SHOOTING IN HAVANA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29368, 22 November 1960, Page 17

SHOOTING IN HAVANA

American Wounded

By Cuban

HAVANA, November 20.

A Cuban Army captain in civilian clothes shot and seriously wounded a younj American Embassy clerk last night after a night club argument about the authenticity of an American fi* edollar bill.

Cuban police said today the clerk, Wayne Henderson, aged 22, had refused to pay his cheque in Cuban pesos and called them “Communist money.” Henderson, who works in the Embassy’s communications section, was reported to be in a serious condition, but out of danger after undergoing an emergency operation in hospital. Cuba’s Acting Foreign Minister (Mr Carlos Alivares) called at the hospital to inquire about Henderson’s condition. Havana police identified Henderson’s assailant as Captain Jorge Robreno and said he was being held in La Cabins military prison. They said the shooting was accidental. United States officials sought additional information on the incident at the police station whore RobrenoWas held, but were told ‘‘lt’s a matter for the Foreign Office.” The incident reflected the hightension atmosphere in Cuba, the American Associated Press said. Thousands of civilians and military personnel carried small arms after Government warnings that an invasion was coming to topple the Government of Dr Fidel Castro. Dr. Castro had cautioned his volatile people against using the weapons to settle their personal quarrels.

Cuba also was short of dollars, which were rarely seen on the open market. Government currency regulations required all businesses to exchange their dollars for pesos at the National Bank. Dollars had found their way on to the black market, where they brought up to four pesos each, against an official rate of one-to-one.