The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-20
willing Tools of Willy Chiefs, and Led
to Murder Americans While Pos
ing as Their Friends.
STATEMENT BY GEN. CHAFFEE
AFTER REVIEWING THE RECORDS
IN COURT-MARTIAL CASES.
No Other People Have Such Masterful
Powers of Secrecy and Dis
simulatiOn, He Says.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-"History af-
fords no parallel of a whole people thus
practically turning wal traitors, and in
the genius of no other people was ever
found such masterful powers of secrecy
and assimilation; but it is needless to say
that no powerful state was ever erected
or ever can be erected on such immoral
and unenlightened foundations"
This statement is made by General
Chaffee, military Governor of the Philip
pines, in a review Of a number Of court
martial cases in the islands, the records
of which have been received at the War
Department. The case which brought forth
this comment from General Chaffee was
one wherein seven natives were tried joint
ly on a charge of murder. The accused
were soldiers in the insurgent army, and
after defeat by the American army in the
field abandoned even the show of open OPP
position such as the half uniformed guer-
rilla bands make and took up their resi-
dence at Taytay, in Luzon, a place pro-
tected by an American garrison. Then,
following the proclaimed policy Of the in
surgent chiefs, they proceeded to organize
secretly a bolo band. When authorization
had been given to establish civil govern
ment the band came forward under the
leadership Of a resident padre and were
elected municipal officers Of Taytay. Then
ensued a remarkable attempt to serve two
masters. In all lawful matters they served
with the appearance of loyalty the Ameri-
can government, while at the same time
they labored secretly and diligently in the
interests Of the insurrection. This dual
form of government. says General Chaffee,
existed everywhere, In strongly garrisoned
cities like Manila as we'll as the smallest
Darrlo. The municipal officers of Taytay
next entered upon a series of murders and
continued their deadly work until the
growing number of mysterious disappear
ances led TO the discovery of the perne-
traitors by the American authorities.
LED BY Willy CHIEFS.
One u~ndeniable TRUTH says General
Chaffee. stands out in this case as in hun
dreds of like cases of murder, that the av-
erage native of the islands has no more
than the merest rudimentary conception of
his individual rights and duties as a man;
and no one knows this so we'll as the willy
chiefs who use him for their nefarious pur-
poses"
Six OF the seven natives were sentenced
to be hanged, but General Chaffee COM
muted the sentence Of three of them to
imprisonment at nara LABOR Tor life. The
seventh native, Leonordo de Posoy, a reg
ularly ordained priest, asked for and was
granted a separate trial. When Taytay was
given a permanent garrison of American
troops De Posoy was found there in the
regular pursuit Of his calling as curate of
the pueblo. Through his advantages of
education, his spiritual relations with the
people and his active interest in their secu-
lar affairs, he was easily the most infuen-
tial man in the community. He cultivated
the good will of the American officers and
mi - ~ NA4-. Z. -
But when the elections to American civil
government offices were held he put for
ward and caused to be elected as presi-
dente one Caledonia Javier, whom General
Chaffee describes as an 'illiterate and
bigoted man," whom De Posoy we'll knew
was an officer of insurgents, and whom he
commended to the people as the best man
for the office because he was bold"
At his trial De Posoy, who was held to
be the chief ~agitator in the murders, took
advantage of the loophole which appeared
TO be afforded by his position as priest by
c~ontending that, while the participators in
the wholesale murders in Taytay would
confess the same at confessional, he Was
compelled by his sacred office to keen ST
lence. General Chaffee pronounced this de-
Tense of no value, saying that the CON
fessional does not lay upon any man, priest
or layman, the obligation of suppressing
knowledge Of crimes being mmit by
third parties, the contamination of which
could have been prevented without violat-
ing the secrecy Of the confessional" In
ll4S d "A NoSCt IL 10 SNoACOs lAIC hllOMl-
edge OF the crimes was brought directly to
the priests notice and was not gained
through the confessional.
SENTENCE COMMITTED.
General Chaffee confirmed the sentence
of death imposed by the
which tried De Posoy, but commuted the
sentence to twenty years Imprisonment at
hard labor out OF his respect for his call
ing and Of the great religious organization
of which he is most unworthy member"
Said General Chaffee, in concluding his
review: NO person living in these islands
can be permitted to plead his office, how
ever sacred or exalted, as a protection for
crime committed"
The War Department has also received
from the Philippines the records of two
courts-martial of Filipinos charged with
the murder Of American soldiers. In one,
three insurgent officers were sentenced to
imprisonment at hard labor for life for
participation in the murder OF First Lieu
tenant Richard II. Brewer, ~Twenty-seventh
Volunteer Infantry, on the road from
Galoocan to Novaliches, near the city of
Manila, in July last. In the other case, two
natives were charged with participation in
the murder of two American soldiers, sup
posed to have been Privates AlVa Feagans
and William Gray, Company a. Sixteenth
Infantry, near the barrio of. San Pedro,
Isabella province, in February last. They
were sentenced to death, but this was
m by General Chaffee to imprison-
ment at hard labor for life. Juan Ramiers,
a native. was implicated in the same crime,
he being tried on a charge of misconduct
and neglect of duty as presidente of the
municipality of Gordon. The evidence
showed that the accused. while in office
under American authority as presidente of
that pueblo. had knowledge of the evidence
of the murder of these two Americans and
gave orders for the immediate burial Of
their bodies and threatened with death any
one who should inform the American au-
thorities of the murder. Ramiers was SEN
fenced TO be hanged.
General Chaffee. in reviewing the case,
said that under the laws of war the sen
tence was fully justified, but cOmmuted it
to Imprisonment at hard labor for life.
SAMAR To BE RAVAGED.