The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-11-26
RATHb0NE'S HEARING
Gets 1t at Last in This Country
Through the Oppositionto
Woods Confirmation.
SENATE COMMITTEE HEARS HIu
Serious Charges Made Against tie
Officer Advanced So Rapidly in
the Army.

Washington, Nov. 21.-Majer Estes
G.. Rathbone. formerly director of posts
in Cuba, was given a hearing by the
senate committee on military affairs,
which is investigating the charges
against General Leonard Wood, in op-
position to his confirmation as major
general. Some time ago, after Rath-
bones trial and conviction in CuEa on
the charge of misrepresentation Of
funds, he appealed to congress to in
some manner give him a hearing in this
country, alleging that the trial at Ha-
vana was travesty of justice. He
did not get hearing. but the oppOsi-
ton to Woods confirmation has given
him his chance. There are other mo-
tives behind the opposition. however.
than anything Wood did in Cuba. Old
army officers were rot at all pleased
when a. civilian was promoted over
their heads to military positions, and
there are senators in sympathy with
these officers.
Charged with Accepting Money.
Before the committee Major Rath-
bone, reiterated the charges made sew
eral times before to the secretary of
war, the senate comLittee on relations
with Cuba and in public statements
following his trial in connection with
Cuban postal frauds. He filed specific
written charges with the committee.
He alleged that General Wood while
military governor of Cuba had accept
ed money from the Jai Alai, which
was. he said. gambling concern, and
asserted that he had made personal
friend and boon companion of an ex-
convict. He also charged him with CIV
ing instructions of an entirely unconsti-
tutional and un- limited Statesan char
acter to the courts.
Other Serious Accusations.
Other charges were made against
General Wood as follows: With COM
plicity with another army officer in the
preparation and publication Of an ar
ticle rejecting discreditably upon an
officer who ranked both Of them, in
violation of an accepted canon Of mill
tary service, and constituting an Of
Tense known as conduct unbecOmine
an officer and a gentleman" with di-
recting and causing the auditor of Gu
ba. by military order, to violate the
law In the treatment of accounts; with
utilizing the services Of an eX-cOnyict.
with whom he was in intimate per-
sonal association, in an effort to dis
place his superior officer, and by such
means to secure to himself the vacancy
thus created. Rathbone says he can
prove all this and has submitted much
documentary evidence.
As to Instructions to Courts.
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 Cuban postal case when he Rath-
bone) was under prosecution. This was.
be said, in violation Of article 3S7 of
the penal code of Cuba and i'm a man
ner prejudicial to the rights and in
terests of those under trial. He also
charged General Wood with authoriz-
ing the use Of ex-parte dispositions in
the postal cases, a proceeding which
he asserted is contrary to law and the
principles of law, and in this case con-
trary to instructions given by the Sec
rotary Of war.