The date of 1905 for the Soye incident was attested to by three witnesses who knew Lionel Belasco in 1906.
Gerald Clark, who knew Belasco in Trinidad in 1904. Abundantly recorded from 1914, came to U.S., attended Howard University, played Carnegie Hall. Said he heard the song L'Annee Passee in 1906 from Belasco.
Dr. Walter Merick, licensed physician in New York, director of Physical Medicine, Harlem Hospital, composer (Mango Man. opera Black Empire) and lecturer on calypso. Learned L'Annee Passee from Blasco in 1906 in Trinidad as a child who imitated Belasco's style.
James Francis Minerve, born in Trinidad, knew Belasco in 1906, later in U. S. chief technician of Dept. Physiotherapy, Dept. Hospitals, City of New York.

This establishes Belasco's claim to have composed L'Annee Passee beyond reasonable question.

The next point is Philip Garcia's claim to have heard the melody in 1893, and made by deposition, which was received by the Court.
No witnesses or supporting information have ever been found.