The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-03
RATHBONE UNDER ARREST.
. FORMER DIRECTOR OF POSTS IN
CUBA IL now IN THE TOLLS.
He VIII Have 10 BE Tried rnder the
Old spanish Law, and II Convict
ed VIII Have TO serve Thirty
Six Years In the Island Prison.

Special psspatch 10 the t-fntelligencer.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2 Maj. y. q.
Rathhone. former director OF pcsts In
Cuba who has been under surveillance
at Havana since the disclosures of the
Cuban postal frauds, is now under ar
rest. This IL tho Immediate result Of the
report filed with the postofiice department
by J. L. Bristow, fourth assistant post
master general, who was sent to Havana
to investigate the postal frauds. Mr..
Bristows report. by inference at least,
suggested that criminal charges Will -
brought against the lato director general
of posts Secretary OF War Root acted
upon Mr.. Bristow's report immediately.
and thus foreshadowcd the policy OF the
Administration. which win be TO bring
speedy Justice 10 all OF the offending
government officials in the island Of Cuba.
The war department 10 supreme in Cuba.
and therefore Postmaster General Smith
forwarded the Bristow report to 0ecrc-
tary OF wnr Root pointing out. at tho
same time. the specific charges OF mall
feasance, IL not crime, laid at Rathbouen
door. II IL believed Mr.. Smith personally
prefers prosecuting Mai Rathbone on 8
criminal charge. The postmaster general
will not commit himself to this statement
publicly, however, saying the whole mat
ter is now In the hands Of the war de-
pa ,,,n and the department. OF justice
10 Cuba. ana IL Seems therefore, the Of
tenders will be tried under insutar stat
utes. operative before the evacuation Of
the spAniards. should that he the case,
conviction might mean a serious thing
for Maj. Rathbone There IL . Cuban
statute which provides that any public
Of attention, has permitted hts subor-
dinates to inappropriate public funds.
shall be personally liable for the amount
q the misrepresentation. But this statute .s,.s
official may be prosecuted crtminally. and
fined tho fun amount of the shortage OF
his subordinates. Being unable to pay,
tho statute says he may be imprisoned
one day for each nfteen pesetos until the
whole amount Of the shortage has been
met by the terms OF this imprisonment.
II hs Is sSss e sssSs .s ssn cent.
able TO pay the Nicely shortage OF al
least sisGoco. Maj. Rathbone could hs
sentenced TO one days Imprisonment for
that the whole shortage OF the postal
revenues under the Rathhone administra-
ton amounts TO only $4,000. the major
thirty-sIx years. six months and thirteen
days. When he got through serving that
sentence. the island ofsicials could pro-
e the an IS. ss ion
dicated In the Bristow report.
There 10 no truth in the charge that
MAI Rathbone will be protected by high
the administration to proceed against
RAthbcne upon exactly the same terms ~
will Apply In the case OF tho other Cuban
ofhctAIa who are charged with heln9 impii-
Gated in the Cuban postal scandais< ~
found guilty. Maj RAshbone Will be pun
ishsd; II u fnir TO say that the majors
friends In Washington, In spite OF thu
specific Allegations contained In the Brts-
tow report, continue 10 believe he will ~
abba TO show that no had no Euilty con.
nection with tho mtsappropriation Of Gu
han funds They admit. Of course. that
he has been extravagant and possibly nee-
llRent, but they insist there has bean
nothing criminal In hts conduct.