Office of the Historian

Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay.

American Legation,
Habana, October 1, 1904.
No. 1083.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 825, of January 22 last, with respect to the murder of Edward A. Murray, an American citizen, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies and translations of further correspondence regarding the case.a

I desire to invite the Department’s attention to the grossly inadequate punishment of the policeman who, if the Government’s contention that Murray was alive at the time he was placed in the cell is true, was guilty of gross neglect of duty as well as criminal carelessness, which resulted in Murray’s murder. Five days’ arrest in the police barracks for placing a drunken man (Murray) in the same cell with an insane negro, the latter armed. Contrast this punishment with the usual sentence given a drunken American sailor for striking a policeman—one year and eight months.

I do not know what further action there is possible for the legation to take in the matter, and shall drop the case unless otherwise instructed.

I have, etc.,

H. G. Squiers.
  1. Not printed.↩