Evening star., 1901-09-19
CRIMES OF FiLiPiNOS
RECORDS OF A NUMBER OF MILL
TARY TRIALS.
Sentence of an Insurgent Captain Dis
approved by Gen. Chafee-De-
tails of AtrociOus Deeds.

An official mail just received at the War
Department from the Philippines contains
the records OF large number of atrocious
crimes committed by natives and others
The accused were tried before military
commissions, mostly at Manila.
Eroberto Gumban, an insurgent captain
was tried for the alleged murder of Presi-
dente Gobuyan Of the Pueblo of Payia.
He was convicted by the military commits
sion and sentenced to be hanged General
Chaffee disapproved the sentence and re-
leased the prisoner. however. on the ground
that his action in the premises was in ac-
cordance with civilized warfare. 1t seems
that Gumban proceeded to the Pueblo of
Pavia with thirty soldiers for the purpose
Of attacking the American garrison. After
dispostng his command for such attack
and while arranging for a general assault,
the deceased presidente approached and
asked his intention. He was answered that
the garrison was to be attacked. He i'm
mediately protested and attempted to re-
tire. Captain Gumban informed him that
he was prisoner and grasped him by the
shoulder. The presidente seized the cap
tain by the throat and attempted to take
his revolver from its holster, whereupon
the insurgent captain drew his dagger and
stabbed the presidente in the abdomen.
The presidente wrenched the dagger from
the captain and made his escape but died
a
wound. After the struggle with the de-
ceased Captain Gumban and his band with
drew.
General Chaffee, in reviewing the case,
said that the accused was acting under a
regular commission, was part and parcel
of the hostile army and was acting under
the rules Of civilized warfare. His rank
and office was well known to the deceased"
says General Chaffee, land that accused
was supported by a force Of the hostile
army was evident to him. The apprehen-
sion of deceased a prisoner to prevent
the defeat of a military movement against
act of war. The deceased resisted that
arrest at his own risk, and although the
resistance was brave and admirable act
and the death which resulted is to be de-
plored, a felonious killing cannot be dis
torted from the facts"
One Of the cases was that Of a native
named Juan Bautfsta Confesor, who was
charged with violating the laws OF war.
aiding and abetting the enemy, arson and
perjury. He was convicted and sentenced
to be confined at hard labor for twenty
years. 1t seems that Confesor, while hold
ing an important office in the Pueblo Of
Cabatuan, under the occupation OF United
States troops, secretly contributed food,
money, clothing and tobacco to the insur-
gent soldiers 1t Is also shown that after
voluntarily taking the oath Of allegiance
to the United States he conspired with the
insurgent leaders to burn the town of Ca
batuan and surround and attack the United
States troops garrisoned there. He also
encouraged the police force to aid the In
surgents in these acts. The result was that
nearly one hundred houses Of the town
were destroyed.
A Number of Atrocious Deeds.
Two other natives were convicted OF muir
der and sentenced to be hanged. 1t was
shown that they enticed Private Eugene r.
Lyons, Company K, 9th Infantry, to an
isolated place in north Ilocos. killed him
with bolos and buried his body.
In another case five natives were con-
victed of murder and sentenced to be
hanged The record shows that these men
seized three other Filipinos took them to
an isolated spot and hacked them to death
with bolos. some of the accused adding to
the horror of the crime by assaulting the
women of the families Of their victims
The motive for this crime was revenge on
the part Of the leader Of the band because
one of the Victims had damned stream
and diverted water from his land.
native named Damascio Btating was
condemned to death for the murder of Pri-
vate James T. Burgey Of Company c. 28th
guard Of prisoners at Baratoc, pana The
accused was within the American lines dis
guised as q pacifico.
naping and murder and sentenced to be
hanged. They were members Of Y band OF
armed outIaws that seized and carried OF
two friendly natives. whom they delivered.
to band OF ladronesa for execution be-