Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-10-23
Prom me Warrington Gis6e. Oct. IL
PENSION YRAIDs


! Several shocking cases Of frauds on the
PENSION once have been discovered within
The present year. An Attorney In Kentucky,
who had held respectable station In society,
70 now IN confinement upon such and othe =
charges. A number of persons in Virginia
have been detected, among whom are ind
r'duals Of high standing, and one member Of
the Legislature.
But the most shocking case is in Vermont.
The guilty person was Robert Temple. Esq
formerly Pension Agent, President Of the
Bank OF Rutland, and man Of great wealth.
and the hrst character ia that part Of the
country Alarmed At the prospect Of pub
llcat.on oil the pensioners names. he came TO
Washington, and attempted TO bride n Clerk
IN The offiee TO alter The books and make out
false lists FOR the printer, so ~ TO concea al his
frauds The Clerk succeeded in drawing
from h'm list OF about sixty cases In which
he desired alterations to be made or the
names omitted. tie promised TO write under
fictitious name, and left Washington. The
ALTAR was then disclosed by tho Clerk 20 his
snPeriors aud an investigation took place in
tue war and Treasury Departments, in " hich
many circumstance, were developed te ing
70 strengthen the disclosures made by the
clerk. Mr.. Temple had been Pension Agent
IN vermont, until he was removed by Major
Eaton, when Secretary Of War, and IL va.
apparent that lac had been playing the same
game while In the service Of the Governme ct
The Clerk who made the disclosure wa,
now despatched, with 4 companion, to YER
mont, TO secure the arrest Of Temple aud IN
'es'igate the eases there. After his depar-
lure, a letter directed 10 him from New York
vas taken out Of the Post Office, inclo,inx :
hity dollar note, and promising n liberal re-
waru T" he would accomplish the object. It
was from Temple, under q hciitiou. name
This was forwarded To the District Attorney
OF vermont, under the frank Of the Commis-
sioner Of Pensions.
The messengers from Washington arrived
IN the vicinity Of Rutland, where the United
states court was sitting on Friday. Some
delay occurred IN consequence Of the District
Attorney being occupied in q criminal case,
aud they did not enter the village until night
TALL on Monday, and then found that Temple
had committed suicide.
u appears that lac had observed in the Pos,
once the letter 10 the District Attorney en-
closing his own anonymous letter with the
so note, and induced the Postmaster To give
u 10 hun, under pretence that he would de-
liver H. As undoubtedly opened il, and a.
soon as he saw its contents, went TO his house.
took his gun. retired to his stable, and shot
himself through the heart.
The extent Of has frauds i, still unknown.
u Is ascertained that many Of those for W hon
ne mad been drawing pensions are dead, and
some OF them died 20 years ago. Others are
supposed never to have existed. IL is con-
Jectured that the amount thus distracted from
Tue Treasury cannot DO less than sac, OOO,
aud Is probably more.
" gives us pain TO notice this transaction,
rs The guilty individual made hi. atone meut
with his hearts blood, and has left an anna
md q
double stiiIctIon Of a fathers death, and AZ,
still more distressing cause. Public senti-
ment viii not, We trust, after the expiration
OF his criminal conduct with the sacrifice Of
his life, visit the aims Of Temple upon his
unfortunate and innocent children.