says:
The Congosto-Lee commission of in
quiry into the Ruiz case has so far &C
complished nothing. When Consul.
General Lee, accompanied by Commits
sioner Calhoun and Secretary Fishback,
VENT ver to Guanabacoa they found
everything had been cut and dried by
Commissioner Congosto and his Span
ish coadjutors there. The prisoners,
political and criminal, in the Jail where
Ruiz met his death. who are usually
kept in close co nfinement, were walk
ing about the yard, promptly lined
up, anxious, apparently, to earn the
pardons reported to have been prom
ised them to perjure themselves in
SPANS favor if called to the witness
stand by any member of the commits.
sion.
6IESlhEN 1ES1lAONI.
One, alleged to have been a trusty,
doing service before Ruiz cell, was
ready to swear that he sat silently by
for half IN hour and heard Ruiz beat
ing his head against the iron
door; then, he says, he heard a dull
thud, looked and saw the American ~
ing upon the floor in the agonies of
death.
Another said he had known the de-
ceased for years, and never thought he
was right in his mind.
A third gave testimony to the effect
that his grandmother had told him
that several of Ruiz family had been
subject to epileptic fits.
Congosto wished to pass lightly over
the original and princial point raised
by the Anne ricans, to the effect that
whatever might be the in
which Ruiz met his death, his end came
while illegally and secretly held in
communicate in 4 military prison be-
yond the limits prescribed by treaty,
and therefore, in violation of the same,
and make the secondary question that
of his alleged assassination, the whole
issue.
Supported by Calhoun, Lee opposed
this, the discussion with Congosto and
his counsel becoming quite heated be-
fore the meeting closed.
ORIGINAL EVIDENCE SENT AWAY.
After returning to Havana Lee am
Calhoun sent a note to Congosto, dc
manding that the original evidence
taken by the civil as well as by the
military authorities in the Ruiz case,
including the written declarations of
witnesses called in such preliminary
proceedings, be supplied to Secre-
tary Fishback for translation into En-
glish Denomination by counsel before
the next meeting OF the commission.
Congosto replied that all these original
documents had gone to Madrid some
time ago. Since this response came,
however. by mutual agreement. certi-
fed copies have been accepted and are
under examination. But there is moth
ing but the assurance of Judge Vidal
and other Spanish court officials to
show that these papers supplied are
genuine and verbatim extracts from
the record, as the American delegates
have been offered no opportunity to
personally examine the archives.
TO REL THE ALCALDE.
Friends of Fondesvilla declared that
Tejerizo, his successor as military COM
mandant of the town, has purpoSely
held back certain papers in or
der to screen Maruri, the alcalde,
from possible censure at the COM
missions hands for failure to comply
with an order alleged to have been
issued by Fondesviella some days
previous to Ruiz death, directing that
he be released from solitary ~confine-
ment and permitted to communicate
with his family and friends.
Congosto opposed the expressed wish
of the American delegates that Fondes
vieIa be brought before the commits,
sion. He is absent in active fielc
service. it is explained, and can no
well obtain permission to come tc
Guanabacoa. 1t is believed, in view
of this, hat Lee and Calhoun vii,
not ask to have any other wit
nesses summoned. or put any cross
questions to others which CongoSto
NAV call, the documentary evidence on
hand being regarded as quite sufficient.
after exceptions be noted, to justify the
American contention as to fragrant VIC
lation of the treaty, and warrants Lees
original assertion that the prisoner
died from harsh treatment while il
legally incommunicadC.
IMPORTANT DISPATCHES.
Mr.. Fishback, who expects to leave
Saturday for Washington via Tampa,
will probably be the bearer of impOr-
amt dispatches from Calhoun. Calhoun
will linger here until Thursday of next
week and return per direct New York
steamer
Havana's new governor, the Marquis
De Palmerola, is determined that no
harm shall come to McKinley's com
missioner here. AS a precaution Po-
lice Inspector Escanta and half a
dozen secret service men in citizens
clothes dog Calhoun's footsteps all day
long and watch his hotel at night.
People seen talking with him are like
wise spotted. their names obtained and
the gist of their conversation, ii these
.o;os ha aha 70 a1tpk II