Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-23
THE AUGUSTINE CASE
II -
COMPLAINT ADDRESSED TO THE
IfIr
PREHIDENT.
Second Letter Prepared by Charles
Francis Adams and Others on
the Philippines.

Secretary Root has received copy Of 9
second letter prepared by Charles Francis
Adams and others addressed to the Presi-
dent, dealing with affairs in the Philippines
The first communication addressed to the
President. and known as the Lake George
letter, also has been received by the Secre-
tary. Before leaving for the west the Sec
rotary turned the letters over to Judge Ad-
vocate General Davis, with instructions to
make thorough Investigation of the allie
cations, and if the records show that any
OF the offenses can be placed upon officers
or men of the army to have such persons
brought to trial. Some of the allegations
are against volunteer officers, not now in
the service. These cases will be inVesti-
gated through the Department of Justice, II
the inquiry of General Davis develops facts
which will warrant such action. General
Davis already has addressed letter to Mr.
ADAMS, asking for evidence and specihca-
tlons which will enable him to make his
investigation 1t is said at the War De-
Partment that the absence of Secretary
fore.
The Second Letter.
The second Adams letter referred to is
dated Boston, September 6, 1902 and is
signed by Charles Francis Adams, c.
Schurz, Edwin Burritt Smith and Herbert
welsh This letter, after taking issue with
a statement Of the President in his speech
at a. WeiTs, N. H., August %, In which he
declared the army in the Philippines had
been cruelty maligned, says:
10 the case now specifically set forth we
mace reference In our communication to you
OF July 70. We there said it had, some
months ago, been brought to the attention
OF the chairman of the Senate Philippine
committee, the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge,
and an investigation urged. An investiga-
tion was by him promised, but no steps to
tnat end were taken, and SO far as appears,
the. rather Augustine incident was never
brought to your notice or to that of the
Senate committee No disposition has been
SHOWN In any official quarter to inquire into
1t. FROM the evidence submitted 1t would
appear to have been case Of peculiar
atroclty, involving, apparently, the crimes
OF KIDNAPPING, torture, murder and robbery.
Feeling that mere knowledge of an &C.
currence of this sort, unaccompanied by any
attempt to bring the offenders to justice,
amounts to practical misprison of murder,
we have submitted the facts, as they have
come to our knowledge, to counsel, in order
to ascertain if any measures initiated by us
would be calculated to further the ends Of
justice.
During the last half of the year 1900
that is less than two years ago at this time
"a certain company of regiment Of United
states volunteers was stationed at Banate,
a small Philippine coast town not far from
Iloilo, in the Island of ePanay. 1t was the
only military force in the place at that
time, and the post, a ase-called Independent
one, was commanded by the captain Of the
company. f=s
The Prisoner Father Augustine.
ION or about the first week in Deem
Der. 1900, the company in question then
having been stationed at Banate over six
months. United States gunboat arrived
at Ilolo, having on board a prisoner, who
was delivered, presumably for safe keeping,
to the officer commanding the post. The
man thus delivered was a Filipino, appa-
rently of about forty years Of age, and IA
miliar with the Spanish tongue. 1t was
afterWard understood among the soldiers
of the post that he was a priest of the Ro-
man Catholic faith. called Father Angus
tine. AT the time of his arrival al Bauate
and delivery to the officer In command Fa-
Their Augustine WAS dressed, or rather dis
guised. in the uniform of a n-commis-
stoned officer of the United States artillery.
His gown and cassock were subsequently
carried up from the gunboat to the place
of his delivery by an enlisted man. Father
Augustine was confined, not with the other
prisoners, but alone in a small room under
the officers quarters. He remained there
imprisoned over a week, during which he
was supplied with an insufficient allow
ance of food To such an extent was this
the case that the sympathies of a soldier
placed on guard over him were enlisted
and by him the priest was secretly fur
nished with sufficient to sustain life This,
the order of the commanding officer to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
"On the Sth day of December, 1900, Fa-
Their Augustine was subjected to the form
of torture known as the water cure The
purpose in view in thus dealing with him
was not communicated to the soldiers at
the post; but. from information gathered
by certain of them, 1t was believed to be
with the intent of forcing information from
him in regard to the whereabouts of a sum
of money, either in the possession of the
prisoner or secreted in some place known to
him. On the afternoon of the following day
Father Augustine was again put to the
question: On both these occasions the
torture was applied by a sergeant and a.
private of the company, In the presence of
the commanding officer Of the post and
under his direction, the surgeon Of the post
also being present. On the night of the 9th
the prisoner was removed to another house,
a short distance from his previous place If
confinement. formerly occupied by the
presidente Of the town. where he was for q
third time tortured. The enlisted man who
had been witness Of the previous fortunes
was not a witness of the third infection ha
having asked to be excused on the ground
that If the torture was again administered
it would result In death. Accordingly. an
other enlisted man was substituted for him.
Death Of the Priest.
During the night following the third
application the prisoner died. He was then
at once buried-a Roman Catholic priest in
unconsecrated ground-by party of native
prisoners detailed for the work
1.-THE names of all the parties concerned
in these proceedings are known and can be.
If necessary, given. Five of those person.
ally cognizant Of the facts, in whole or
part, have been examined and their state
pents are herewith submitted The no NJ.
addresses and present location of other wit
nesses, as Of the parties implicated, will be
furnished IL required.
1.-THE place at which the events above set
forth occurred was subject to the control,
States, but at the time under martial law.
There is reason to believe, although this
committee has no positive informatio or