Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-05-07
Loyal Indemnity.
The General Claim Com
missioner Answers thir-
teen Questions for his
SubOrdinates.

Col. Thos. Waters. General
Claim Commissioner, under the
law UNDERWRITING loyal citizens
tor losses sustained during the
war" has issued a circular address
ed to the County Commissioners
throughout the State, containing
the following answers to questions
which have for some time been
pouring in from all quarters, by
letter and otherwise:
l. Is it necessary that witness
es should have seen the property
when taken by either army?
! Answer. Such testimony is pre-
Iferred; but if witnesses know
that the property was taken or
used by the army, and can swear
to the same, that is sufficient to
Establish a claim.
! 2. Must claimant be required
to give the name, rank and regi.
iment of officer taking property in
all cases?
| Ans. When such testimony
cannot be obtained, let the claim
ant state what command, brigade
or division, if possible. If he
cannot ascertain these, let him
Estate that the property was taken
by an unknown command" of the
Federal or Rebel army, as the
case may be.
| 8. Are receipts or vouchers of
Federal or Rebel officers alone
sufficient to establish claim?
Ans. They are not sufficient.
Claimants must establish their
losses by the testimony of loyal
: witnesses, in all cases; but all re-
ceipts or vouchers must accompany
the claim.
4. Must claimant pay clerk s
fees, and for revenue stamps?
Ans. The claimant must pay
J all fees that accrue. The fifty
cent stamp is dispensed with, un-
, less the claimant fills the power
; of attorney, which is discretiona-
. ry with him.
5. Must the Commissioners
confne themselves % the blanks
furnished by the General Claim
Commissioner?
2 Ans. No blanks must be used
: except those furnished by him, or
r similar ones. He will furnish all
necessary blanks when called up
on by the County Commissioners.
6. Are members of claimant S
!. family competent witnesses?
b Ans. If other witnesses can
:. not be had, you may receive the
i. testimony of relatives.
7. Is it necessary to have two
] witnesses?
!. Ans. You will see from section
7th of the indemnity bill, that
: the claimant must establish his
loyalty by two or more witnesses,
r but he is not required to have the
same witnesses in both cases.
i s. Must the claimant file in
the county where the, property
Twas taken?
:. Ans. Claimant may file bis claim
: in any county, if he has the re.
, |quired testimony in said county.
8. Do rejected claims require
; the Clerks certificate and revenue
: stamps?
s Ans. They do not require
: Clerk S certificate, or the revenue
stamps, unless the power of attor-
ney is filled, in which case the fifty
cent stamp is required.
10. Who are to be considered
, loyal now?
j Ans. Sections 7 and s of the
!, indemnity bill require the claim.
). ant to take the franchise oath,
!. and prove by two loyal men that
he (the claimant) was an uncon-
ditional loyal man during the en-
] tire rebellion, and that he is now
! loyal. Witnesses must be their
own judges as to who are now 10y
al, and the Commissioners are the
only judges as to the loyalty of
Witnesses. You will see from the
law, that all witnesses must be
loyal.
IL. Can a Commissioner file o
claim before his own Board?
Ans. There is nothing in the
bill to prevent his doing SO.
IL. How are the heirs to make
application?
Ans. The heirs will be requir.
!. ed to take the franchise oath, and
prove their LOYALTY bv two ar