New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-10
WILL NOT PROSECUTE LUDLOW
REQUEST OF A CUBAN JUDGE OVER THE
INCOMUNICADO LAW

REQUEST OF A CUBAN JUDGE OVER THE
INCOMUNICADO LAW
Havana, April 9.-Sehor Lanuza, Secretary Of
Justice. will probably not comply with the re-
quest of Judge Ortiz. Of the Guadalupe District
Court. Havana Province. to prosecute General
Ludlow, the Military Governor, for interfering
TO prevent Dr. Jolliffe and Mr.. Barton, Ameri
cans. being kept ncomunicado as provided by
the Spanish law" Judge Ortiz bases his re-
quest for the prosecution upon the following
paragraph Of the Penal Code
Administrative or military functionaries who
shall give orders limitations to a judicial
authority relative to actions or matters in con-
troversy whose cognizance or decision is within
the exclusive competency of courts of justice
shall incur the penalties OF suspension in their
minimum and medium degrees and OF fines
ranging from 625 to $3.50 pesetas.
II tho matter is brought to an issue the ques-
tion will he whether not an American official
has right TO issue an order contravening
Spanish law unless supported by decree Of the
Governor General. Judge Ortiz insists that the
incomunicado law is in full force, like all
other Spanish laws, which General Brooke's
proclamation Of January l affirmed were to be
unchanged General Ludlow interviewed in the
Of Jolliffe and Barton because the Spanish
officials refused TO allow the attorneys and
friends Of the prisoners 10 have access to them.
1t was this condition OF things that prompted
his written instructions to Judge Ortiz not to
apply the ncomunicado law TO Americans
All railway communication from Havana east
ward is suspended because of the strike OF the
two hundred employees Of the United Roads.
which affects the provinces OF Matanzas and
Santa Clara, as well as the routes to Guanajay,
Province of Pinar del Rio, and to Batabano. on
the southern coast of Havana Province. where
the steamships make their communication with
Havana. No freight or passengers could be
moved to-day. Many people, In ignorance OF
the situation. went to the city stations and
waited long In the hope that trains would be
started The Inconvenience resulting is great
1t is hoped. however that the strike will be set
tied by the company, acceding to the demand or
the strikers who want a re-establishment OF the
wage scale that existed before the war.
To-day the Cuban generals who yesterday
elected General Gomez COMMUNICATIVE chief were
To inform him officially OF their action They
had not done so up to I o'clock this evening, but
II is reported that he is to be waited upon by
committee insthe course OF the evening.
The recent trips or the transport Burnside out
side of the harbor have caused considerable
comment among the Cubans, who fear that the
S3,UD,0D may be slipping away. The fact Is,
she merely goes outside TO wash her decks, but
whenever she leave the harbor Headquarters
receives numberess telephone messages from
the local newspapers asking where she has gone.
A soldier at MatanZaS yesterday, one Of a
squad cleaning the courtyard of the castle
found a Spanish gold piece. The members OF the
squad Immediately staked off claims in the
Western style and dug up the whole yard, find
ing coins dated all the way from 1880 to 1903
and worth S3O6. American money.