The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-17
ARRESTS MADE IN HAVANA.
THOMPSON, REEVES AND OTHERS
ARE IN CUSTODY.

Reeves Now Considered EuuaIIy
Guilty with Nee1y-Thompson's Ar
rest Caused Great Surprise-It Fol-
lowed Close Upon Certain Admis-
siOns Made by Him--Arrest of the
Men Relieves Detectives Who Have
Been watching Them.
Havana, May 16.-Warrants were issued
this evening for the arrest of e. p.
Thompson, the Havana postmaster, w.
H. Reeves, deputy auditor of the sand,
and Edward Moya and Jorge Mascara,
Cuban clerks in the stamp department,
and by o'clock all were lodged in the
Vivac, or the Tombs of Havana
This was done under the advice of the
postal inspectors who arrived to-day. 1t
is coz 9ered now that Reeves is equally
guilty with Nicely.
Inve vestigation into the record of the cle rB
in he military dspar .ment who handled
several hundred dol ars' worth of stamps,
proves that the transactions so far as he
is concerned. was legitimate. The stamps
were purchased at the request of his
bro her, who is a stamp collector in the
United States, for $500. They were of the
old issue and were obtained from Neeiy.
The arrest of Mr Thompson caused
great sunrise in the city. 1t is looked
upon as the precursor of many other ar
rests Gen Wood felt, as did the postal
inspectors, that it would be better to have
the suspected persons arrested and to
give thQm an opportunity to obtain bail
tdan to keep them ind afinitely under close
supervision at a time when the detectives
are badly needed for other work.
Thompson Makes Admissions.
Postmaster Thompson Of the Havanah
local office has signed sworn statement in
which he says that Sept 16 last, being in
need of money. he took from The money
order funds S4S5, giving his memorandum
as receipt for the same.
When the inspections were held Mr..
Thompson ordered a clerk in charge of
the money order department to pace re-
mttances received that day which would
not have to be accounted for until the
following day, sufficient to cover the
amount of his receipt, which was then
withdrawn until after the inspection. This
was kept up until April Z, when the spe-
cial agents Unexpectedly discovered the
receipt, which Mr.. Thompson then paid.
He also admits that Charles f. Nicely,
late financial agent of posts, at Havana,
indorsed a bill for $3.50, which Thompson
Trust Company
Thompson admits other irregularities in
connection with his department.
II is asserted by lawyers that on Mr..
Thompson's own statement he is liable to
arrest for embezzlement, according to the
provisions of the postal law, which are
very explicit.
Much sympathy is expressed for him,
however, as it is felt that nothing would
ever have been heard regarding The ac-
tion to which he has confessed had not
the present investigation, growing out of
the general postal frauds, brought the
matter to light. His friends are positive
that the money would have been repaid,
the memorandum receipt taken up and the
incident thus closed.
His Career Must Cease.
As the affair now stands, Mr.. Thomp-
sons career in the postal service must
necessarily cease, even H he escapes a
term of imprisonment. Moreover, his
action in giving orders to postal clerks 10
altar figures regarding stamps a the re-
quest of Carrydon Rich, without notify
ing Mr.. Rathbone makes things look
worse. even if he acted innocently in the
belief that everyth!rs was correct
-Four postal inspectors arrived this
morning, and after conferences with Gen.
Wood and Mr.. Rathbone Immediately be-
gan work. Mr.. Rathbore declares that
there Is not the slightest Jealousy be-
tween the military authorities and the
postal department here, and that Gen.
Wood and himself are working In perfect
harmony with reference TO all steps taken.
The local papers praise Gen. Wood for
the interchangeable manner in which he has
handled the investigations
Early development connected with the
frauds, it is asserted, tends to show the
far reaching influence of Neely and every
man who is placed under arrest, brings to
light additional facts. Each one seems will
Ing 10 tell all he knows regarding Neely,
while endeavoring to eXonerate himself
The only person, however, who will be ac-
cepted by the authorities as a witness
Tor the State is Carrydon Rich, who will
hot be placed in jail, but will be closely
watched, as it is felt that his testimony
Is absolutely Indispensable.
As the cases are for the civil cohrts, it
mas been decided that it would be a mis-
take to confne the arrested persons In a
military prison, either at Cabanas Fort
ress or elsewhere. Consequently, when the
men now under arrest who are temporari-
" detained al their homes are placed in
Jan, they will be sent to Carcel. Probably
thls Will OCCUR tomorrow.