The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-20
CUBAN POSTAL FRAUDS.
Some Details From the Complete Re
port of Mr.. Bristov.

The report of J. L. Bristow, Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General. on the Cuban
postal frauds has been printed at last.
making 2g3 pages of very interesting read
ing, large part of which was, however.
given to the newspapers on the 26th of
last July. Only few copies of the re-
port have thus far been issued. and they
are intended for the Postmaster General
and the special investigating committee
of the Senate. In the complete report
there are some interesting facts in addi-
ton to those printed in July last.
A bit of cireumstantial evidence point
ing to the guilt of Director General Rath-
bone is found IN a section of the report
which refers to the sudden manner in
which he was enabled TO pay an old debt
of 81, 600 which had been running for six
years, with interest due for more than
a year. On September Il. 1899. he paid
1890 10: on October 6. 1899, he paid sSs4.64;
on October 20, 1899, he paid S1,32O.41;
making total of sS.2O5.15 paid within
FIVE weeks-the only payments that had
been made for more than six years. The
report adds: 1T will be remembered that
these payments were made within thirty
days of the date of the alleged destruction
of the $4,000 worth of surcharged
stamps"
Another example OF getting money fast
Is found in the record of deposits made
by Nicely in the Union National Bank Of
Muncie, Ind. Nelly prospered right from
the start. He was appointed to position
paying $500 year, reported in Havana
early in January. and was assigned TO duty
on the 7th of the month. On February 8
he sent a deposit home from Cuba Of
s329.75. and in that month and the follow
ing one his additi ,nal deposits aggregated
S1,530. So it appears that with a salary Of
$50 a month he was able within three
months to deposit Si,S59.75, which, says
Inspector Bristow. ito my mind is con-
elusive proof that his embezzlements be-
gan early in February, 1889"
Another indication that Mr.. Ra.hbone
was a party to Nccly's frauds is found in
the fact that when Governor General Wool
ordered the first Investigation by Special
Agents George L. Seybolt and W. L. Neal,
Rathbone telegraphed to Nicely. who was
in Florida, to return at once. Before the
inspectors began operations Nicely was
given an opportunity to straighten out all
accounts. This he did. and the -eport says
that the Seybolt and Neal inspection was
farce.
But the most damn ging testimony
against Rathbone was furnished by Cory
don Rich. Neely's private secretary. also
from Muncie. Ind. Rich had several pri-
vate talks with Rathbone in which he told
him of certain discrepancies in the money
order account, and one item in particular
of $4,000. which Nicely had confided to
him was the amount or shortage in that
account. Rathbone declined to give any
serious attention to the matter. In the
words of Rich, as given in this report.
"He said that Neelys vault checked up
according to the auditors balance; that
everything was all right; that l was just
panicky, and not to let the people in my
bureau get panicky."
When Rich asked Rathbone if he knew
how many of the surcharged stamps were
reserved for burning he replied that
he would answer as he had answered Colo
mel Burton-for his purpose he did not
know. and did not give d--n.''
Mention has already been made of bill
for 81, 1853 for one lot of goods bought of
John Wanamaker. in New York, for the
purpose, 1t is claimed of furnishing the
public quarters in Havana of the Direc-
tor General of Posts. The items of this
bill are set forth in full as one of the
exhibits ard include among other things
one powderbox, one set larding needles,
three cushions two pastry Eheels, one
tea ball. one oyercoat. five pair blankets,
one nut-cracker, seven dozen clarets,
wines, liquors. and goblets, one .rsy cloth.
one embroidered square, and three melon
molds.
The report shows that Rathbone trav-
eled on his own business in this country
at the expense of the Cuban postal reye-
nues. Coming to Washington he vent to
Cleveland, Cincinnati. and New York, and
back and forth between these places,
all travel and hotei bills Off
cial expenses. Many items are SAINT wich
ed in under the head of incidentals. with