The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-09
THIS THE NEXT STEP TO BE Elk
PECTED IN THE CASE OF
RUIZ.
CONSUL GENERALS REPORT.
IN ADVANCE OF ITS RE-
CEIPE
QUESTION CONSIDERED BY CABINET
No Cuban Action Anticipated Now
Until After the President Re-
turns From Nashville.

WASHINGTON, June 8.-Assistant
Secretary Day said today, that the re-
port of Consul General Lee upon the
results of the investigation made in
Havana in the Ruiz case had not yet
been received at the state department,
Consequently it was not possible to
learn whether the publications purport-
ing to be copies Of the report were ac-
curate. Assuming, however, that the
consul generals conclusions are cor
rectly set forth in brief, that Ruiz died
while in jail in violation of his treaty
rights, the question before the depart
ment of the largest Importance is what
shall be the next step? The wife of
Ruiz has filed with the department a
claim for $150,O00 for the death of her
husband. The Spanish contention has
been that he was not killed, and that
he was not treated harshly. Gen. Lees
inquiry is understood to have failed
to bring out the truth on these points,
but his statement on another, namely
that of confinement in violation CT
treaty rights, appears to make the
first two points Lon essential and to
leave the case resting on the broad
claim ttat in combining DR.. Ruiz for
more than seventy-two hours without
permitting him to communicate with
his friends or trying him, the Spanish
officials in Cuba have assumed full re-
spOnsibility for the results of that
extra confinement
The fact being established that Dr.
Ruiz kept up his citizenship by regis
tering himself at American consulates
III tn a
by regulations is taken as an offset
against the claim that by continuous
residence in Cuba for nearly twenty
years, he had forfeited his rights as an
American citizen, so it is surmised
that the next step in the case will be
the presentation of a claim against the
Spanish government in behalf of the
family Of the victim of this Illegal i'm
prisonment
There was a revival of Cuban talk
about the senate today on account of
the return of Mr.. Calhoun. The Re
publican senators, some of them mem
berS Of the foreign relations commit
tee say there is no doubt that the presi-
dent will take action as soon as Mr.
Calhouns report is received. No de-
fn1te information was given concern
ing the attitude of the president, but
the impression Of the senators from
such reports as they heard was that
there would be change from the pres
ent negative policy and the adoption of
a definite line of action with a view to
endeaVor1ng to secure a settlement of
the present unfortunate state of affairs
The cabinet meeting today lasted
longer than usual. The Cuban situation
was discussed in general way, but
the most important subject presented
was the Spanish mission. The avaiIa-
bility of three men for this important
post at Madrid was carefully can
vassed, but no decision reached One
Of the cabinet officers said after the
meeting that the selection was still
open, and will now go over until the
presidents return from Nashville
What purports to be the report of
Consul General Lee is published here
TO-DAY as follows:
deduce from my knowledge of the facts
the following conclusions:
Dr. Ruiz was arrested on false charge.
He was placed under an improper juris-
diction and died before the proper tribunal
considered his case, thereby giving him no
opportunity to prove his innocence.
He was kept incommunicado' in a solitary
eel for 3l5 hours, in violation of his treaty
rights, which limit such confinement to sew
enty-two hours.
He died from congestion of the brain. pro-
duced by blow on the top Of the head
There are two theories connected with tho
wound on the head. One that in a state of
mental excitement he ran across the cell
as described by one Of the jailers and butted
his head on the door in a frantic effort to
get out. Another, that he was struck on the
head with one Of the clubs carried by the
jailers-by the immediate watchman-who had
probably ordered him to cease his cries for
relief and for his children. and upon his mot
doing SO, struck him with more force than
he intended; or 1t Is possible that the blow
was delivered 10 make him confess or give
met Oth
went mad, and many causes combined to pro-
duce such a result
therefore conclude as l have done in all
previous reports about this case. that, whe her
DR.. Ruiz killed himself or was killed NV soma
one else, will, under the existing conditions.
always remain unknown