New-York tribune., 1902-03-30
THE HAVANA SENTENCES.
PARTICULARS OF THE FRAUDS OF
WHICH NELLY, REEVES AND RATH-
BONE WERE GUILTY.

Havana. March 29.-The verdict in the Cuban
postal fraud cases. as given out. finds c. F. W.
Nicely. W H. Reeves and Estes G. Rathbone
guilty Of the main charge of embezzlement Of
over $4,000. and that Nicely and Reeves origi-
mated the idea Of burning the stamps, TO which
Rathbone consented, profting thereby though
to what extent could not be specified. Neely
and Reeves. according to the verdict. appropri-
ated S2S17 % by a series Of entries. charging to
the postal fund certain amounts for wharfage
lighterage and other matters. for which there
were no warrants or vouchers. Rathbone also
was found guilty Of participation in this These
entries were made in what is known as the mis-
ceIlaneous account.
Rathbone, il alleged. charged the De-
partment Of Posts with private expenses such
washing. repairs to his coach express
charges. three boxes of liquor. Japanese Ian
terms, gas and certain household accounts
amounting 10 Sl57 -. He found guilty on
this charge. but Was acquitted on that Of pay
ing for furniture for his house. the bill of
New-York store for furniture and other arti-
cles. the ground shat number Of army Of
fcers in Cuba had obtained similar articles at
the expense Of the government and that these
expenditures mad been passed subsequently by
the Senate.
Neely and Reeves were found guilty of hav-
ing issued duplicate checks for the salaries of
postoffice employees, and for payments to the
Ruiz company and the gas company the
amount involved being 81 027 IS. They were
also held responsible for 81. .S5S % for stamps
sold.
Nicely alone held he guilty OF fraud in
the issuing Of four duplicate warrants for
SS057 81 for salaries of clerks in the Havana
postoffice and for the purchase OF mules. He
was found guilty also of having drawn a dupli-
cate check for $4,000. nominally issued for
the transfer Of funds from the postal account in
the bank 10 the account 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 alleged
also. that he received commissions in connection
with the Neely Printing Company and the Key
less Lock Company, profting by this means TO
an amount greater than S13 292. For this, how
ever, Neely was not indicted by the fiscal, as
he was eNtradited the charge Of embezZle-
ment. II was also charged that he asked Reeves
70 arrange the books. giving him 81 600 TO do so
He was acquitted Of this. for the reason given
above II was charged that Neely also appro-
pr1ateo $1,000 in money resulting from the sales
OF stamps by Moya and Mascara. stamp clerks
at Havana.
expenses OF his wife and family on a trip to
Santiago and on a second voyage to the United
States he being unable TO separate his private
from his oh1cial expenses. and also of Issuing
two warrants for 500 each
Reeves appropria ted S673. which was returned
70 him by Rathbone. The latter was ACQUITTED
on the charge OF having unlawfulv taken a
daily allowance Of 80 after the Postma aster-
General had disallowed his claim
Rathbone. Reeves and Neely were found
Jointly guilty, under the Postal Code of the en-,
bezzlernent OF SlO2 914 a fine in which anount
was divided between them. Neey was eutlt,,
alone Of the embezzlement Of 50. .S57, Reeves OF
S613 and Rathbone Of 81 900 while Neelv and
Reeves jointly embezLled 81 036
Rathbone's attorneys have applied to the court
for a writ OF habeas corpus.