New-York tribune., 1900-12-27
THE CUBAN POSTAL FRAUDS
-prAL OF THOSE IMPLICATED AS SOON
as NEELY Is RETURNED-THE CASE
AGAINST GENERAL RATHBoNE.

E,vana. Dec Is CspeciaD.-It is certain that the
-.-,nent viii insist upon a trial OF those
So.s ,rsrh the Postonace frauds as soon as Neelv
: s-ought back The first called viii be the
-, ,rsinst General Rathbone. who viii be charged
-, esreiessness in public Office and with col
,m.s,- in the frauds which are charged against
80 The Government attorneys say positively
=. !, she case goes TO trial Rathbone viii be con-
s-..s beyond q doubt unless some tampering has
- sone with the court. There IS great bulk OF
e-,r,onv the most of 81 being furnished by DR..
,...-.s who was auditor for the Department OF
- ara who when charged with fraud made
..,srent Of the entire case in the'form Of con-
-~ere ere ls2 pages Of closely typewriter manu-
-. which bears the signature of DR.. Reeves.
= a. mon the testimony be furnished from this
roe that the prosecution bases its belief OF GER
- conviction. While the nature Of the state
-. made by Reeves IN reference to Rathbone has
- been given 10 the public, and the confession
ss heen locked up at the office OF the Department
- Posrs enough is known TO warrant the state
.,+ that Reeves accuses Rsthbone OF being
. rhose connected directly with the Postocice
s-,,ss and that HIS statements have in some in
,.,,ces been supported by documents which the
s--,er auditor retained IN his possession
uo-stio Rubens. who was appointed TO assist in
.ss prosecution after Ernest Lee Conant and AL
- Wright had been dismissed. has been at work
a. three weeks preparing the testimony. and has
,se TIE statement that everything possible will be
convict halnDOne WneQ MS case comes up
T. ,he mean time General Rathbone is preparing
-. ssee1ce and his attorr eys express the greatest
,,ns5enee IN the outcome He contends that Rath-
s,re has been prosecuted by number Of officials
= The United States who have been seeking 20
-,sse e reputation for themselves. and there IS
sonht that 70 9 certain extent this statement is
r-,e When the trial takes place evidence will be
subr,ftres by thbones attorneys TO show that
~ action Of Special Accountant Lawshe in the
ss-bbone case indicates persecution, and that in
~
sDondence which was referred TO Rathbone in cases
where disallowances were made will be used as
svi5ence Some OF this correspondence includes
srstenents and vouchers which required days TO
rolleet and which prepared for the purpose OF
showing authority for the disaowance Of 10 and Z
cents and in many instances small amounts
one rent As rule these in connection with
TENS referring TO the payment Of officials sala-
res etc.
general Rathbone will endeavor 70 prove that the
dissuowances made by Lawshe not only unjust.
bur rhs- they were made with view OF making
reputation for the auditor. and also for the pur-
pose OF persecution
The Spanish law is such as TO justify the judges
vho sit in criminal civil cases acting upon pre-
sumption 70 q certain extent and General Rathbone
and hs attorneys viii take every advantage Of this
feature Of The law. They will present testimony to
show The connection Of the defsulting employees of
The Department OF Posts with those who are high
IL authority II Washington They will prove that
Rathbone was Practically compelled in 2 political
sense 10 appoint Nsely by Perry s. Heath, and that
A I LaWshe who made such sweeping report
o5portuzity for doing SO withoat giving the bsnedt
Of 1he DOUBT 70 Rathbone, was the man who rec
onnenoeo Dr; Reeves 70 General RaLnbone IN a
letter. Il which mention was made Of Perry Heath
vas known by him be a competent, hard work
ing and faithful man an this evidence will De
that Rathbone had right 10 have confidence in
those who, ne asserts. betrayed him. and that that
very Hen who are now interested in the prosecu-
uon o. The case Rathbone VIII also be able 10
made the statement I'VE must Convict Rafhbone.
but al the same tine We must spare Perry Heath
Al this testimony viii be Of value TO the defence
Il the case where he is charged with carelessness
Z once Il ne can prove that The RECOMMENDATION
% Cuba vas such as 70 inspire conhoenee It VIII
Ths-e is another phase Of the case which is diff
fcult 70 understandable dismissal Of the two at
Ffth he statement that their services had been
able and fsithful. and the substitution Of Horatio
Rgbens. man who has figured prominently IN
politics in Cuba and who is the confidential friend
n Cuba Dt Secretary Root The fact that Rubens
Is known as poluclan mere ana tnat the change
q attorneys was made only few days after the
created the belief that politics is behind the ap-
pointment Of Rubens. and that II means that Rath-
strued by the friends OF Rathbone and by some Of
5he officials who have been connected with the
n any assignment of cause for making the change
and the fact that Mr. Conant has always been
Both conant and Wright who now have no con-
necron with the case, assert that Rathbone VIII
be convicted II he receives fair trial They have
always said that the evidence which has been pre-
pared and which represents several months labor
On The part OF several officials who were specially
detailed ior The case Is strong rs,,s- make the
statement that the has been carried too far,
result in the acuuittal of their client They argue
car be 50 positively proved that he has not been
tsirly treated by the Government making the COM
PLANT.
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