The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-26
CHECKS UPE. c. RAIHB|)N[
GOVERNMENT TAKES ITS OWN
FROM FORMER DIRECTOR
OF POSTS
BILL FOR PERSONAL ARTICLES
Instructions Were to 'Insist on
RathbOne Turning over an
OvercOat Bought for
Himself" Etc.
Havana Correspondence of the Chicago
Record

Havana Correspondence of the Chicago
Record.
Estes G. Rathbone, former director gen
erai of posts for Cuba, has moved from
the Cerro palace, and with his wife and
young son, has taken quarters at the I3o-
tel Trocha at Vedado.
When Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow published in his report
that Rathbone had purchased and charg-
ed to the government articles of per-
sonal adornment for himself and wife.
which were included in the bill for fur
nlsh.ng the house at Cerrc, Rathboae
simply said that an inventory had been
kept of all the goods purchased; that
they belonged to the government and
would be returned to the government
when ne gave up the house.
The day appointed for the surrender of
the residence was yesterday. Director Of
Posts Fosnes, a clerk and stenographer,
with bound volume of BristoW's report
and all the vouchers for house furnish
ings, went out early to see that none of
the government property was carried
away with Rathbone's effects.
Attached to one of the vouchers was
memorandum: Insist on Rathbone turn
ing over an overcoat bought for himself,
twenty yards Of dress goods, one lot OF
lace and fifty pairs of stockings for Mrs.
Rathbone, and one dog collar"
The furniture. rugs and knickknacks
checked up all right according to vouch-
ers and then the memorandum was
brought into use.
Now, Rathbone, where's that over
coat?" asked Director Fosnes.
"Overcoat? L haven't any overcoat."
said Rathbone, astonished at the thought
that he would burden himself with an
overcoat in Cuba.
But here it is itemized." and Fosnes
drew forth that much talked-of bill and
pointed to the item "Overcoat So
''Oh, that is not an overcoat," said
Rathbone. That's a sham coat that's
thrown over the coachman's seat as a
matter of style. It's in the carriage
now"
Investigation brought to light a sleeve
less, baclless and buttonIess parody on
an overcoat. But the thing was stamped
and sealed as property of the United
States government. Then the matter OF
twenty yards Of dress goods came up.
1t was described as "dimity'' on the bill.
Rathbone was In a Quandary. He had
bought some of these goods from a list
furnished by his wife in bilssful ignor-
ance of the purposes to which they were
to be put. He was compelled to call In
Mrs. Rathbone.
Yes" she said, 81 remember the item
very well. The material Is a sort Of
cheap dress goods. l made petticoats OF
it-for the beds"
Upstairs went Fosnes and his two as
sistants. Sure enough, around the bot
toms Of the beds hung the pctticeats.
The new director checked up the item as
60 X" Mrs. Rath5one was again called
on 20 explain what she had done vita
"a lot OF lace" That itera was cleared
uD by bringing to light a lace lamp mat
Then came the climax. There was q
Whispered conversation between the
three, and Mr.. Rathbone was ASKED IL
he would, without further troubling his
wife by calling her in, request ner to
send in he fifty pairs of stockings shown
Ia the bin.
''stocFings' ] never bought any
stockings" said the former director With
some warmth where's the billy"
Here it is said Fusnes. this item, 80
pr hose
Hose? That's fifty feet of hose
garden lose. You'll find that out In tho
yard
The hose was playing away quietly as
they went out
But the dog collar. There was or drg1
CT 80 cents for one on the bill. That was
still unaccounted for.
'Ts this the collar on the dogs neck
that is mentioned in the biII2" asked the
committee. 'If it is. 1t belongs to the
government"
THAT collar" said Mr. Rathbone. twas
given TO Mrs. Rathhone by Miss Nev1n5.
She bought and paid for it at the same
store at which these other goods Were
bought. She requested that il be sent to
Havana with the other articles, and If It
was charged In the bill 1t was by mis-
take"
Mr.. Rathbnne refused to give up the
collar making a sworn statement that Il
was his property. The government, how
ever, will not take this as sufficient EVIL
dence of ownership. Miss Nevins' state
nient will be secured.