Evening star., 1901-07-31
eEN.MAcART4HuR's COMMENT

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GEN.MACARTHUR's COMMENT
The War Department has received copies
| OF recent general orders of the division Of
the Philippines. AS usual, these orders
| contain numerous cases of court-martials
OF natives tried on charges Of murder, rob-
| berry, kidnapping and other crimes. Convic-
tfons have followed in nearly every case,
and sentences of death were imposed in
most OF them. In several cases the COM
manding general commuted the sentences
to long terms OF Imprisonment. There are
two cases OF treachery and Violation OF the
rules of war. One Is that OF Plastdo Cuch-
apin, who was installed as presfdente OF
the pueblo OF Moncada, Carlac, and while
in that Office aided and abetted the insur-
gents He was sentenced to fifteen years
imprisonment. Nicholas Valenton, who
was vice presidente and lieutenant of po-
lice at the same place, was also found
guilty on a similar charge and sentenced
to ten years. 1t appears from evidence
brought out in different trials that there
are secret societies among the natives, VINO
are pledged to risk their lives in resisting
the authority of the United States. A
number Of these men were convicted or
crimes against natives some OF which were
particularly atrocious, women ana chill
dren being the victims.
Gen. MacArthur's Comment.
In reviewing one of these cases Gen.
Macarthur says:
.'In the foregoing case of Juan Aganon,
Coseme Salmos, Antonio Taguinaldo, Juan
Pagaragan, Cecilio Manavis and Fausto
Manavis, it appears that these accused
prompted by the secret accusations Of the
katipunans to the effect that their victim
was an American spy, lured Esteban Yer
sosa, chief Of police Of the pueblo Of Pura,
province Of Tarlac, to the outskirts OF the
town on the pretext of necessity for visit
Ing his guard and there b0loed him to
death. The actual participation in this
crime by all Of these accused fs fully es-
tablished by direct evidence, and they Of
fer no evidence, explanation or statement
to meet the proof.
80 long as secret societies exist, whose
purpose 1T is to evade the laws, and men
are found willing to execute their secret
orders Of assassination, SO long must the
laws, both OF peace and of war, be invoked
to suppress them. Working in secret and
taking vengeance now upon the good and
now upon the bad-as suits their criminal
inclinations-the members of these societies
foe alike-and SO long as they flourish the
common interests and happiness of the in
habitants of the country they invest must
languish.
"The sentence, approved by the depart
ment commander, is confirmed and as
against Juan Aganon and Fausto Manavfs
will be duly executed at the pueblo Of &C.
foa 12lb G5 dsr Of 5nz
under the direction of the commanding
general. Department Of Northern Luzon.
AS against these accused: Cosme Salmos
Antonio Taguinaldo, Juan. Pagaragan and
Cecilio Manaviss their sentences, and that
Of each of them is COMMITTED to imorison-
ment at hard labor for the period OF their
natural lives. and as thus commuted will
be duly executed at the Presidio do Manila,
to which place they, and each of them, will
be sent under proper guard"
Hanging Women and Children.
In another case 1t appears that the ac-
cused, Isidro Velasco, native, was the
leader Of a band of outlaws, and ordered
and caused to be contaminated the killing
by hanging of Manuel Tandoc, Biviana
Mandap, his wife, and Benigno Tandoc and
Valentin Tandoc, their children, on the ac-
cusation that they told too many tales
On another occasion this accused and his
band kidnapped and kept prisoner one W.
cente MamertO, at or near Aguilar, Pan
eastman, and it is shown that they robbed
another native OF some twelve head Of cat
tie.
'The cruel and inhuman hanging of a wo-
HIdH anu NcE CuliuICA, says 1cUcTdl Mac
Arthur, sis not susceptible OF justification
to any degree, and the statements Of ac-
cused that he ordered the consummatiOn Of
this heinous crime in pursuance to an order
of superior Of one grade above him can
have no weight as affecting his criminality.
although deemed inadequate. the rem
tence twenty-five years imprisonment is
confirmed and will be duly executed at the
Preside de Manila, to which place the
prisoner will be sent under proper guard"
In another case 1t appears that the ac-
cused. Teribio Ramirez, native, was one
Of a band of armed outlaws which entered
the house of one Antonio Echevarria, at
Naro Mashate, on August IA, 1900, robbed
1t of valuables, conveyed eleven occupants
to the beach and there murdered them with
sabers, bolos and clubs and then tied up
the dead bodies In sacks and threw them
into the sea- 1t appears that this accused,
personally, killed one of the victims and
gave orders that the bodies should be dis
posed of in the above manner. The only
motive shown Of record is that Of robbery
The accused admitted before the commits
sion that he was present with the band.
The sentence OF death was approved by
the department commander, and will be
executed at the pueblo Of Masbate, p. l.,
on the I'd day of August, AID.
Tortured to Death.
In reviewing another case General Mac
Arthur says:
'In the foregoing case it appears that
these accused, Jose Avila and Pauline
Casio, natives. In company of band OF
outlaws entered the houses Of one Juan
Legaspi, at the pueblo Of Iriga, in the
night time. actuated by no higher motive
than robbery and degenerate cruelty and
inhumanity, boloed to death five natives,
including child three years of age and
q young girl eleven; CUT wounded and tor
tured three women, one small girl and one
man, with the intent to kill them.
mo denial explanation or statement is
made by these accused to meet the posi-
tive and direct evidence Of their surviving
victims and no evidence submitted by the
defense negatives their guilt
1.-THE sentence approved by tho depart
ment commands, Is confirmed and will be
duly executed at the. pueblo Of Nueya Ca
ceres, provinceIaof Gamarines Sur, Luzon,
p. l., on the 2eth day Of July. A. d. 1901.
Plea " the Accused.
Gen. Macarthur tells the story Of another
h CA a.naa Eallouua.