New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-26
TROTBLE IN THE PALMA RIFLES.
THE COMMANDER OF ONE OF THE BAT
TAIIONS CALLED ON TO ANSWER
CHARGE OF SWINDLING.

The Palma Mounted Rifles Independent mill
tary organization which organized for the pur-
pose Of fighting in Cuba. and was christened after
seAor T. Estrada Palma, the representative OF the
Cuban revolutionary party in the United States. IL
threatened with disruption Se0or Palma and the
Cubans IN this city have all along denied that the
organization had any standing with the Cuban''
and Senior Palma has been emphatic in his state
rnents that his name used for the organize
ton without his authority.
The latest move in the organization. which is now
having its internal troubles, was when Lieutenant
Frank Bell who was originally connected with the
regiment which william Astor Chanlor raised. made
a complaint in the West Fifty-f0urth-st. police
court against Major John d. Beers, OF the Rifles.
The complaint resulted in the issue Of summons
BY Magistrate Kudlch after Lieutenant Bell had
consulted the Detective Bureau. According to Lieu
tenant Bell Major Beers induced him 10 put some
money into the organization with the promise that
1t would start for the front June 90 This the
organization did not do and Lieutenant Bel FOUND
out that no certain time set FOR It's departure
Another grievance which Lieutenant Bell and
others had against the Rifles that beneht
performance arranged for the organization. and for
which tickets were sold. 10 take place on June
l6. has not yet been held.
The Palma Mounted Rifles organized by
Colonel George NJ Barbour I'm the "a Battery Ar
mory II was to consist OF two batta.ions, 10 be
composed Of engineers. of sharpsho0ters. and OF n
eating battery Of four guns. Colonel Barbour was
TO command and the officers were Major John T.
Beers and Major j. 5. Dodge. The corps was 20
be attached to the regular Cuban cavalry. the or
ganizers said and 10 he sent 10 cuba by ne United
States Government.
Major Beers denied in court that there was any
ewindng connected with the organization ard
said that II there had not been Discussions among
the officers everything would have been ri-hi ~
Major said that he had examined two thousand re-
cruits and had selected i75 The Rifles We're backed
by influential persons He could prove that II
was ali right As the benefit. there We're rea-
sons why that had not come OF. and II the Magis'
trate would give time he Won - explain u az Nag.
istrate Kudlich gave the Major until June y tc
show that the organization was al right.
AT the Office Of the Cuban delegation II was salo
Yesterday that the Palma Mounted Rifles we're ],
no way connected with the CHban cause. II. >
Rubens counsel for the delegation. said mat colo
mel Barbour who derived his military title solely
from his connection with the Rifles. had repeatedly
called Senior Palma and asked authority 20 RAJ T..
his command and ~ i'm connection with Inc
Cnbans Senior Palma refused the request, and was
much annoyed when his name was connected win
the ORGANIZATION. ne Cubans tod Colonel f'ar-
bour when ne called that they were ony sendina
Cubans 10 the front that they We're doing this wltl
the consent Of the United states Government and
that they had right TO enlist or form regiments
CON posed Of American citizens. As that was solely
o function Of the American Government