New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-15
SPAIN ARRAIGNED AGAIN.
THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
ACTS ON THE COMPETITOR CASE.
A RESOLUTION REPORTED AUTHORIZING THE
PRESIDENT TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF
TIE PRISONERS AND TIE REsToRA-
TON OF THE VESSEL TO
HER OWNER.

WASHINGTON July Ex-senator Davis. chair
man Of the Committee on Foreign Relations to-
day reported from that committee the following
Joint resolution:
That the President be empowered to take sucn
measures in his Judgment may be necessary TO
Of ona Melton. Alfrci G. I:aborde and William HL.r
Gildea and the restoration OF the schooner som- %
thorized and requested to employ such means or
exercise such power az may be necessary
The report rectes all the facts which have
been brought out in the Competitor case. her
ownership, capture and the citizenship OF the
three men named In the resolution together
with the proceedings thus far taken by the
Spanish authorities. the trial. sentence. ETC.
The report characterizes the proceedings as "a
mockery Of trial" The afldavits of the pris-
oners are cited to show that they were coerced
into Spanish waters. in which case they were
not amenabe to Spanish jurisdiction They had
not committed piracy and intended no act of
depreciation on the high seas nor were they
subject to the Spanish authorities on account
of alleged rebellion The report then says:
Irrespective OF any Of the foregoing consdeTa-
tions; the conduct Of Spain as herenbefore de,
and such actual nfiction Of injustice upon these
men as to make 1t the duty OF this Government 10 10
which these prisoners may have committed up TO to
the date Of their capture Among me sbauS aGS be %
the release Of these captives
Secretary Evarts is quoted to sustain this posi-
ton. The report declares that the rights of the
men have been violated, and continues:
They have been tried and sentenced 10 death by
summary naval court-mar;al In a proceeding
which has been annuled by the appellate courts OF
had no jurisdiction whatever over them. Zen
months have elapsed since this death sentence was Is
annulled and they have not again been prought ~
trial In the mean Time tney nave Dser, torv
to protracted preliminary examinatiohs phh Az
to their trial by another cour-martiai whicn o. n @ n,.
fers the first only in the fact that II Is less
summary and more formal In its character thah inc
first.
The report says that the men at the nrst rla
did not know until after the testimony Tor the
prosecution was in that an interpreter was pres
ent. and the only translation made to them was
at the close OF the proceedings when they were
asked IL they had anything to say Necessarily
they could have little TO say. yet one OF thein
prot. sted that he had not understood one wOru
of the proceedings against MN py WHICH his iiie
was adjudged forfeited
with these protests continues the report
"the trial ended. and the defendants were LII
mediately sentenced TO death. 1T Is now toui, =,
teen months since they were arrested. duiliis al
of which time they have been held in the Capanas
Fortress as prisoners. Melton and LaDorde are
unquestionaby citizens Of the United states.
GIldea is a British subject. but he was sailor
upon an American vessel when taken. was act
ing az its mate, ami IT is the opinion or your
committee that he is entitled to be protected by
this Government. He was serving under the
flag. and he is entitled to be protected by it.
I'm our opinion. these acts Of delay and de-
NAL Of Justice and of the infiction OF injustice
vitiate and make void any right which spain
had in the beginning of this transaction to pro-
ceed eriminally against any or these men. rms
Government should demand that they be set at
liberty and that ne Competitor be restored TO
her owner as there is no evidence that the owner
knew anything about the divergence OF the yes
sci from it's regular voyage to Lemon City. Fla.