The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-09
GUILTY Of CUBAN. FRAUDS
Rathbons, Nsly and Reeves Get Ten
Years Imprisonment Each.
HEAVY FINES IMPOSED ON ALL

Tho Convicted 0Mcials Embezzisd the
Funds OF the Hsvsus Postonce-Rsth-
bone Was Director.Generai. Neely Fl
nsucial Agent, aud Reeves Auditor
festtnony Presented at the Trial.
Havana, Cuba.-The trials before the
AudIencia Court of the cases arising
from the embezzlement Of Cuban pos
tai funds have resulted In the follow.
ing sentences:
G. 3. W. Nicely. ten years imprison-
ment and to pay q fine Of s56.701.
W. Il. Reeves, ten years imprison'
ment and to pay fine Of s35.516.
Estes G. Rathbone, ten years i'm
prisonment and to pay O fine Of $685.
S2l
In 1880 z. J. Rathbone was Director
General Of Posts In Cuba, G. +. W.
Neely was Chief Of the Financial Bu-
reau. and DR.. w. II. Reeves was Chief
Of .se Bureau Of Postal Accounts, af-
terward becoming Assistant Auditor OF
the island when his bureau was made
O division Of the Auditors department.
The first charges Of embezzlement
were made against Neely while he was
on a visit to the United States. One OF
the regular examinations Of some books
In his department had shown discrep-
nncies, and before q full examination
was completed 1t became plain thar
there was q large shortage. Charges
Of criminal action were vigorously de-
MED by Neely and his friends, but
these denials fell to the ground when
Reeves confessed his share In the EN-.
bezzlements, turning States evidence
and duplicating Rathbone as well as
Neely. For q long time 1t was urged
and generally believed that Rathbone'S
worst fault was incompetency, and that
he was the victim Of Neely. Rathbone.
who was In Havana, protested his In.
nocence and he was neither removed
nor arrested.
Then Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General BristOw was sent to Cuba to
make q thorough investigation. and
bis report was submitted to Secretary
Of War Root by Postmaster General
Smith on July 25, 1900. While this
report did not directly connect Rath-
bone with the embezzlement Of Nicely.
II did present circumstantial evidence
against him on that ground. Il also
accused him Of personally and unlaw-
fully converting to his own use money
from the Cuban postal revenues. and
Of gross neglect Of bis duties and rec
commended his removal. His removal
and arrest followed BY this time
Nicely and Reeves were under arrest,
as were e. p. Thompson. Postmaster
Of Havana, who was sentenced some
time ago, and Maya aud Mascara.
subordinates. Nicely had resisted ex-
tradition, but was beaten after an ap-
peal to the United States Supreme
Court.
Mr.. Bristow's report fixed the mini
mum Of Neely's embezzlement AZ Sl31.-
1889. OF this. S1O1. lib. 16 was alleged
to have been secured through the IL
legal sale Of surchargei stamps. which
he had reported destroyed In accord
ance with the orders Of the Depart
ment. During the trial. which has
resulted In the present conviction.
Reeves told Of Neely's plot to make
money In this way. and charged Rath-
bone with being In It Rathbone de-
MED all Of Reeves evidence.
Rathbone was accused OF drawing -
a day for expenses after lis salary had
been raised to SG5c0 4 year on the
understanding that no daily allowance
was to be made. The Postmaster Gen
eral had consented to provide q house
for Rathbone In Havana, but he was
charged with using Cuban funds to
pay for all sorts Of personal expenses.
Extravaganza was alleged on all MS
official trips. one item Of $29.0O DAY
for personal Eotei expenses IN New
York City being cited