The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-10
FRICTION IN CUBA.
Native Judge Claims
"IncOmmuniCadO"
Law In Force.
LUDLOW IGN0RESIT
Troops in Matanzas Dig
Up Spanish Gold
Pieces.

Havana, April 9.-Secretary of Jus
tice Lanuza will probably not comply
with the request of Judge Ortiz Of the
Guadalupe district court, Havana
province, to prosecute Gen. Ludlow
the military governor, for interfering
to prevent DR.. Jelliffe and Mr.. Barton,
Americans, being kept incommunicado
as provided by the Spanish law"
Judge Ortiz bases his request for the
prosecution upon the following para
graph Of the penal code: "Administra-
tive or military functionaries who shall
give orders or limitations TO a judicial
authority relative to actions or mat
ters in controversy whose cognizance or
decision is within the exclusive COM
potency of courts of justice, shall in
cur the penalties OF suspension in their
minimum and maximum degrees and
OF fines ranging from 625 TO $3.50 pese-
tas."
If the matter is brought to an issue,
the question will be whether an Amer
lean official has right to issue an or
der cOntravening a Spanish law unless
supported by decree of the governor
general. Judge Ortiz insists that the
incommunicado law is in full force,
like all other Spanish laws which Gen.
BrOOke's proclamation of Jan. 1 af-
firmed were to be unchanged.
Gen. Ludlow interviewed in the case
of Jelliffe and Barton because the
Spanish officials refused TO allow the
attorneys and friends of the prisoners
to have access to them. 1t was this
condition of things which prompted his
written instructions TO Judge Ortiz not
TO apply the incommunicadO rule to
Americans.
All railway communication from Ha-
Vana eastward is suspended, because
the strike of some 200 of the en-
ployes of the united roads affects the
provinces of MaJanzas and Santa Clara
as well as the routes to Guanajay,
province of Pinar del Rio, and to Bat
abano, on the southern coast of Ha-
vana province, where the steamships
make their communication with Ha-
vana.
No freight passengers, or even milk
could be moved today. 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 very great.
1t is hoped, however, that the strike
will be settled by the company accord
ing TO the demand of the strikers, who
want re-estabHshment of wage scale
that existed before the war.
Today the Cuban generals. who yes
terday elected Gen. Gomez, commander
in-chief We're to notify him Of their
action. They had not done so Up to
o'clock this evening but it is reported
that he is to be waited upon by com
mittee during the course Of the evening.
There are so many contradictory re-
ports as TO their intentions that the fact
Of their accomplishing little or nothing
is beginning to discredit in advance
whatever action they may ultimately
take. which at the best, will be merely
comforting an honorary distinction, as
Gen. Brooke is preparing to handle the
payment of the Cuban army quite in
dependently of Gen. Gomez.
The recent trips of the transport
Burnside outside of the harbOr have
caused considerable comment among
the Cubans, who fear that the 50 00O,-
600 may be slipping away. The fact is
she merely goes outside to wash down
her decks, but whenever she leaves the
harbOr, headquarters receive number
less telephone messages from the local
newspapers asking where she has gone
A soldier at Matanzas yesterday, one
Of 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, finding
coins dated all the way from 1870 to
1908. and worth three hundred and six
American dollars.