New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
J. D. BENEFITS AFFIDAVIT
SPANISH ATTEMPTS TO CONNECT CURANs WITH
THE MAINE EXPLOSION THROUGH EXPERT
MENTs WITH EXPLOSIVES IN lso5-THE
nrSASrrR TOOK PACE on
FEBRUARY Is. 1895.

DISASTER IpblN f--A'- w
FEBRUARY Is. 1895.
Washington April 1.-The Spanish Minister here.
eshor Polo has given publicity TO the following:
'Or Friday. the 25th utimo. after the Spanish
Court Of Inquiry had made its report. the Spanish
Consul-General IL New-York filed officially with
the United States District-Attorney In New-1ork
sn AFFIDAVIT made ny man named J. d. Bennett
OF No 3c Fo-ty-fourth-st.. brooklyn Mr.. Bennett
announces himself inventor OF explosives.
and tells how ne was called upon by Conzalo de
Quesada fIoratio s Rubcns and others Of the
Cuban Junta in NewYork. who were greatly inter-
ested in his explosives which. he emit light
and fame and have four times the strength OF
gunpowder He does not say thai he sold any
THE Spanish Consu-Ceneral in New-York took
man who makes the affidavit. and not only filed a
COPY Of the document in the District Attorney $
SnTe The affdaSit. /, is said vii De laid before
the Senate Committee on Foreign AnaiIs which
tion regarding the Maine In the belief that SPANS
Official responsibility can be fixed
rorsul-Generai Baidasano. when seen yesterday
afternoon. said II true that he had for
varded the AFFIDAVIT of Mr Bennett 20 -he Spanish
Minister at Washington. and al the same time init
mated that The story had direct connection with
tie blowing UP OF the Maine. He refused TO make
any statement as 10 the case make public Mr.
Benefits address. In fact. Re stated that he did
not know where Mr.. Benrett lived. Assistant
United States District Attorney BALDWIN. when
asked aaout the affidavit. said; ION March 2s last
tbs Spanish Consul-General at this port flod with
this Office an AFFIDAVIT purDorting TO be signed 10y
Joseph d. Bennett. on March a. concerning the
contents o. which this Office IS now making an In
vestigaticn'
Mr. Bennett who lives at No. 2o7 Forty-fourth-
e.. Brooklyn. said that in July. 1896 Gonzales de
ouesada Dr. Ag,sero. oscar Polo. attache ~
either the Mexican brazilian Government. and
Rodriguez called upon him "a investigate a
certain high explosive that he was then preparing
tor such an explosive. An asreerneni was maze ng
which the Junta was 70 paw NJ. Bennett an ms
expenses and good price oT the explosive u after
Your trials II was success. a. These iialS W.
made. and a. The last one Mr.. RubcIs. the couAse
Cor he Junta. present. NJ. Bennett states
that while tho Junta did not purchase his e1po-
no believes that the secret OF is composition
discovered by them ana later used.
Mr.. Kube1s. % the Junta. when seen by IT'D
TEST Of an explosive made by Mr.. Bennett in lss',
tu' the explosive not satisfactory Tor our use
offered 70 sci f. 10 Us Tor $1,000 cash ana mum
Der ~ Cuban bonds. but We refused 20 take H. fic
afterward tried 10 collect from Us his expenses tGr
the experiment, and We TOLD him 10 begin aetoh N
the courts ready to meet him. We are
now ready 20 appear before any court or ihNssii-
eating committee and testify as 20 tie facts II :
cor.ecT experiments made three years ago Wlti
the destruction q the Maine. The Spanish ,ouIs
b. accident. and hat tho care'essncss or us on
cars cad crew was the cause o. tine accident J. MS
view taken by al IT, Spaniarcs ard now thcy
try 70 show that their Jan court did nnt Kho"
WAT Il was dOag end raade n mistake In saying
rha: the explosion was an accident We, as mem
ters Of the Junta. have hitherto reiraned rom
matter that strictly concerned the United states
aad Spain. but the latter country Is trylhg 70
We are compelled 70 can give sucn testimony
as 20 shJv Spain In her true character.