The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-19
STRANGE HAVANA MURDER
Minnie Ross Killed With the
Blunt Edge of a Hatchet.
FIRST SHE WAS CHOKED
Fred Krause, q Member of the Wealthy
Tampa Family, Has Been Arrested.
The Work of Distributing the
s3,ooo,ooo Progressing.

Havana. June 1S.-The local papers
to- day devote considerable space to the
murder of the notorious Minnie Ross,
who was killed with the blunt end of a
hatchet after being choked and was
found dead early yesterday morning.
1t was first reported that a we'll
known army officer was involved by
the uniform found in the room of Fred
Krause, now in custody on a charge
of being the murderer. 1t is undoubt-
edly one worn by MIN. He is said to
be member of a wealthy Tampa fam
lily.
Thus far there is but little evidence
against him. Many believe from the
nature of the crime, it was committed
by a woman. One theory is that the
blow with the hatchet was not imme-
diately fatal. and the victim was then
choked to death Robbery could
scarcely have been the motive. for the
police found $500 in the murdered wo-
mans room and quantity of valuable
jewelry on her dressing table.
Another theory is that the authori-
ties have received definite information
that the woman had been paying
money to some one connected with the
police department for the privilege of
conducting her house. which was one
| of bad repute. and the department had
sent an agent to ascertain the name
of the guilty official This agent. it is
| thought, had threatened her that unless
| she disclosed the mans name her house
| would be closed.
| She, as the story goes refused to
give it, despite the protection of the
blackmailer. The government agent
! left the house after midnight, accord
! ing to the explanation of the crime,
| and it is supposed that she afterward
| had an interview with the blackmailer,
| with the result that he killed her
| The friends of krause bitterly COM
| plain of the incommuniCado system,
! which is vigorously enforced in his
case. Thus far neither his friends nor
| legal counsel have been allowed to see
| him.
The libel action witch Governor Cen
eral Brooke has ordered begun against
| El Reconcentradc is exciting general
/ interest for it is regarded as a test
| case, under the present decree
The possibility that General Freire
Andrade. president of the late military
| assembly. may lie ndHleQ dis one bl the
| judges Of appeal has caused considera-
! BILE agitation among the Cubans. who
regard him as decidedly erratic. At the
| time of the Garcia funeral his attitude
toward General Brooke, whom he
charged with endeavorlng by every pos
| sible means to provoke the Cubans,
aroused considerable animosity among
| the latter More than this, at all the
meetings of the assembly, he bitterly
| denounced the Americans and at all
| the subsequent gatherings of Cubans
where he has put in an appearance he
| has followed the same course. His Sc
| lection for judgeship would be disap-
| proved by many, not only for such Qon-
siderations as the foregoing, but be-
| cause he is not old enough or sufficient
| ly experienced TO fill the position effect
| lively.
The work of disbursing the American
| gratuity to the Cuban troops continues
| at Cardenas. Remedies, Pinar del R1o
| and Puerto Principe. The CubanS are
fhocking to the distribution centers, as
serting that it was only by accident
| they heard they were to receive Ameri-
can money. The palpable evidence OF
fraul in making up the lists is arous-
ing popular Indignation throughout the
island and the evident desire of the
| Americans to carry out their pleuSeS
excites general admiration.
| The papers that represent the MEM
| bers of the former military assembly
| continue their disparaging allusions to
Senior Quesada. the special representa-
tive of Cuba in Washington. They char
acterize the appointment as direct
slap in the face" from President Nc
Kinley. The Gomez party, on the other
hand, say that the presidents choice in
this matter is another ILLUSTRATION of
his excellent judgment.
They regard Senior Quesada as a man
devoted to the best interests of cuba
and consider that his appointment
places in Washington "a man VINO Will
tell the truth and saves the expense OF
sending commissions there which was
the usual device of the military assem-