The times., 1898-02-02
VIII GET AFTER SPAIN.
Mrs RUiz's CIaim tu Be Pressed
FOR speedy Payment.

Tor speedy ray IueUt.
The State Department is about to.
press To speedy payment the claim of
Mrs. Ruiz against the Spanish govern
ment for the murder Of her husband
last winter in Cuba.
The news yesterday was that the De
partmeut will very shortly instruct
Minister Woodford to ask Spain for a
specific and immediate reply to the de-
mand for indemnity, the amount asked
being $4,000 Z
The claim was about to go to sleep
when about three weeks or more ago
d resolution was offered in the Senate
asking the State Department for all the
information it had on the subject. the
object of the resolution evidently being
to stir the department 10 some activity
or to get at the last reply Of Spain in
the premises.
1t was stated at the State Depart
ment yesterday that the matter asked
for by the Senate had been prepared.
and would be sent to that body prob
ably today or in a few day at the out
side. 1t is not known whether the state
Department began TO insist on pay
ment before or after the receipt Of this
resolution of inquiry. Everything now
points to forcing a decisive answer
from Premier Sagasta.
The death of DIR. Ruiz. the husband
of Mrs. Ruiz, who is now in needy
circumstances, was one Of the most
tTagical and at tie same time most
atroc!Ous acts of the Cuban war. He
was an American citizen. who lived
near GuanabacOa. He was seized as
a sympathizer and was cast into
prison. He was Kept ircOmunicadO
as the Spanish phrase is. or solitary
confinement. for longer time than is
prescribed by either the civil or ju-
dicial law. One morning he was al
legged to have been found dead in his
cell. The Spanish account of the affair
was that Ee had killed himself by
beating his head against the wall of
his cell. 1t was also alleged that his
mind had become affected by his con-
finement. As murder will out. how
ever. il was discovered that the
wounds on the head could not have
been inflicted in the manner claimed
and it was demonstrated that he had
been beaten with bludgeon in such q
manner that his death soon followed
but not too soon for him to have
written q message to his wife and chill
dren in his blood on the bottom of
chair in his cell
This murder and the efforts of the
Spanish government to hide and to con-
done it created a great sensation. Mrs.
Ruiz came to this country last summer
to plead her cause. She remained here
for awhile with her two daughters. Her
friends got her hearing from the Sec
retary of State. 1t was thought that
Si5G. zoo was not too small Il sum to
ask. but it was eventually agreed that
it would be better 10 ask for SO. 600. A
demand for this amount was conveyed
by Minister WOodfoTd to Spain last
summer. but no further information
has been received about il from the
Spanish government. The note max
ing the demand was acknowledged
Ii was a clear case for damages, as
there was proven the American citizen
ship of DR.. Ruiz incontestably.
In the meanwhile Mrs Ruiz has been
waiting patiently for q reply. The only
excuse possible to be offered by Spain
is the change Of ministry and the
launching of the autonomous govern
nlent. the latter of which has been al
legged by Spain TO be an unqualified sue
cess.
The request of the Senate for infor-
nation will perhaps reveal some Of the
secrets of the State Department, and
the demand Of the latter on Spain. if
made vigorously. may lead TO compli-
cations which will bring out other mat
ters the public wants to know.