The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-06-03
BRUTAL MURDER
OF Fiiipine- by American Army Of
hcers-Shot Down In Cold Hood

OF war has transmitted To the senate
committee on tine Philippines a copy OF
a report made by ]. G. Livingstone.
governor OF the Philippine province of
Lorsogon of the killing by soldiers OF
two native officials OF the town or
Santa Magdalene OF that province. One
OF the men was the presidente OF the
town named Isidro GaIIanosa, and the
other 4 policeman. The secretary OF
the town, one Quintin Gamit, also was
tortured for tie purpose OF forcing
confession from him.
Governor Livingstone says that ma
tive who was trusted by the American
authorities was sent to the town To spy
out men connected with the movement
known as the ''anting-anting'' move
ment; that ne arrested some such
men and took them with their
papers before the presidente and
that While "a. were there a de-
tachment OF troops under a corporal
entered and arrested all as insurgents.
They Were then taken before Lieuten-
ant F. W. Harker. of the Fifteenth in
fantry, who put them to work on the
streets. The II port continues:
The next day the presidente and
CAN'T were taken our in the woods
and hung untI. their feet were nearly
off the ground and we're asked If they
would talk to which they replied that
thev would, naturally. They We're re-
turned to Matnog. where the secretary
was again questioned by Lieutenant
Harker as TO the conduct and charac-
ter of the presidente. giving. according
| to his (the secretary's statemenO sat
| isfactory answer He was returned to
! the Jail. and la Ter. he, with the presi-
| dente and Circaco Fumes. a policeman
| Of Magdelena were again taken to the
hills. being compelled to carry a rope.
| a pick and a spade and on reaching a
| certain spot, the presidente was put to
| work digging what would appear to
| be a grave. Then the presidente was
] bound and shot IN the back, The sec
retary states he saw all of this him
| self and also the policeman bound in
| the same way and little later heard
| shots which he presumed were fired at
| the policeman. as he was also killed.
| The report also says: 1T is claimed
that the presidente and policeman at
tempted to escape, and the soldiers
concerned have made affidavits to this
| effect. but believe this to be absolute
ly untrue
| Governor Livingstone concluded by
| giving his own opinion Of the case as
follows:
Upon careful consideration of the
whole question. from my knowledge of
the conditions cxlsting at the time and
| from my personal knowledge of those
most directly concerned. I am forced
to the opinion that the organization
| organized for the arrest of these men
was absolutely unwarranted, possibly
due to m2l-intcrpretation and over zeal
BUSINESS on the part of the corporal:
attempt 10 escape and that their kill.
ing was murder"
Enclosed with the governors report
are affidavits of the private soldier!
who shot the presdente and also al
affidavit from 4 native prisoner, sayin,
that the presidente had allowed hin
to escape for pay. There also is a re
port upon the case by Captain E Wit
tenmeyer of the Fifteenth infantry a.
follows:
Il wish TO Col: your attention to tn,
fact that at he time this occurred
some 400 priconers had been captured
most OF whom were members of tn,
''antlng g-ant1ng' society. and have NJ
doubt that this presidente was q mem
Der Of this gang. It is a fact that can
not be disputed that a company o
''anting -antin1 from St MagdaIens
was in the fight at Gait. September I'll
and some OF tneir wounded were carec
for this presi6ente and his subor
dinates. There is no doubt in m.
mind. but that he was guilty of incit
ing and sustaining insurrection and op
position against the United State
| forces"
Colonel Wagner. assistant adiuten
general Of the United States army. a.
formerly adjuLant general of the arm.
in the Philippines today continued hi
testimony before the senate Philippin
committee He said he knew that on
, village had been burned because tn
citizens would not give information O
the murderer Of a native friendly I,
the United States. He gave a fin
character to General Bell as a human
officer. He said the conduct Of Amerl
cans in ine Philippines had been uni
formly kind and considerate to the na
tive prisoners.
Col. Wagner did not agree with Gen
eral Hughes that the war in the Phil
fppines was not civilized war. He saiS
that in the provinces commanded b,
General Bell about 100000 people wer,
gathered In the concentration camps
Their property left outside the camps
was confiscatec and the wealthy peo
pie lost heavily He did not beliey