The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12
Result of the Inquiry Said to SUBJ
stantiate the Charges Against
Charles +. w. Nicely.
ANOTHER SET OF PRoBERs
POsTOFFICE INSPECTORS ORDERED
TO PROCEED TO HAVANA.
Statement from NeeIy's Counsel-The
Muncie Man Positive the Sur
charge Stamps Were Destroyed.
eDeciaI to the Indlanapolls journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. May n.-Colonel Burton,
the military inspector who unearthed the
postal frauds in Cuba, reached Washington
this morning and laid the facts in his pos
session before officials of the several de-
partments that are directly interested in
the prosecution of the case. Reticence as
to the exact nature of the evidence secured
Is observed, and the facts are withheld
from the public for the present. The gen.
eral statement is made with great conf
dence. however, that the proof Of Neely's
guilt is incontrovertible and that his con-
viction Is certain. Since Colonel Burton's
arrival .ntimations and yelled charges of
a wholesale conspiracy among postal en-
ployes in Cuba to swindle the government
have stopped, and the positive statement is
made with the emphasis of official author
ity that there Is nothing in sight to war
rant this scandalous charge. On the con-
trary, the facts are directly to the con-
trary, and everything tends TO show that
the thieving was confined to very few.
1t is officially stated that thus far Neely is
the only man against whom criminal
charges can yet be proved. In their anxiety
to cause the downfall of Director Rathbone
the exploiters OF the scandal went beyond
the limit Of decency. attempting to smirch
the name and fame of every American in
the Cuban service. a proceeding that
aroused general anger and forced a change
Of tactics. A marked softening in the tone
of Havana and Washington reports. gen.
sral and special. is consequently observcd.s
Banker spilker has not yet appeared in
Washington. The theory is he went to New
York In person with that $4,000 drawn from
q New York bank by Neely on his (Spil-
ker's) ,telegraphic instructions, fearing to
trust II to the express companies. where it
might be attached and tied up.
A great deal Of persuasion had to be ap-
piled before Deputy Auditor Lawshe would
consent to go to Cuba and investigate the
accounts of the Cuban postal department.
He was finally induced to undertake the
task and will make a thorough examina-
tion. assisted by the best accountants at
the command of the Treasury and Post
office Departments in Washington. He will
proceed to Havana at once.
In this connection an Associated Press
dispatch says: That Postmaster General
Emory Smith is determined to investigate
the alleged misconduct In the affairs of the
Cuban postoffice thoroughly is indicated
by the fact that the most efficient officers
of the inspection service have been de-
tailed to conduct the inquiry. The list in
cludes Capt. William B. Smith, inspector
In charge Of the Washington division of
postofice inspectors; NJ. c. Fosnes. inspec-
tor In charge OF the Philadelphia division,
and C.. NJ. Waters, of the Denver division,
who succeeded Chief Inspector Cochran as
Inspector in charge at that place when Mr..
Cochran was promoted to the chief in
spectorship. They will have as assistants
one or two field inspectors, and will pro-
ceed to Cuba at once. 1t is said that Chief
Inspector Cochran would have been sent to
Cuba were 1t not for the fact that his
services cannot be spared at this time.
The postmaster general said to-day that
All the papers and facts in the case had
been placed in the possession of these in
spectors. and after being instructed to
make complete investigation they will be
allowed to follow their own judgment as
to the methods to be employed. While the
postmaster general made no direct state
mens in regard to the subject. he apparent
ly Is of opinion that reports in regard to
the alleged Cuban postoffice embezzlement
may have been exaggerated.
As Idr as pOsSlDle up 10 this time a state
ment has been prepared showing the
amount OF stamped paper furnished the
director general OF posts of Cuba on requi-
sition through the third assistant postmas-
ter 1Fneral. The first shipment OF stamps
va made Dec. 7. 1S9s. and the last Aug.
20 F1S9e their total value being ss34,520.
Postal cards TO the value of $l3,l03 were
shipped between May IL. 1899. and June 6.
OF the same year. Receipts for some of
these orders were made b. Director Rath-
bone. but others were acknowledged only
by payment TO the treasury. As some of
the requisitions from Cuba went direct to
the contractors for stamped envelopes and
postal cards. it has been impossible to se-
cure an accurate list OF shipments of these
articles A number OF such orders have
been discovered, however. From one
stamped-envelope agency there were
shipped TO Cuba ss5. 900 stamped envelopes.
1t has been found impossible 10 ascertain
the denominations of 10000 OF these
stamps. The others range from to cents.
II is thought at the Postoffice Department
that nothing more can be done here. and
the officials will now await the report of
the inspectors.
NEELY TO BE ExTRADITED.