Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-05-18
CUBAN POSTAL FRAUDS.
THOMPSOE CON.
FEsSEs TO
I'm ConnecGion with His Department.
Admits T"kinS Money from the
Money Order Funds to Meet HIS
Needs His Career in the Postal

J
! Thompson, OF Havana, local officer.
has signed a sworn statement. In which
| he says that September 10th last, being
/ in need Of money. he took from the
money order funds $435. giving his
| memorandum as a receipt for the same
| When the inspections were held Mr.
| Thompson ordered a clerk in charge Of
the money order department to place
| remittances received that day which
would not have to be accounted for
| until the next day sufficient to cover
| the amount of his receipt, which was
| then Withdrawn until after the inspec-
ton. This was kept up until April 7th,
when the special agents Unexpectedly
| discovered the receipt which Mr.
| Thompson then paid. He also admits
that Charles F. Neely. late financial
| agent of posts at Havana, indorsed a
bill for $3.50, which Thompson had dis
| counted by the North American Trust
Company. Thompson admits other ir-
| regularities In connection with his de-
| partment.
It is asserted by lawyers that on Mr.
| ThompsOn's own statement he Is liable
| to arrest for embeZzlement, according
| to the provisions Of the postal law.
| which are very explicit. Much sympa-
| thy is expressed for him, however, as
| 1t is felt that nothing would ever have
been heard regarding the action of
| which he has confessed had not the
| present investigation, growing out OF
| the general postal frauds, brought the
| matter to light. His friends are posi-
| tive that the money would have been
| repaid. the memorandum receipt taken
up and the incident thus closed.
| AS the affair stands now, Mr.. Thomp-
| sons career in the postal service must
necessarily cease, even If h escapes a
| term Of imprisonment Moreover, his
| action in giving orders to postal clerks
| to alter figures regarding stamps at the
| request Of Carridon Rich, without noti-
| flying MI. Rathbone, makes things look
| worse, even If he acted I'M Gently in
| the belief that everything was cor
! rect. .
| -Four postal inspectors arrived this
morning. and after conferences with
| General Wood and Mr.. Rathbone, i'm
| me1;atcly began work.
| Ia. Kathbone declares that there IS
| not the slightest jealousy between the
| military authorities and the postal de-
I
| and himself are working in perfect
| harmony with reference to all steps
| taken.
| The local papers praise General
| Wood for the indefatigable manner in
which he has handled the investigation
| Early developments connected with the
| frauds, it is asserted, tends to show the
| far-reaching influence of NeeIy, and
every man who is placed under arrest
| h,~iYo 70 fCyht or onfC anh
one seems willing to tell all he knows
| regarding Neely, while endeavoring to
| exonerate himself. The only person.
| however. who will be accepted by the
| authorities as a witness for the State
| is Carridon Rich, who will not be
| placed in jail, but will be closely
watched, as it is felt that his testi-
| mony is absolutely indispensable.
| AS the cases are for the civil courts
| 1t has been decided that it would be a
mistake to confne the arrested persons
| in military r isOn, either at Cabanas
| fortress or elsewhere. Consequently,
| when the men now under arrest, who
are Temporarily detained at their
| homes, are placed in Jail, they w i be
| sent to the Carcel Probably this will
| occur tomorrow.
| New York, May 16.-Edward Jones,
Of this city, has been appointed special
assistant United States AttOrney-Gen-
| eral in the matter Of the proceedings
| against Charles w. Neely and other
officials and employees of the United
| States Government in Cuba.
In speaking of the Neely case to-day
| United States District Attorney Bur-
nett said that the hearing set for to-
morrow before Commissioner Shields
would most likely be adjourned for a
| week, and the eXtraditiOn hearing in
Albany postponed for a day or two.
Warrants were issued this evening
for the arrest Of f. p. Thompson, the
Habana postmaster; w. H. Reeves,
deputy auditor of the island, and Ed
ward Nora and Jorge Mascara, Cuban
clerks in the stamp department, and
by o'clock all were lodged in the
Vivic, the tombs of Havana. This was
done under the advice of the postal in
! spectors who arrived to-day. 1t Is con-
sidered now that Reeves Is equally
guilty with Neely.
| Investigation into the record Of the
clerk in the military department who
handled several hundred dollars worth
Of stamps, proves that the transaction.
so far a. he is concerned, was iegiti-
mate. The stamps were purchased at
the request Of his brother, who Is a
stamp collector in the United States.
for $500. They We're of the old issue and
were obtained from Nicely.
| The arrest or Mr.. thompson caused
great surprise in the city. 1t is looked
upon as the precursor Of many other
arrests. General Wood felt, as did the
postal inspectors. that it would be bet
ter to have the suspected persons ar
| rested and to give them an opportunity
10 obtain bail than to keep them in
definitely under close supervision at
time when the detectives are badly
oeeded for other work.
Washington, May 16.-Fourth Assist
ant Postna ster-General Bristow re-
seived his final instructions to-day and
left at 8 O'Clock for Tampa, Fla, from
j 4 rlaca he viii sail for IL