Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-23
POSTALFRAUDSGROW
ARE SAID TO EXTEND THROUGH.
OUT ALL CUBA.
American officers Amazed at the Rami-
> fications of the Alleged Eobbery-rhe
Havana Postmaster and Several Sub
ordiuates Placed Under Arrest.

Further investigation into the defaca-
ton in the department Of posts in Cuba
has brought to light a shortage IN the
Havana postofIice, aud Postmaster
THOMPSON has been placed under arrest.
Deputy Auditor OF the Island W. u
Reeves and two of the Cuban stamp
clerks have also been arrested, aud more
arrests are likely TO follow. The frauds
are more extensive tlan was at first sup
posed Ii is stated tsat there IS a short
age of SS,0o0 in he Havana office. Some
of the men are believed TO have been mn
plicated with the ring in handling the
stolen stamps.
The ring supposed to have been headed
by Nicely probably made its thetts
through the stamp channel. They repre-
scented stamps destroyed at 100000 more
than actual value, and then seereted that
amount in new stamps, which were de-
posted in the place of money every month
when the returns came from the island.
Balances were thus kept correct, stamps
taking the place of money in the vaults
When the auditors examined the sales or
stamps from Matanzas and other stations
the amount was found much larger than
The military authorities are now get
ting returns from all stations OF stamps
sold to compare with Neely's books. In
this way the approximate amount of the
alleged dcfalcatien win be found. Nicely
could have put up strong defense tnat
his balances are right and that IL was
simply mistake in crediting sales II his
confederates had not confessed and turn
ed over 500 in stamps. 1t appears
that the frauds ramified in almost every
possible direction. Even the rented boxes
have been made a source of illegitimate
gain. Every additional revelation in
creases the amazemert of the American
In Havana.
Mr., Thompson. in telling of his offease.
signed sworn statement in which he
says that Sept. 10 last, being in need of
money, he took from the money order
funds S435, giving his memorandum as a
receipt for the same. When the inspec-
tions wert held Mr. Thompson ordered a
clerk in charge of the money order de-
partment TO place remittanees received
that day, which would not have to be ac-
counted for until the following day, suffi-
cient to cover the amount of his receipt
which was Herewith Withdrawn until af'
ter the inspection. This was kept up I'M
til April Z, when the special agents unex-
pectedly discovered the receipt, which Mr..
| Thompson then paid.
| 1t is asserted by lawyers that on Mr.
ThompSon's own statement he is Liable to
conviction for ENLIGHTENMENT, according "a
the provisions of the postal law. which
| are very explicit
Postmaster General Smith to a Wash,
ington correspondent said that the dis
patches from Havana and other puhlica
rs concerning the defalcations in the
J III service there are very much exag
geeated That a considerable amount Of
money las been stolen is. he says, unfor
| tunately true and a thorough inyestiga
ton is in progress, but the disclosures III
to date do not Justify the sensational re
| ports that are in circulation. Ii is as
serted that the prosecution Of the offend
ers viii be carried on with all possible
energy.