The times., 1899-03-04
AN AMERICAN FAMILY
DESTROYED BY WEYLER
A Strange Story Told by a
Voluntary Prisoner.
Lost Hearing and Speech While
Waiting TO Be Shot.
james Il. McCnuicy Sent 10 the Work
house by Judge kimbali nt
His own Request.

James r. McCauley who claims to be
both deaf and dumb, was arraigned in tne
Police Court yesterday on the charge of
vagrancy. Policeman Warren stated that
McCauley had approached him in Penn
sylvania Avenue and expressed desire to
be sent to the workhouse. After some con-
sideration Judge Kimball granted the
prisoners request and gave him thirty
days. McCauley is unable to converse in
the sign language, and is compelled to sig
Nifty all his wants by writing. He eX-
planned this by writing on tablet that he
had only been afflicted for about two
years. McCauley's explanation of his con-
dition makes very thrilling story, and
if true it adds one to the many stories Of
the Spanish General Weyler's infamy.
McCauley says that about ten years ago
he was a prosperous business man in one
of the Western States, and had WIFE and
three children. The western climate did
not agree with his wife and he moved TO
Florida. and there became interested in
The cigar business. Leaving Florida he
went to Havana and purchased large
cigar factory. His business prospered and
his wife reganed her health and strength.
Among his employees were many Cuban
cigarmakers who were in sympathy with
the insurgents. They had free access to
part OF the factory building at all times
and used it as a meeting place. They man
aged to hide a quantity of arms and am
munition in the factory, and converted an
unused room into a veritable arsenal.
All of this was done without McCauley's
knowledge or consent. 1t was not long,
however, before General Weyler was
warned and he promptly investigated the
matter. McCauley and his entire family
were placed in a Spanish prison. Their
surroundings were vile and their treat
ment sc cruel that in few weeks his
wife sickened and died The children
also died soon after losing their mother
and McCauley became almost a skeleton
from Ill treatment and hunger Day after
day he demanded to see the American
Consul, but all of his entreaties were
laughed at.
Finally he was told that his execution
had been ordered. McCauley and about
twenty other prisoners were marched out
into large open space and made TO face
wall, their backs to the firing party.
One by one the victims were shot down,
and while awaiting his turn McCauley fell
in a faint. He remembers nothing after
that for many weeks, and when he re-
gained consciousness his hearing and
speech were gone. He lay in prison in
this condition for some time and AT
length was sent to Spain with a number
of political prisoners. Here he remained
for about six months, and was again sent
back to Havana, without any action hav-
ing been taken in his case He was again
put into prison at Havana and one night
ne and several others were taken from
their cells and put on board a small ves-
sci. The next night they were landed
on what daylight disclosed to be the
eastern coast of Florida
Since that time McCauley has been drift
ing around the country. endeavoring 10 in
terest people in his story. The prisoner
appears 10 be man of rather more than
ordinary intelligence. but the police officials
are in doubt as to how much confidence
should be placed in his story The tale
was yielded by McCauley after he had been
sentenced TO the workhouse by Judge Kim
ball, and when before the court he did not
relate his thrilling adventures.