The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-21
RATHBoNE FILES CHARGES
Says the Presidents Friend
 Took Gamblers Money.
Also, It is Alleged, as Governor Gem eral of Cuba, He Exercised Un- due Influence Over Courts
 of the Island.

Washington, Nov. 2o.-summons Issued by the Senate Military. Affair. Committee was served tonight on Ernest Lee Co., nant of the New York law firm of Page & Conant. citing him to appear before the Committee tomorrow in connection with the investigation of charges against Brig adler General Leonard Wood. It Is be- Iieved the gubponae was issued at the instance of Major .Rathbone. Mir. Conant went to Cuba as an; attache of the evacuation commission and acted as legal adviser to General Ludlow. Later he served General Wood in the same ca- pacity and it is declared he is competent to give some inside facts relating to the manner in which the concession to the Jai Aiai was obtained.
 Another witness summoned tonight 5s HerbertJ. Brown. newspaper man, wiio was in Cuba during the American occi1- patton, who Is said to have made an in- ouiry into the character of the Jai Aiai Company -. Runcie will Testify.
 Major James E Runcie, now practicing law in Havana, will be in Washington Tuesday and will be examined in refer ence to his statement that General Wood inspired an article in The North Aneri- can Review renecting on the administfa- tion of Major General Brooke. his prede- cessor as Governor General.
 Major Rathbone, who was formerly df. rector of posts in Cuba, was given hear ing today by the Senate Coufmittee 'cn Military Affairs which Is investigating the charges against General Wood.
 The Committee convened at II o'clock and was in session until noon. Nearly the entire time was given to Major Rathbone who reiterated the charges made several times before the Secretary of War, the Senate Committee on Reias tions with Cuba. and in public statements following his trial in connection with Cn- ban postal frauds.
 Specific Charges.
 Majer Rathbone filed specific written &i1ax asnsfSl wood, whlie Military Gov &fnor Of Cnba bad Aecepted money Aotn the Jai Alai. which was. he said. . gafnb- lifig concern. and asserted that he had rnade personal friend and boon compan- ion of an ex-convict. He also charges him with giving instructions of an entire. ly unconrtitutional and un-Americah character to the board.
 When the Committee adjourned for luncheon Major Rathbone's statement was not completed.
 with reference to the charge that Governor General Wood had exceeded his authority. in giving instructions to the courts. Major Rathbone said that the general had pursued this course, in the
 
 was under prosecution. This was. he said, in violation of article 3s7 of the penal code of Cuba and In a manner prejudicial to the rights and interests of those under trial. He charged General Wood with ex-parte dispositions in the postal cases. a proceeding which he as- serted is contrary to law and in this case contrary to instructions given by the Secretary of War.
 (3fpfa f0 W0od
 Major Rathbone charged that in accept ing gifts from the organization common ly known as Jai Alai to which Major Rathbone said General Wood had grant ed a ten years exclusive concession. Gen. eral Wood violated the Foraker law, whichIprohibits the granting of franchises or concessions during the occupation of the Island by the American authorities. He also charged that the acceptance of these gifts constitutes violation of the penal code of Cuba.
 Other charges were made against Gen. eral Wood as follows: .,
 With compllcity with another army of- acer in the preparation and publication of an article refecting discreditably uDon an officer who ranked both of them in viola lion of an accepted canon of military ser vice and constituting an ofense commonly known as Conduct unbecoming an of- hcer and a gentleman; with directing and causing the auditor of Cuba by military order to violate the law in the treatment of accounts. with utilizing the services of an ex-convict. with whom he was on Intimate personal association. in an effort, to displace his superior officer and by such means to secure to himself the thus created. fs t.
 Incidental thereto was many minor charges. Major Rathbone also offered to produce evidence and testimony in sup port of these allegations. He submitted a number of documents to the connnaIt- tee and gave the names of several wit nesses whom he asked the committee to summon. t-