New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-29

Saws United States C0nSplred
Against Nicaragua.
CALLS Mr.. KNOX Rash
Deposed Ruler Shows He Held
Up Groce's Last Letters to
Mother and Wife.

uouis Coussen a brotner-In-law of ex-
President J. santos Zeiaya or Nicaragua
whose precipitate retirement from ONCE
and denarture from the country followed
the summary execution by his orders of the
two Americans, Groce and Cannon, mas
arrived IN this city from Spain and is stay
ing at the Hotel Lafayette. Senior Cousseh
is on his way back to Nicaragua, and one
important mission that he has 10 perform
for General Zelaya is the distribution or
the Iatter's book. 1.-The Revolution of Mic
aragua and the United States" which mas
just been published In Madrid.
The book is intended by its author as a
defence of his conduct as President Of
Nicaragua. General Zelaya attacks the
United States and Secretary Knox and de-
tends the execution of Groce and Cannon
He also presents a mass Of letters and
cable dispatches received by him while
President from representatives Of Near
aqua abroad One of these dispatches.
from General Altschul. Nicaraguan Consul
at New Orleans. told General Zelaya that
the United States and Guatemala were con-
spring against Nicaragua.
Perhaps the most interesting exhibit In
General Zelayas collection of correspond
ence which he took with him when he fed
from his country on n Mexican gunboat is
a facsimile of a letter written by Groce to
his mother in the United States just before
he was executed. The possession by Ze-
Aya OF this pathetic communication shows
that it was conhscated by the Nicaraguan
officials and that the mother never received
it. II is here published for the first time:
Ell Castillo Fortress.
San Juan River. Me. {. A.
November 10. 1909.
NY Darling Mamma:
This will be a terrible blow to you-the
last words you will ever receive from your
am too nervous and only have a few min
utes to live. I joined the revolution in
Bluefelds and was captured and sem enced
TO be shot to death. / Will be execured. to-
gether with another young man from Nir-
ginia. Leroy Cannon. II Will take place
this a. m. at 10 o'clock. Now. mother dear.
war and disobedience to loving mother.
It's hard to be shot like this, but ! will die
like man. Tell all goOdby. It's impos-
slide for me to write more. Love and
kisses the last farewell on earth to you,
dear mother. all the boys and dear little
sister. Goodby until we all meet again in
Heaven Your loving son. LEONARD.
Tell Sandy the general in command here
is named Rafael Medina and is brother
Mason. LEN.
There appear two other Photographic
letters in the book. one by Groce to his
Nicaraguan wife. the other from Cannon
to Juan Jacoby. OF Massage Zelaya prints /
these letters without any comment, prob
ably resting his defence of the charge Of
un,awfullv putting the two men To death
on the admission that they were in the in
surrection He tries to Justify his act. al
though both the constitution Of Nicaragua
and the military code disprove his conten
ton. Zelays says on this point:
The death of the fihusters Cannon and
Greco. which the American has directly
imputed to me- is the result of judgment
by tribunal properly constituted. not one
legal fcrmality being omitted. The method
by which Cannon and Groce expiated their
offence is urOV tied in our military code. !
Tie penalty is death.
The note delivered by Secretary Knox TO
Nicaragua's representative at Washington
severing diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya government and holding Zelaya re-
sponsible for the constant turbulence and
Gisquiet in Central America is resented by
him. In great contrast" he says, lis this
document of the Minister of state. intern
perate. incorrect and vulgar and false in
its foundation. with the telegram sent to
me by ex-President Roosevelt when the re-
publics of Central America were in war
against me- at the instigation Of Estrada
Cabrera. President of Guatemala" He then
quotes the message from Mr.. Roosevelt.
whom he calls this grand statesman,
which congratulated Zelaya on his approval
Of President RooSevelt's suggestion for
peace. He also prints this dispatch. which
he sent TO his diplomatic representative at
Washington following the note of Secretary
Knox:
Inform Secretary Knox ! believe his
sources of information are prejudiced. I
request that United States send a disinter-
ested commission to investigate. and if ind
ings show that my administration is detri-
mental to Central America I will resign"
II appears that the best advice Zelaya
received was from Pho Bo!anos. consul OF
Nicaragua. He told Zelaya to step down
and place the presidency in the hands of
some person of responsibility and re-
spectability. who would inspire the. conf
dence OF the United States and the Central I
American countries and end the insurrec-
tioa
Bolahos is now in disfavor with President
Madriz When the latter took charge he I
tried to dismiss Bolanos. but could not be-
cause the latter held an cxequatur from
Washington. which Madriz could not with |
draw. as the United States had refused to
recognize his gOyarDr,ppt