The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-18
CONSPIRACY.
Charge IgainSt Reeves and
Thompson.
Attempt to Cover
Tracks of Nicely.
Thompson Denies Knowingly Doing
Criminal iet.
bis Bail Reduced From
$4,000 to ST., 900.
Reeves at Home Under Charge
of Special Agents.
Reeves at Home Under Charge
of Special Agents.

Havana, May 1.-THE principal charge
aysinst the Havana postmaster. L. +.
Thompson who. with W.H. Reeves, depu-
~ auditor OF the island, and Edward
Moya and Judge Mssoaro. CupaD clerks
In the stamp department., was arrested
yesterday, viii be entering into con-
spiracy with Carrydon Rich. the clerk
who has confessed 10 . knowledge Of
many Of the tsansactions, and who will
give evidences for the government where
By the tracks Of q. y. W. Nssly. the ar
rested tinannisl agent OF posts, might be
covered. The prosecution says Thomp.
son deliberately onanged vouchers and
ordered and directed that changes be
made In the books and accounts with
the manifest intention OF shielding
Nicely II possibie.
Moya and Mascara admit selling ever
$500 worth Of an old issue Of stamps
whioh were not called for In ths requisi-
tion.
Thompson says that though he ordered
the alteration Of certain figures at the
request Of Rioh, he did SO without
know owledgs that they were OF . criminal
treated with more consideration, either
dismissed or requested to resign.
Thompson's bail was liked ct $40, 600.
This was ultimately reduced from $i0,-
OCO to 81. zoo. which was deposited In cash
by the Danish oonsuI, Herr Cuimsll. q
wealthy merchant. The bail Of Moya
and Mascara, has bean reduosd to u, 500.
which is not Jet forthcoming.
Reeves will be allowed to remain ct his
own home In charge Of spsoiAl agents.
During the investiy tiyAtions now In pros
gress he will be called upon daily..to give
evidence; and IL is also felt that ball re-
quired Of him would necessarily be heavy
and would probably not be forth coming.
1t Is reported here that Nicely has admit
ted that his bail deposit was his own
money, and q request will be made for
the seizure OF that amount, as belonging
to the postal department. should II prove
that the funds came cut Of his own
pocket. 1t IL also felt that, In the cir
oumstances, his bail 10 excessively Light.
Although he was first charged with
peculation to the amount Of $S0, 900. 1t Is
now believed that he obtained the larger
part of the 100000 which 10 said to COW
or the defalcation. The special agent
who is making inquiries at Baraooa re-
ports that the postmnster there has
been acting a. business representative Of
Nesly aud has received from him during
the last few months 81, 900 for cocoa.
nut grove and ooffes plantation. No sut-
pioion rests upoon the Baracoa postmas-
ter. Much sympathy IL felt here for
Thompson among both Americans and
Cubans. The general beli,f Is that, al
though, owing to the laxity OF the de-
partmant, he may have used temporarily
funds belonging to the oftics which were
after wards repaid, he nevertheless act-
ct innocently 30 far ~ altering the rec
ords at ths request Of Rioh " ~ con-
osrned.
Messrs. Smith and Tosner, the inspsc-
tors who arrived yesterday, have been
examining Mr. RAthbone. This after
neon they were In conference with Gen.
Wood for more than an hour and then
went to Reeves. They decline to fur
nish any Information whatever a. to the
result OF their inquiry.
NEW PHASE OF TIE STEAL.
Muncie, Ind, May ia government
detective who has been here working on
the Auncie end of the Cuban post office.
sm bez element case, states that the real
stsal has been the sale Of counterfeit
stamps which, 1t 10 alleged have bsen
printed In tina office Of . printing COM