The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-23
THE RUIZ MURDER.
State Department Awaiting a
Report From Gen, Lee.

Washington, Feb. 22.-It is said ut the
State Department that Consul General
Lee, who is investigating the Ruiz affair
at Guuuabacoa, Cuba, under orders of the
department., has not yet reported the
results of his inquiry; also that there is
no truth in the report that General Lee
had notified the department he would re-
sign unless the administration would sup.
port him with II naval demonstration in
Cuban waters.
There has long been soma friction he
tween the Spanish officials in Cuba and
Consul General Lee, whenever the latter
WAS obliged to intervene in arrests of
American citizens. This has grown out
of radical differences in construction
placed upon The organic law.
The State Department has instructed
the consul general 20 insist upon his
rights to have arrested Americans relcas-
ed at the end of period of detention Of
seventv-two hours. or else that they be
confronted with formal chrages: but on
occasions when the consul general claim
ed this privilege for an imprisoned
American citizen, the Spanish officials
from the captain general. down, set up
the plea that in times of strife like this
the civil code was suspended, and with
it the privilege claimed.
The State Department has consistently
disputed this plea, because to concede
the soundness of it would be to renounce
all right to protect American citizens in
IL disturbed country.
1t is said that the Spanish officials are
at no pains to take notice of any appeal
based upon American citizens, nor to re-
port the fact that they have arrested an
American citizen 70 the American
consular officers.
High officials of the consular Office say
it is net likely that the case of DR. Ruiz
will lead to international complications.
The matter was brought to the attention
of the State Department in the latter
part OF the last week, through complaint
of some of the friends of the doctor in
this country. The allegation was that
the man had been imprisoned beyond the
period allowed by the treaty for an
American citizen to he kept in Jail with
out the Judgment Of charges, and that he
had been murdered by his jailors.
Consul General Lee was immediately
directed by cable to investigate the affair,
although it appeared from hi dispatches
that he had already had his attention d-
rccted to the case The official reports
of the Spanish officers are said to show
that Ruiz committed suicide while in
Jail, but this has not yet been cOmmuni.
Gated to the Department of State Mean
while Consul General Lee is Investigate
ing the matter, and the State Department
is awaiting his report.
In the absence of this the department.
officials feel no apprehension of any com.
plications, and all stories that warships
have been called for by General Lee are
without foundation.
MIR. RUSSELL'S ENTERTAINMENT.
The performance OF Sol Smith Russell
ut the academy Thursday evening Feb
runry 25,will begin promptly mt s o'clock.
II have given Chamherlain's Cough
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freely Any cold my children contract
yields very readily tc this medicine.
can conscientiouslY recommend it for
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Yours respectfully. GEO +. WOLFF.
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