The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17

His Confession Surprise-Reports
Submitted by Rathbone.


Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The confession
OF Postmaster Thompson at Havana came
as a complete surprise to the officials of
the Postofice Department who had gener-
ally been Of opinion that among those who
could not possibly be involved in fraudulent
transactions was Mr.. Thompson. who was
regarded as a man of high integrity. The
postmaster general read the printed state'
ment, but made no comment
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow received his final instructions to-
day and left at 8 o'clock for Tampa, from
where he will sail for Havana. reaching
there early Saturday morning The only
person to accompany Mr. Bristow was his
private secretary. 1t was decided at the
department not to make public at present
tho instruction given Mr.. Bristow.
The three additional inspectors detailed
yesterday for duty at Havana are F. M.
Hamilton. of the New Orleans division, ].
r. Harrison, ST. Louis division, and W. r.
Keys, Chattanooga division.
Representative Hay, of Virginia. to-day
introduced in the House a resolution re-
questing the postmaster general for in
Zone had reported that the accounts of post
al officials in Cuba were found to be cor
rect on April g. The postmaster general
would make no statement in regard to the
subject to-day. It Is a fact, however, that
Director Rathbone did forward a type
written copy OF a report made by Special
Agents Seybold and Neal. stating that the
accounts Of c. F. W. Neely. financial clerk
Of the Postal Department. were correct oil
that date. The documents also show that
on April 10 of this year, the assistant au-
ditor was asked for a statement of the
money order and postal accounts of the
bureau of finance as 1t appeared on the
record OF April 16 This was the date of the
last statement made as to money-order
funds
In reply to this A. c. Reynolds, acting
auditor. on April 21. stated that on April
1s the balance due from the bureau of
finance was: On money order accounts
$11993O; postal accounts. s2i4.055
On April % Director Rathbone transmit.
| ted these figures to the acting chief special
agent with directions to make an examina-
ton of the affairs of the bureau of fianance
| and to verify. this statement.
On April "a, A. c. Reynolds, acting audi.
tor, reported to Mr.. Rathbone that I'm ac-
cordance with the request of the chief spe.
cial agent he had to report the balance te
date as follows: On money order accounts
$1H, H,s97; postal account, s2s5,S4s.
Under date OF April q. George O. Sey-
bold, acting chief special agent, and VII.
liam 7. G. Neal. special agent presented
to Director Rathbone statement OF the
accounts. The money order account was
| said to agree with the amounts stated by
| the auditor. s144.997. In closing this repor,
| the examiner said: 1.-THE manner IN which
the accounts. stamps, supplies and fund.
| are handled reflect credit on the chief OF
the bureau of finance. c. F. w. Neely, ane
his assistants. While the examination O,
| accounts was made on the I'D no bushes.
has been done since Saturday. April 21."
| Attention was invited TO the exhibits ac
companying the report. The first OF these
was the statement of conditions on Apri
Il, which was certified to be correct. "a.
| appears on the records" Next is given ar
| itemized account showing checks. coin. etc
summary of the postal accounts follows
To balance on postal accounts as pe,
auditors statement April p. s244,Oe5: to bo,
rents. funds deposited by postmasters from
March !. 10 April 2l. sl.ss7; total. s25. .4s2
This is balanced by: Stamps and stamped
paper on hand (specified lists inclosed). .seOl.
5Ss; by amount of stamps and stamped pa
per supplied to postmasters (specified lis
| inclosed). $685. ~: by miscellaneous expense:
from April TO date. t227: by receipt No. /
s5sl. dated April 2i. 1900. from treasurer O.
: CONTINUED on ELEVENTH PAGE.5