The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-07
NoTABLEs FROM CUBA.
". ,. Calhoun, Ruiz Case Commis-
sioner Arrives Om the Saratoga.

NEW YORK. June Z, 1Ss7--Among the
passengers who arrived this morning by
the Ward fine steamer Saratoga from
Mexico and Havana, were Hon. Ramon O.
Williams. ex-unfted States Consul TO
Havana; William ]. Calhoun, U. s.. Com
missioner to Cuba, accompanied by
George w, Fshback and Charles Pepper
Mrs. Mary A. Carson, the female Sam
son. who was also a passenger.
Mr.. Calhoun, who was sent to Cuba in
the Ruiz case. stated that the commission
composed of General Lee. who represent
ed the United States, and Doctor Com
costa; Spanish consul at Philadelphia. who
represented Spain, held three sfttings be-
tween May 20 and June l, at Havana
Regulus and Ganabacao
The papers examined in the case were
chiefly military records and the final re-
port would be made to Washington by
General Lee. Mr.. Calhoun declined to
give his opinion on the case
Hon. Ramon O. Williams. ex-United
States Consul at Havana, when seen at
Quarantine on board the Ward line
steamer Saratoga, said he had been tray-
cling through Mexico and had a very en-
joyable trip When informed that his
name had been mentioned for the Spanish
Mission, he looked surprised and said he
had not received the offer.
On his arrival today Mr. Calhoun would
not make known what his impressions of
the Ruiz case were as he preferred to
walt until the report sent by consul-Gen-
eral Lee would become public property.
IN reply to number of questions the
commissioner said that he went solely
IN the interest of the Government to de-
termine if possible what caused the death
OF Dr. Ruiz at Guanabacoa Prison on
February II last.
We held three sessions said he. sat
Havana, Guanabocoa and Requlus. We
examined several witnesses but when YOU
ask me if they were plentiful / can only
say. that they didn't run after us and we
mha,l Taa 10 use use no force to keep them away
Iney were composed of Spaniards and
Sdbans- The Spanish witnesses and in
TACT an Oh them who testified were so sur
0gn Waa mpossibIe with to safsgaards get that it
ed truth. One person whom We
would haye liked to hear could not be
douno. This was Fonds Deviela, who
commanded the Spanish troops in the Gu
anapacoa territory He disappeared and it
was impossible to find him Governor
General Weyier did not put in an appear
the te jan at Guanabacoa and when we were
there It was suspiciously clean. We
earned that pr. Ruiz was arrested on
February 4, charged with having some
connection in an assault which took place
in a railroad train between Guanabacoa
and Havana. He was placed in solitary
connhememt, waa meme or as 1t rs is known there he
he was taken out of his cell on account
OF his mental and physical condition It
was then found that he was SUFFERING
from a severe wound on the head and he
died two hours after he had been re-
leased from the cell in which the secret
OF MS injury Is buried. The question of
the deceased doctors American citizen
ship was never denied. The autopsy
showed that he dided from congestion of
the brain. His remains are Inferred at
Guanabacoa. We had no positive or di-
rect proof of any assault whatever and
the conclusions arrived at must be based
on the detailed evidence in the report
Consult General Lee, which is now on its
way to Washington. / myself win make
no report and / prefer not to say any
| thing as to my idea Of the affair until
authorities in Washington.
II will go to Washington tomorrow
morning at ten o'clock
| Mr.. Calhoun said that he had been
| treated courteously while in Cuba by all
| those with whom he came in contact.
His visit was e very pleasant one, but
vailed during the stay he was unable to
Colonel John j. Mccook boarded the
| steamer in the Upper Bay from tug and
welcomed Mr.. Calhoun. Both gentlemen
| held an earnest conversation, but Colonel
McCook, declined to say why or for what
purpose he had met the Commissioner
Mr.. George w. Fishback, who is Mr..
| Calhouns secretary, was reticent when
| spoken to in reference to his trip, but
| he made one significant statement I'VE
did not go within the insurgent lines, but
/ all the insurgents, however, are not with
/ in the lines
Mr.. Calhoun and his secretary drove
| from the pier to the Waldorf Hotel,
where they will remain until tomorrow
| morning.