The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-22
SPANS CONDUCT Scored.
SENATE aaOBa1IGN RE,LAUIONS COM
MIgIHE,s IeEpoRT ON THE
GOun:TIInR CASE.
THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES THE ACT
TO 'Secuas. rtePinra tiOp for the LOBG
COnE0e ptent of These Prison
erH Sn "A Cubnn Fortress.
IIAvlaSioD Annexation.

Washington July 1J.-Selator Davis
chairman OF fine committee eli foreign re
lations. today reported from that commit
tee the following joint resolution:
That the president he empowered t.
take such measure as in his Judgment my
he necessary to obtain the release from thc
Spanish government of Ona Melton, Al
fred LAbOrdc and William Goldca and the
restoration Of The schooner Competitor to
her owners. and 10 secure this he is au-
ihoriZed and requested to employ such
means or exercise siIch power ms may be
necessary.
The report recites all the facts that have
been brought out in The Competitor case
her ownership capture and citizenship of
three men named in the resolution. tOgetb-
ar with the proceedings thus Car had by the
Spanish authorities, the trial. sentence,
etc.
The report characterized il "mOckery
of a trial"
The adidavits of the parties are cited TO
show that they were cOerced into Spanish
waters IN which they were not amenable
10 Spanish jurisdiction. They were not
subject to piracy and intended no act of
4, depreciation on the high seas. nor We're
they subject TO the Spanish authorities on
account of alleged rebellion.
The report then says:
"Irrespectiye of any of the foregoing
considerations the conduct of Spain, as
hereinbefore detailed. constitutes such de-
lay and denial of duty. and such an actual
inHictiOn of injustice upon these men as
TO make it the duty OF this government
10 demand reparatiop therefor prospect |
i've of any act which these prisoners may !
have committed up to the date 0f their |
capture. Among the acts of rcparatjOD |
which ought to be had, demand should W.
made for the release Of these captiyes."
ES'sccretary. Eyarts is quoted to sus.
tain this position. The report declares
that the rights of men have been violated,
ana continues:
. They have been tried and sentenced to
dean ~ a summary naval cOurtmartial,
in proceeding which has been annulled
y" the appellate courts of Madrid upon
the grounu that such courtmartial had had
no jurisdiction whatever over 'neih' lth
months have elapsed since TINS pea." I
sentence was annuled. and they have not
again been brought to trial. In the mean
time they have been subjected to pro-
tracted preliminary examination prepara-
tory to their trial by another cOurtmartinl
which differs from the first only in the fact
that it is less summary and more formal III l
its character than the first ,IC
The report says that inc men at the iirst {
trial did not know until after the tesu-
49,, for the prosecution was in that an
interpreter was present, and the only
translation made to them was at the close
of the snnguinnry proceedings when they
Mere asked if they Md anything to say,
and necessarily they could have niue 10 ;
say. yet one of them protested that he had !
not understood one word of the proceed I
nps against him by which his life was ad-
judged. ,,o
"Witb this protest." continues the re-
mort 'tbe trial ended. and the defendants !
were Immediately sentenced to death. III
;s now fourteen months since they were !
arrested. during all of which time they
have been held in the Cabanas fortress us
,,r,soncrs Melton and Lab0rde are UNI
Occasionally citizens of the United States
,;;ldea il British subject, but he was
sailor unon an American vessel, was thR'
cncn while acting as lis mate, anh " ~
,bo oninion of your committee that he u
entitled to protection by this government
lie was serving under t.n nt nag and he Is
entitled 10 be protected by it.. In our
'hninion these acts of delay ana aehiui Va
msticc and of the inhiction OF ln!usut''
r;tinte and make void any right when sne
had in the beginning of this transacuoh 10
nroceed criminaly against az Oh lhcs1
men. This government should Ielnun"
thot they be set at liberty and the 'ompe.-
;tor be restored to her owner, as there IL
no evidence that the owner knows any
thing about the divergence OF the Ncsse'
from it's regular voyage To Lemon WY
Fla"