Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-31
CUBAN JUSTICE.
Queer Criminal Laws That Surprise
Americans.

Americans.
| The Cuban idea Of justice is a Pc
culiar thing, writes correspondent Of
the New York Sun, although 1t 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 ver-
diets 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 stealing the mule and
eight years for making the false reg
Iistration, a total of fourteen years in
prison.
On the same day the court sentenced
man for killing his mistress. 1t was
peculiarly brutal crime. The man
and woman had separated. They met
after a couple Of months on the street
and the man begged the woman to re-
turn to him. She refused. He be-
came violent and she ran, turning into
the first open doorway. There he over
took her. stabbed her repeatedly, sew
eral times after life must have passed
away, and was then arrested. He got
two years in the penitentiary.
And according to the statutes the
Judge did nothing illegal. The man
was proved to be "obscado," or beside
himself, and the crime was "passional."
But had the woman killed the man
she would probably have been sent up
for life or possibly sent to the gar
rote.
The policeman of Havana is an au-
tocrat. He can do just as he pleases
and any resistance whatever Of his
authority is a serious matter. There
is a standing sentence for striking or
even pushing a cop around. 1t Is now
one year. four months and seven days.
1t used to be two years eight months
and fourteen days. 1t was so fixed on
the books Of law and was unalterable
The policeman makes an arrest. II ne
is resisted by his prisoners he can file
charges to that effect and the prisoner
must prove his innocence. The theory
that one is guilty until proved inno-
cent runs through the whole thing.
An American here awoke one night
to find burglar in his room. He got
up to chase him out. A fight ensued,
in which the American shot the burg
lar in the leg. The police came and
the American was arrested for shoot
ing the thief This American has In
fuence, but 1t took all he could muster
to keep out Of Jail, and the case was
not finally settled until he had paid the
burglar $4,000 for that damaged leg.
Under the law the American had no
right to shoot and by so doing he was
guilty of attempted homicide. 1t Is
very difficult for Americans coming TO
Cuba to understand the system and
they often get into trouble.
Another odd thing happens when
there is a fire. The fire department Is,
Of course, called out, and the police
follow along. The police arrest the
owner Of the establishment which Is
burning and hold him until he proves
entire innocence. 1t is said that this
Is on the theory that whenever there
is a fire the owner of the property must
have started it.
If a person is injured in the street
no one is allowed to touch him until
the Judge of instruction gets to the
spot. Sometimes an injured person
will lie for hours, perhaps in the hot
sun, with two or three policemen stand
ing around keeping the crowd back un-
til the arrival Of the Judge. 1t makes
no difference If the man might be dy-
ing-it is the law, and must be res
pected.