The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-21
WITH SN|JB IND SHEER
Ambassador Aspiroz Is Met by
Princes Creatures.
He GIVES HIS VERSION
fthe Prosecution of the Dupe
of Napoleon HI.

New York. April pa special from
Washington TO the Journal says:
Snubbed and insulted because he per
formed a military duty thirty-two years
ago. Senior Manuel Aspiroz. Ambassador
to the United States from Mexico. Is hav-
in gan experience the parallel OF which is
not 10 be found in diplomatice history. He
is ostraclsed by European representatives
accredited TO the United States becau se
he was the prosecutor OF Maximillian OF
Mexico. The representatives of one Re
puoiic at the capital of a sister Republic
Ambassador Aspiroz finds himself fouted
because The representatives Of royalty dis
approve Of an act performed by the Am
bassador as patriot and a soldier
One Of the sadest and most romantic
tragedies of the century is thus recalled
by a social sensation in these modern days
MAMMALIAN, an amiable Prince muci-
clan, an arcvhitect, an artist, unable TO
appreciate the Western spirit, believed ne
was a divine instrument for the educa-
ton, upbuiIding and government of the
benghted masses in Mexico. He left his
palace, which ne had designed and decor
ated, his chairs and cabinets, which he
sought to take possession Of Mexico.
The United States frowned. The French
army retired. MAMMALIAN, "consecrated
to his duty" remained. He had but a
handful Of followers. He intrenched him
defenses were betrayed by some Of his
followers. The Mexican army captured the
city, tried Maximillian by court martial,
sentenced him to death and one gray
morning led him forth for execution.
Ambassador Aspiroz was the Judge-Ad-
vocate of the court He was thirty-one
years old and detailed to the responsible
duty Of his chief. He had served with dis
tinction in the war. He was a lawyer and
his was the duty 10 convince the military
tribunal that Macmillan was punishable
by death. 1t was a mooted question. To
the rest Of the civilized world he was
prisoner of war. His execution was
shock to Chrstendom, as all Europe held
he should have been parolled and deported.
so you would like to have my story of
the part I played in the tragedy of Maxi
millian's sentence and death. Well. It'll
was simply the carrying out of my duty
as prosecuting attorney for the Republic.
That was thirty-two years ago; we will
have to roll back the time. Ny commits
sion was given me by the general Of the
Mexican army, General Escobedo, 10 whom
1 was aide-de-camp, or I think you would
call it in English, his field adjutant. This
commission was to serve as prosecuting at
which Maximinian was tried and condemn
ed to death. This court was held at San
Luis Potosi and was, as are all judicial
tribunals in Mexico, a most grave and
dignifisd one.
The court was open TO all, There were
no secret coverings. no star chamber pro-
ceedings. The public was aware all the
time OF what was going on. I was then
a young man OF thrty-one years but as
well an experienced lawyer, and il was be
cause of this that I was selected as prose-
cutting attorney by the military commits
sion.
''On that eventfuI day, the record of
which has so long since passed into his
tory. 1 made the speech that fell 10 my
part because Of my official connection with
the case
Il was not given my instructions in the
case by my government. The speech was
the summing up of the judicial points OF
the case, and was made in accordance with
my personal knowledge as a lawyer and
in accordance with the laws of the Re-
public. 1t was a speech to which earnest
thought and all my ability had been given.
II in 4f,a cF
was listened 10 by that vast audience in
the very stiffness of death itself We in
Mexico had so serious an appreciation OF
the gravity of the situation and Of the oc-
casion that not even an audible breath
disturbed the perfect quiet that reigned
while I talked and that marked the close
Of the speech.
Then followed the hearing Of the ac-
cusation and defences The defendants
spoke at length and with eloquence for
Macmillan mad the other two accused
Gen. Miguel Mnramon and Gen. Thomas
M=jia. These two official prisoners were
present in court and upon them centred
the attention OF the audience. Maxlmil-
ian was not there He was III. That IS.
his defendants 50 alleged.
The tragedy came with the pronouncing
of the death sentence, which vas in the
form Of a legal judgement But i was
tragedy too deep for words.
How did the two condemned Generals
bear the sentence Like soldiers. They
gave no sign OF their emotion. II was IN
silence that It fell. I was IN silence the
audience sat out throughout everything
that day when Macmillan vas condemned
10 De sh3t- Il was the military commits
son that pronounced the death sentence.
The voices that stirred the stiffness we're
those OF the lawyers for the prosecution
and defence
with the 2ron0yneing q the sentence
nv Official connection ceased with the COM
I never saw MACMILLAN after
that was not present al the shooting
Was os5racized IN any way We're
any lnciviIt.es shown ne az ire tine be-
cause OF u1y. connection with the case
None whatever. I remained n Mexico and
7rscacea law. From ISL 70 1s72 vas
Z nris--Sec-etary IL the Department q
Foreign Affairs. In 1s12 I came 70 Wash
.ugton as agent OF the Mexican Republic
before the Sfixzd Commission RI Claims