The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-05
Found Nss!sIs Monthly Avsrags Of MIsap-
preparation Was $4,000.
THE EXAMINATION OF RATHBoNE.
Il tDsvslopsd Tho Fact Thai Orders Inisnisd 10 Pre-
vent Wrong g-Doing Were Pgson-HoIsd b.
ksslsy- Amount Of SissIlnga

Havana, June 5.--"What a thief that
fellow Neeley was" remarked Acting
Director of Posts Bristow after inquir-
ing as To the amount taken in May.
1899. and ascertaining that it was $751;
1925. Neeley's monthly average was
about $1,000 His system OF bookkeep-
ing was simplicity itself. Apparently
he merely divided the amounts re-
ceived, taking one-half for himself and
accounting for the other.
Yesterday the examination OF Estes
q. Rathbone, former director OF posts,
was continued. 1t lasted more than
four hours. The most startling fact
developed was that on May &c of last
year Mr.. Rathbone ordered special
agents Leatherer and Sullivan to ex-
anime the accounts. They found a
shortage, but IL was not thought any
thing had gone wrong. They reported
however, that there was no check upon
the bureau of finance and they recon-
mended that certain blank forms be
made which would answer the purpose,
such as all postmasters use when max
ing their reports TO the department
monthly. MIR. Maynard, then chief
agent, indorsed the recommendation
and forwarded IL TO Mr.. Rathpone. The
latter approved il and sent 1t to Audi
tor Reeves, who initiated and forward
ed II to Neeley. After he had initiated
IL, instead OF putting the scheme into
operation, he quickly pigeonholed II
and IL did not see the light until May
10 Of this year, when the plan was put
into effect.
Mr.. Bristow says he Is almost sure
40 af hn efo xs.f1
TO something between $4,000 and $780,
900. but that this Will not touch the
item OF surcharge stamps, which is
$ill.000. AS TO how many OF these We're
burned and how many sold IL is impos-
sible To obtain definite information. AS
many have been traced. IL Is known
positively that not all were destroyed,
but If Neeley sold. say. .s50.000 or $780,
900 worth. Ii would not be surprising.
Mr.. Bristow thinks, to find them scat
tered all over the world.
The postal inspectors say IL is aston
ishing that a system so rotten could
have been concealed beyond the first
month. Every day only adds To the
surprises. Lieut.. Col. Burton. Mr..
Jones, the special prosecutor. and Mr..
Stevens, left last night for the United
States. Lieut.. Col. Burton expects 10
return here in about 10 days.
Hopes are expressed by some of the
local papers that as Gov. Roosevelt has
signed the extradition order no further
time will be wasted I'm bringing Neeley
90 trial. These journals point out that
"Neeley's conduct has disgraced Amer-
cans in the eyes OF Cubans" and they
declare that "the best way for the
Americans to redeem themselves is to
bring him to a prompt trial"
The Cubano says: cuba lis not pri-
marly interested. but she looks to see
what the United States will do. Fraud
is not the monopoly OF any nation. and
there is great difference between the
frauds of the post office and those COM
mitted under the Spanish regime. Now
thorough investigation is being made
with view OF furnishing the criminals.
In former days the criminals went scot
free. The Americans are proving them
selves more honest than the govern
ment which ruled Cuba for 400 years.