The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-05
QUEER CUBAN JUSTICE.
Laws That Surprise Americans
-AutOcratic Police.

HAVANA. April 2o.--The Cuban idea Of
justice il a peculiar thing. although il
doesn't differ very much from that in other
Latin American countries, and one Of the
things the Americans want most to do is
to revise the penal code. But there appears
to be no demand for 1t just now and the
chances for any changes seem small.
Not many months ago one Of the courts
in Havana rendered two verdicts On the
same day. One man was sentenced for
stealing a mule and for falsely registering
him as his own. He got six years for steal
ing the mule and eight years for making the
false registration. a total Of fourteen years
in prison.
On the same day the court sentenced n
maj for killing his mistress. 1t was a
peculiarly brutal crime. The man and
woman had separated. They met after
a couple OF months on the street and the
mar begged the woman to return to him.
She refused. He became violent and she
ran. turning into the first open doorway,
There he overlook her. stabbed her repeat
edit several times after life must have
passed away, and was then arrested. He
got two years in the p~enitentiary..
And according to the statutes the Judge
QlQ mourning lllCRal. III Uthn Wdb piON0d
to be sobeecado,f or beside himself. and the
crime was s~pasional." But had the woman
killed the man she would probably have been
sent up for life or possibly sent to the gar
rote.
He can do just about as he pieases and any
resistance whatever Of his authority is
a serious matter. There is q standing
sentence for striking or even pushing a
cop around, II Is now one year four
months and seven days. II used to be
two years, eight months and fourteen
days. 1t was 30 fixed on the books OF law
and was unalterable. The policeman makes
an arrest. II he is resisted by his prisoners
he can Ale charges to that effect and b
prisoner must prove his innocence. The
nocent runs through the whole thing.
An American here awoke one night TO
find a burglar in his ROOM. He got up TO
chase him out. A fight ensued, In which
the American shot the burglar in the leg.
The police a m and the American was
arrested for shooting the thief. This
American has influence, but It took all he
could muster to keep out OF jail, and the
case was not finally settled until he q
paid the burglar, 5000 for that damaged
right TO shoot, and by 30 doing he was
guilty Of attempted homicide. 1t 10 very
difficult for Americans coming to Cuba to
understand the system and they often get
into trouble.
Another odd thing happens when there
Il a fire. The FIRE department Is, Of oourse,
called out, and the police follow along.
The police arrest the owner Of the estab-
ishment which IL burning and hold him
until he proves entire innocence. II IL
ever there Is a fire the owner o the property
must have started II.
II q person 10 injured In the street no one
is allowed TO touch him until the Judge OF
Instruction gets 70 the spot. Sometimes
an injured person will Tie for hours. perhaps
standing around keeping the crowd back
until the arrival OF the Judge. IL makes
no difefeDoe II the man might be dying
ID u The law, end must be respected.