The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-30
Jointly Guilty OF Taking s1O2,9s4 and
Separately Held to Have
Stolen other Amounts.
NEELY CONVICTED OF FRAUD
ALSO ORIGINATED THE IDEA OF
BURNING POSTAGE STAMPS.
Issued Duplicate Warrants and Conn
RathbOne's Private Expenses.

HAVANA, March 29.-The verdict in the
Cuban postal fraud cases as given out finds
c. f. w. Neely, W. III. Reeves and L. q.
Rathbone guilty Of the main charge OF en-
bezzlement Of over 100000 and that Neely
and Reeves originated the idea of burning
the stamps TO which Rathbone consented
profiting thereby. though TO what extent
could not be specified. Nicely and Reeves,
according TO the verdict, appropriated s2.S7
by a series of entries. charging TO the pos
tai fund certain amounts of wharfage,
lighterage and other matters for which
there were no warrants or vouchers Rath-
bone also was found guilty of participation
in this These entries were made I'm what
is known as the miscellaneous account.
Rathbone. it was alleged. charged the de-
partment of posts with private expenses.
such as washing, repairs TO his coach, ex-
press charges, three boxes of liquor. Japan
ese lanterns, gas and certain household
accounts amounting TO Sl57.25. He was
found guilty this charge. but was ac-
quilted on that of paying for furniture for
his house. the bill of New York store for
furniture and other articles, on the ground
that a number OF army officers in Cuba
had obtained similar articles at the ex-
pense of the government and that these ex-
penditures had been passed subsequently by
the Senate
Neely and Reeves were found guifrS>.of
having issued duplicate checks for the san
aries Of 'postoffice employees and for pay
ment to the Ruiz company and the gas
company. the amount involved being sl,027.
They also were held responsible for s1.s5s
for stamps sold.
Neely alone was held to be guilty OF fraud
in the issuing of four duplicate warrants
for s,057 for salaries of clerks in the Ha-
vana postoffice and for the purchase OF
mules. He was found guilty also of having
drawn duplicate check for $1,000. NOM
inally issued for the transfer OF funds from
the postal account in the bank TO the
count of the treasurer, and Of having given
Corydon NJ. Rich, his former assistant.
5000 worth Of stamps to SELL He took his
salary OF s255 before going to the United
States the last time.
1t was alleged also that he received COM
missions in connection with the Neely
Printing Company and the Keyless Lock
Company, profting by this means TO an
amount greater than $13, 2S2. For this. how
ever Neely was not indicted by the fiscal.
as ne was extradited on the charge OF en-
bezzement. 1t also was charged that ne
asked Reeves 10 arrange the books. giving
him $4,000 TO do so. He was acquitted OF
this for the reasons given above. II was
charged that Nicely also appropriated S.Soo
in money resulting from the sales OF
stamps by Moya and Mescaro. stamp clerks
at Havana.
Rathbone was found guilty of having paid
the expenses OF his wife and family a
trip to Santiago and on a second voyage TO
the United States. he being unable TO sepa-
rate his private from his official expenses.
and also of issuing two warrants for 500
each. Reeves appropriated S673 which was
returned to him by Rathbone. The latter
was acquitted the charge Of having un-
lawfully taken a daily allowance OF s. after
the postmaster general had dsallowed his
claim
Rathbone, Reeves and Neely were found
Jointly guilty. under the postal code. OF the
embezzlement Of $I02,974 fine in which
amount was divided between them. Neefy
was guilty alone OF the embezzlement OF
s21. .S57. Reeves of S57S and Rathbone OF 5000.
while Neely and Reeves jointly embezzled
s1,O36.
Rathbones attorneys have applied 10 the
court for a writ OF habeas corpus.