The herald., 1897-11-19
PRISONERS
LIBERATED
On Pardon Extended by
the Spanish Queen
CREW OF THE COMPETITOR
NOW ON THE WAY TO AMERICA
AND FREEDOM
The United States Formally Expresses
Its Satisfaction With the Set
tlement of the Case
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s.-Minister
Woodford has telegraphed the State De-
partment that the Spanish Cabinet has
notified him that the Queen has par
doned the Competitor prisoners.
The State Department announces that
| the Competitor prisoners were turned
over to Consul General Lee last Monday
| and will be sent by him direct to New
York today.
1t is not doubted here that the pris-
oners are liberated on such conditions as
were imposed in the case Of former pris-
oners; that is, that they will not return
| to Cuba.
| 1t is singular that the men should have
been four days in the custody of Consul
General Lee without the fact having
become generally known, but it is sup
posed that the secrecy was observed in
order. to insure departure from Havana
without exciting trouble from the ex-
treme conservative Spanish faction.
There were four prisoners, namely:
Alfredo Lahore, the captain of the Com
petitor, q native of New Orleans.
VIM. Gildel, the mate, naturalized
citizen.
Ona Melton, who claims Kansas as his
native state, and who went on the Com
Ipetitor in the capacity of newspaper
correspondent.
Charles Barnett, of British birth. but
who claimed the protection Of the United
States government by virtue of his sail
ing on an American vessel.
The conditions under which the Com
petitor was captured April 81, 1896, off
the Cuban coast while engaged in land
ling arms for the insurgents, have been
often described. The defense of the
men was that they were forced into the
expedition against their will by the
insurgent party on board the vessel.
They were tried by a naval court-mar-
tial, before which they could make only
1 a poor showing, principally because OF
their ignorance Of the Spanish language
in which the proceedings were conduct
ed, so that their conviction and the impo-
sition of the death sentence was not
a matter Of surprise.
| At that point, however, the case as
sumed diplomatic Importance.
Our government, through its consul
general at Havana, Ramon Williams,
and also through Minister Taylor at
Madrid, interposed an energetic pro-
test against the execution of the SEN
tence, claiming that the men were i'm
properly tried without the guarantees
held out in the famous Gushing protocol.
This protest caused the removal of the
case to the higher judicial authorities at
Madrid, by whom a new trial was or
dered. The Spanish government, how
ever, did not and has not yet conceded
that the Cushing protocol applies to such
cases. To admit that would, In the opin-
ion of the Spanish authorities, greatly
stimulate the fitting out Of filibustering
parties in the nUited States.
The new trial had been ordered by the
Madrid supreme court on the ground OF
Irregularities in the original trial, not
because of any concessions of the sound
ness of the objections interposed by the
United States. 1t was to have begun
last Monday and it is thought would
have resulted in the imposition of the
death sentence again. This would, how
ever have provoked an explosion In this
country, according to the anticipations
! of the department officials, that would
have been hardly less violent than the
feeling caused by the famous Virginius
episode, so it is to them matter Of sat-
lisfaction that the Spanish queen has
cut the diplomatic tangle by the par
don of the men before the second trial.
| Senior Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish
minister, had long conference with
Assistant Secretary Day today, and II
is believed the Spanish government Is
voluntarily about to remove another
troublesome factor from the field of ne
gotiations in revoking the decree made
by Weyler prohibiting the expectation
of tobacco from Cuba. This prohibition
has worked hardships on American
cigar making interests, and up to this
time all efforts Of the state department
to secure an ameliOration of the harsh
conditions Of the decree have been un-
availing. The reason set up by General
| Weyler for the order was the necessity
of keeping in Havana the supply OF
tobacco necessary to run the domestic
cigar factories, and thus, by giving em-
ployment to workmei keep them from
drifting away into the insurgent ranks
1t was a matter of common report, how
ever, that another potent reason was a
desire to cripple Cuban cigar makers
in the United States. from whom the
| insurgents drew funds.
Reports that come to Washington are
to the effect that the new crop of to-
bacco that will be ripe in February next
is sof excellent quality an damounts to
| four-fifths of an average crop.
ON THEIR WAY
| HAVANA, Nov. 1S.-In pursuance
with cabled instructions from Spain,
received yesterday, Gen. Blanco released
from Cabanas fortress Alfred Laborde,
Chas. Barnett, Ona Melton and VIM.
| Gildoa, members of the crew of the
American schooner Competitor. They
were delivered to the American and
British consuls and have taken passage
on the steamer Saratoga Of the Ward
line for New York.
A REPORTED SURRENDER
LONDON, Nov. ia special dispatch
from Madrid. published here this even
ing, says all the important insurgent
chiefs OF the Philippine Islands have
surrendered to the Spanish authorities
and Captain General Primo de Reeves
announces that the island II completely
pacified.
NOT A SINGLE SIGN
q, aGApn1p. s'ey: e! 4: zha zsas spF. y.