The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-11-23

Conant, of the New York law firm of
Page & Conant, citing him to appear
before the committee tomorrow in con-
nection with the investigation Of charges
against Brgadier General Leonard Wood,
made in an effort to prevent his con-
tirmation as major general. Mr.. Conant
has Leen in Washington several days
prosecuting Cuban cases before the
Spanish claim commission. 1t is believed
the subpoena was issued at the instance
of Major Rathbone, who learned late to-
day OF Mr. Conants presence In the CITY,
Mr.. Conant will be expected to give testi-
mony as TO the character OF Jai Aial, ING
alleged gambling establishment when
General Wood is charged with having
given a ten-year concession to operate III
Savannah.
Mr.. Conant went to Cuba as an at
tache Of the evacuation commission, ana
while there he acted as legal adviser 10
General Ludlow, in command OF the de-
part1nent OF Havana. Later he served
General Wood in the same capacity, ana
ii is declared he is competent to give
some inside facts relating to the manner
in which the concession 10 the Jil Aida
Another witness summoned tonight by
the military affairs conniKtee is Herbert
J. Brown, q newspaper man. who was
in Cuba during the American occupation.
into the character of the Jai Aai COM
many. Major James Z. Runcie, now prac-
ticing law In Havana. has sent cable
gram to member Of the COMMITTEES
Stating that he will sail from Havana to-
morrow and will be in Washington Tues
dav He win be examined by the COM
mittee In reference to his statement that
General Wood inspired an article in The
North American Review rejecting on the
administration of Major General John
Brooke. his predecessor as governor gem
eral.
Rathbone Attacks Wood.
Major Estes C. Rathbone, formerly d.
rector of the posts In Cuba. was given
hearing today. and reiterated the
charges made several times before the
secretary Of war, the senate committee
on relations with Cuba. and in public
statements following his trial In con-
nection with Cuban postal frauds
With reference to the charge that Gov
ernor General Wood had exceeded his
authority In giving Instructions 10 the
courts. Major Rathbone said that the
general had pursued this course in the
Cuban postal case when he tRathbone)
was under prosecution. This was, he
sa' in violation of article 1877 of the
pre1udicial to the rights and interests OF
those under trial. He charged General
Wood with authorizing ex parte depo-
sitons In the postal cases, n proceeding
which he asserted IS contrary to law
and in this case contrary TO instructions
given by tho secretary Of war.
Woods Gifts from Jai Alei.
Major Rathbone charged that in ac-
ceT1ing gifts from the organization COM
monty known as Jai Alai, to which Ma
jor Rathbone said General Wood had
granted a ten years exclusive conces-
sion, General Wood violated the For
aker law, which prohibits the granting
of franchises or concessions during the
occupation of the island by the Amer
lean authorities He also charged that
the acceptance Of these gifts constitutes
a violation of the penal code of Cuba.
Other charges were made against Gen
era Wood. as follows:
With completely with another army
officer in the preparation and publica-
ton Of an article rejecting dlscredit-
ably upon an officer who ranked both
Of them in violation OF an accepted
canon OF military service and constitut-
ing an offense commonly known as con
duct unbecoming an officer and gentle
man." with directing and causing the
auditor OF Cuba by a military order 10
violate the law IN the treatment Of ac
counts: with utilizing the services Of
an ex-convict, with whom he was on
intimate personal association, in an ef-
fort to displace his superior officer, and
by such means to secure to himself the
vacancy thus created Incidental thereto
We're many minor cha rges. Major Rath-
bone also offered 10 produce evidence
and testimony IN support of these allie
cations