The civil governor sent for me last evening (8 p.m.) and informed me that
the case of Mr. Cespedes had been transferred from military to civil
jurisdiction, and that I could visit the prisoner at date given above.
His apologies for delay in this case were profuse.
I find Mr. Cespedes to be an intelligent young man, barely 21 years of
age. He is badly broken down in health, and his memory somewhat
affected. If his statement can be corroborated by his friends in Key
West and elsewhere I feel sure my influence with the governor of this
province can procure him an early trial and release; in fact, I hope to
secure his release without trial.
Any instructions or information relative to this case would be greatly
appreciated.
[Inclosure in No. 67.]
Deposition of Oscar Cespedes, taken at the jail
at Matanzas, October 3, 1896.
I am a native of Key West, Fla., of 20 years of age. Came to Cuba on
the 3rd of July, 1896, on board the tug Commodore, as a reporter to the Key West Herald.
I was captured on September 2, 1896, at “Hato de Jicarita,” near
Zapata, by the Spanish column of Colonel Molina.
At the time I was captured I was lying by the roadside under the
shelter of trees and sick with fever and without arms of any nature
whatever.
I was then placed on a horse and started under march and ill-treated
all the way to Guira de Macuryes, the leader of my horse striking me
with the barrel of his rifle, the blows meant for the horse. I was
kept at Guira de Macuryes two days and finally brought to Matanzas
and confined at San Severino Castle, and on account of my sickness I
was sent to the infirmary at the city jail, where I have remained to
date.
I am a native-born American citizen, and do hereby declare under oath
that I came to Cuba, as before stated, as a reporter, and that I
have been in nowise connected with the insurrection now going on in
Cuba, and ask that my early release be procured by the Government of
the United States.
I further state that I have been sick with fever during the last
three months, on account of which my health is very much broken
down, and at times become hopeless of life.
I have been fairly treated at the jail infirmary.
Oscar de Cespedes.
Before me witness my hand and official seal at Matanzas the day and
year first above written.
| [seal.] |
A. C. Brice,
United States Consul.
|
Consulate of the United
States,
Matanzas, Cuba.
I, the undersigned consul of the United States at Matanzas, Cuba, do
hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original
deposition of Oscar de Cespedes on file at this office, the same
having been duly compared with the said original and found to agree
therewith word for word and figure for figure.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and the seal of this consulate at
Matanzas
this 3d day of
October, 1896.
[
seal.]
A. C.
Brice,
United States
Consul.
References given by Mr. Oscar de Cespedes: Mr. Hiram Seymour,
Revenue-Cutter Service, Key West; Mr. B. P. Baker, furniture
dealer, Key West; Mr. Andelo Figueredo, at Mr. Gato’s cigar
manufactory, Key West; Mr. Fernando Figueredo, mayor of West
Tampa, Fla.; Mr. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (father of Oscar),
formerly mayor of Key West (about eighteen years ago).
