Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-10-23
PENSION FRAUDS.
From the Globe of Ocfober Id

| 1fOm he otOOe 0y OCtOUeT H.
Several shocking cases of frauds on the
| pension office have been discovered with
10 the present year, An attorney in Ken
lucky, who has held respectable station
IN society, is now in confinement upor
such and other charges. A number Of
persons in Virginia have been detected.
among whom are individuals of high
standing and one member of the legis.
lature
But the most shocking case is in Yer.
mont. The guilty person was Robert
Temple, Esq formerly pension agent !,
president Of the bank of Rutland, and a
man Of great wealth, and the first man in
that part Of the country. Alarmed at the
prospect OF publication of the pension
ers' names, he came TO Washington and
attempted to bride clerk in the office to
alter the books and make out false lists
Tor the printer, so as to conceal his frauds.
The clerk succeeded 10 drawing from him
list Of about sixty cases in which he de-
sired alterations TO be made, or the
names omitted. He promised to write
under fictitious name, and left Washing
ton The affair was then disclosed by the
clerk 10 his superlors, and an investiga-
ton took place IN the war and treasury
departments, in which many circumstan
ces were developed tending to Strength
en- the disclosures made by the clerk Mr..
Temple had been pension agent in Yer.
mo"'' unit he was removed by Major
Eaton, when secretary Of war, and it was
apparent that he was playing the same
game While IN the service of the govern
ment.
The clerk who had made the disclosure
was now despatched, with a companion to
Vermont, to secure the arrest Of Templa
and investigate the case there After his
departure, letter directed to HIM from
New York was taken out of the post Office
incloslng fifty dollar note, and pronisipr
liberal reward if he would accomplisb
the object. 1t was from Temple, under
fictitious name. This was forwarded IN
the district attorney OF Vermont, under the
frank OF the commissioner of pensions.
The messengers from Washington arr.
we'd IN the vicinity of Rutland, where The
Ohl'eu states court was sitting, on Friday.
some delay occurred in consequence of
the district attorney being occupied in a
c!inilnal case, and they did not enter the
village until night on Monday, and then
found that Temple had committed suicide,
IL appeared that he had observed in the
post oihce the letter to the district attor
ney enclosing his own anonymous letter
with the $50 note, and induced the post
master to give 1t 10 him, under pretence
that he would deliver it lie undoubtedly
opened 1T, and as soon as he sawsits con
tents, went to his house, took his gun. re
tired TO his stable and shot himself through
the heart.
The extent of his frauds is still unknown.
II is ascertaned that many of those for
whom he has been drawing pensions are
dead, and some Of them died twenty wears
ago Others are supposed never 10 have |
existed. II is conjectured the amount thus
distracted from the treasury cannot be
less than $4,000, and is probably more
IL gives is pain TO notice this iIansac-
non, as the guilty Individual made his
a'ohement with his hearts blood, and has
lcit an amiable and estimable family. 10
suffer under the double affection fathers
aeath' and its still more distressing cause,
ruoiic sentiment viii not, we trust. after
ae expiration Of his criminal conduct with
ne sacrifice of his life, visit the sins or
/ e.mple upon his unfortunate and innocent
hidden