The Spaniards seem to have a very spiteful feeling against Cubans who have become American citizens.
They vow vengeance against such men, and are ever on the watch to find an excuse for arresting or punishing them.
Dr. Ruiz, though he seems to have attended to his own business, and obeyed the law in every way, interfering with no one, has been an object of suspicion to Fondeviella for some time past, and when, on January 16th, a train was thrown off the rails by insurgents, a few miles from Guanabacoa, Dr. Ruiz was accused of having taken part in the outrage.
He was arrested and thrown into jail.
When the reason for his arrest was known, some well-known citizens of Guanabacoa came forward, and said that they knew Dr. Ruiz was innocent. It seems that on that very night there was a birthday party at the house of Dr. Ruiz's father-in-law.
The doctor was present, but, feeling tired, he left the party at ten o'clock and went to his own house. Two of his friends went with him, and sat chatting with him until after twelve o'clock.
The train was thrown off the rails at ten-thirty, so that it was quite impossible that Dr. Ruiz could have had any hand in the work.
The authorities refused to listen to these statements made by Dr. Ruiz's friends, and kept him shut up in a dark and filthy cell for fourteen days. At the end of this time word came to Consul-General Lee that Dr. Ruiz had died in prison.
As he was a very strong and healthy man, the American Consul at once suspected that he had not died a natural death.
On investigation it was found that the poor fellow had died from the effects of a blow on the head.