The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-06-04

NEW YORK, May es.-A dispatch 20
the journal from Havana, via E,..
West, says: ~
The 'ongosto-Lee commission ~ i,
quiry into the Ruiz case has 50 a.
complished nothing. When Con.,,i
General Lee, accompanied by Comm.
sioner Calhoun and Secretary Fishbac
went over to 6uanabacoa they fonna
everything had been cut and dried \,
Commissioner Congosto and his Sna,
ish coadjutors there. The prison.r.
political aud criminal, in the iail wh.r,
Ruiz met his death. who are usually
kept in close co nfincment, were wall
ing about the yard. promptly lined
up, anxious, apparently, to earn the
pardons reported TO have been prom.
Used them TO perjure themselves h
SPANS favor if called To the witnes.
stand by any member of the commis
sion.
SPECIMEN TESTIMONY.
One, alleged to have been a trus,v
doing service before Ruiz cell. waS
ready To swear that he sat silently bv
for half an hour and heard Ruiz beat
ing his head against the iron
door; then. he says, he heard duh
thud looked and saw the American ly
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 h ad 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 manner in
which Ruiz met his death. his end came
while illegally and secretly held in.
communicate in n 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.
ohibl>Als Nv lDENtE SENT AWAY.
After returning to Havana Lee and
Calhoun sent a note to Congosto de-
handing 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-
~ IA l,n. Ia,
glish for examination by counsel before
the next meeting OF the comeission.
Congosto replied that all these original
documents had gone to Madrid some
time ago. Since tins response came.
however. by mutual agreement. certi-
led copies have been accepted and are
under examination. But there is moth
ing but the assurance of Judge Vidal
and other Spanish court officials 10
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 SCREEN THE AICALDE.
Friends of Fondesvilla declared tina;
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 conhne-
ment and permitted to communicate
with his family and friends.
Congosto opposed the expressedwish
OF the American delegates that Fondes
viela be brought before the commis
sion. He is absent in active field
service. it is explained. and can not
well obtain permission to come 70
Guanabacoa. 1t is believed. in view
OF this, that Lee and Calhoun will
not ask TO have any other wit
ncsses summoned. or put any cross
questions to others which tongosic
may call. the documentary evidence on
hand being regarded as quite sufficient
after exceptions be noted. To justify the
American contention as to fragrant vio-
lation OF the treaty, and warrants Lees
oTlRlnd dSstftlpn lHdl the pii9'itNt
died from harsh treatment while IL
legally incommunicado.
IMPORTANT DISPATCHES.
Mr.. Fishback. who expects 20 Leave
Saturday for Washington via Tampa.
will probably be the bearer of impor'
tant 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 Palmcrola, is determined that nc
harm shall come TO Mckinleys com
missioner here. As a precaution TO
lice Inspector Escanta and half
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 anc
the gist of their conversation. If these
government spies be able to eaten ~
reported at once to the palace.
Many members of this special de
tective force understand English, ana