Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-07
PUNISHMENT OF FillPlNOS
GEN. MACARTHUR REPORTS A NUM-
Der OF CASES.
Murder, Treason and Other High
Crimes and MisdemeanOrs on
the Part of Natives.

large mail was received At the War
Department this morning from General
Macarthur 1t included the records of
many cases of murder. treason and other
high crimes and misdemeanors on the part
of native Filipinos. In the case of four ma
tives who were convicted Of forcible abduc-
ton and murder of a friendly native the
death penalty by hanging was imposed and
carried Into effect with the approval Ut
General Macarthur.
Diverted Taxes to InsurEent Uses.
A native named Lucino Almelda was
convicted by military commission OF ma
grant violations of the laws Of war and
was sentenced to hard labor for twenty
years and to pay a fine of 10000 pesos II
appears from the evidence that Almeida
was provincial chief or presidente OF La
Union at the time of the occupation OF
that province. holding office from the In
surrectionary junta In that 0ihelai ca
pactty he called on the officer commanding
the American forces and offered his ser.
vices to aid IN the work of pacf1catfon or
the province His offer was accepted In
good faith and he was allowed to continue
In office for some time with the idea that
he would urge the people 10 return 10 tnelr
peaceful avocations. While thus acting the
role of friend of the American cause the
presidente and those under him In author
tty were, with a common end secret TN
Outstanding, actually administering their
offices under the orders and in the inter-
est of the fnsurrectfonary chiefs. When-
ever they collected lawfully imposed taxes
they also sought to impose and reasonably
and secretly collect a like or larger amount
of tax for the benefit of the insurgents
forces and in some instances they diverted
the public funds derived from taxes le-
ultimately assessed and collected TO the
same reasonable use
They also invited voluntary and by d.
Il. IL n.aA r. or
of money from the m>sre wealthy FfItpinos
and from the people generally, contribu-
lions of clothing and monthly allotments
of rice. meat and other subsistence sup
plies which they delivered into the posses
sion of the bands Of guerrillas which in
tested the province, and whose secret
camping places they carefully guarded
from the knowledge of the American
troops
The facts enumerated, General MacAr-
thur says. constituted the accused war
traitor" a term employed to designate a
most vicious and dangerous class, their
operations being necessarily chiefly confined
to the encouragement of armed providers
and guerrilla bands, with their attending
robberies. murders and assassinatlons.
General Macarthur committed the sentence
TO deportation to the Island Of Guam, where
the prisoner is to remain during he con-
tinuance Of the Instruction.
Treachery to the Americans.
Another case Of treachery reported by
General Macarthur Is that of Catalina Lam
dayan. who was convicted by military
commission of violating the laws Of war
and giving intelligence to the enemy. and
sentenced to fifteen years confinement at
hard labor. General Macarthur says that
the evidence in the case shows that the ac-
cuSed accepted the office OF preSidente of
the pueblo of Guiguinto from insurgent
authority, at a time when the Office was
lawfully filed by president appointed un-
der the authority of the United States, and
that, while the accused was acting in tart
OF an amigo of the Americans, he was by
letter advising the commanding general of
the insurgent forces in his vicinity Of the
number and means of defense of the Amer
lean troops In Guiguinto. Many of his
reasonable letters having been captured
from the enemy. and being confronted with
them before the commission, he admitted
that he signed them, but averred that he
had done so under threats of the insur-
gents against his life and property '.But
his zeal in the cause of the insurrection"
says General Macarthur. rs too manifest
TO give value to his defense, which, even if
true could not avail to save him from the
consequences of his reasonable acts"
An Insurgent Officers Crime.
Gen. Macarthur has Informed the War
Department OF his action in the case of
Mariana Dreu, lieutenant colonel of in
surgents, who was convicted by military
commission at Manila OF larceny and yio-
lation Of the laws of war and sentenced to
confinement at hard labor for fifteen years.
In MS review of the case Gen. Macarthur
says:
The evidence clearly shows that Dreus
general plan of operation was to visit
house in the night time, assault and abuse
the husband and wife and threaten them
with death to induce them to produce their
money and other valuables. Possessed of
these. the band would then depart taking
their victims with them to their camp. Here
the prisoners were subjected to further in
dignities. whipped. put in the stocks and
made to suffer until some of them made
further discoveries Of the hiding places of
their money. which the band would then
send for and secure. The reason given by
members OF the band for these crimes was
that the people robbed and MaItreated were
'Americanlstas.' Whether or not this was