New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-21
GEN. WOOD ACCUSED.
Rathbone Submits Charges to the
Senate Military Committee.

Washington Nov 2o-The Senate Committee on
Military Affairs which is investigating charges
against General Leonard Wool. gave a hearing to-
day to Estes G.. Rathbone, formerly director or
posts in Cuba Rathbone reiterated the charges
he has made several times to the Secretary OF ar
and the Senate Committee Relations with Cuba
and in public statements following his tfial IN
connection wit Cuban postal frauds. Rathbone
filed specific written charges with the committee
He alleged that General Wood, while Military Gov
ernor Of Cuba had accepted money from the Jal
Alai which was he said, gambling concern ana
asserted that he had made personal frlend ana
boon companion Of an eX-convict he also charged
him with giving instructions Of an entirely uncon-
sttutional and unAmerican character to the courts
With reference to the charge that General Wood
had exceeded his authority fin giving instructions
to the courts. Major Rathbo1e said that the gen
eral had pursued this course in the Cuban postal
cases when he C2athbone) was under prosecutor
This was he said, violation OF Article 3S' OF the
Penal Code Of Cuba. and prejudicial to the nights
and Interests of those urder trial lie also charged
General Wood with authorizing the use OF eN parte
depositions in the postal cases.
Rathbone charged that in accepting gifts from
,ho lei A1ai 70 which he said, General Wood had
granted an exclusive concession for ten years Cen
eral Wood violated the Foraker law. which pro-
hibited the granting of franchises or concessions
during the occupation of the island by the Ameri-
can authorities. He also said that the acceptance
of these gifts constituted violation OF Arucie %s
Of the Penal Code of Cuba.
Other charges were made against General Wood
follows;
With complicit7 with another army officer in the
preparation and publication of article rejecting
discreditaby an officer who ranked botn OF
Service and constituting an offence commonly
known as conduct unbecomins an officer and
with directing and causing the Auditor Of Cuba,
by military order, 10 violate the law In the treat
With utilizing the services OF ex-convict with
an EFFORT to Misplace his superior oicer and by
created.
Incidental TO these were many minor charges.
Rathbone also offered to produce evidence in sup
port of these allegations He submitted number
Of documents to the committee and gave the names
Of several witnesses ne desired the committee to
summon.
At the afternoon session Rathbone submitted a
transcript of the records of the courts of Havana
to show that General Wood. Military Governor.
gave orders to the courts 10 what they should
do in regard TO fixing bail and the conduct of other
business.
A subpoena issued by the Senate Military
Affairs Committee served tonight on
Ernest Lee Conant of the New-York law firm of
Page & Conant citing him to appear before the
committee tomorrow in connection with the in
vestigation of the charges against General Wood.
Mr. Conant has been in Washington several days.
prosecuting Cuban before the Spanish Claims
Commission. 1t is understood that the subpoena
was issued at the request of Major Rathbone who
learned late to-day OF Mr.. Commits presence in
the civ Mr. Conant will be expected to give testi
monv as 20 the character of the Jai Alai Mr..
Conaut went TO Cuba attache of the Evacua-
ton Commission. and while there he acted as the
legal adviser of General Ludlow, in command of
the Department Of Havana. Later ne served Gen
eral Wood in the capacity and II is said that
he is competent to give some inside facts relating
to the manner i'm which the concession to the Jai
Aiai obtained.
Another witness summoned tonight by the COM
rnittee is Herbert ]. Brown, a newspaper man,
Who was I'm Cuba in the American occupation. and
IS said to have made an inquiry into the character
of the Jai Alai Company.
Major James r. RunGle, now practising pr, law IN
! of the committee saying that he will sail from
Havana tomorrow. and will be in Washington on
TUESDAY. He will be examined in reference TO the
statement that General Wood inspired an article in
+ '"Tbe North American Review" rejecting on the
administration of Major General John r. Brooke,
! his predecessor Governor General.