The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-23
Correspondence.
FROM MENDOZA.

Our town was somswhat excited By the arrese
of Mr.. d. A. Cook, our postnastsr, By tAe Uni-
ted States Narshall, on Wsdnesday lest Who
was taken to Chicago on warrant Issued BY
Commissioner Hoyne, on complaint of William
Lafferty, made under the direction OF the U. 8.
Asst Dist Attorney, Mr.. Boutsll on charge
of taking illegal fees under the pension laws and
for forgery in connection Herewith.
The following extract from the Chicago Times,
of Thursday last, will show the determination of
that proceeding; it appears that the offence
charged was not within the sections set forth,
the claim being one by the heirs of a deceased
soldier, suit for pension and bounty.
From the affidavits on file it appears that VIM
and Mary Lafferty, the parents of VIM. Lafferty,
of Co. B., TIN regiment U. S. infantry. lately de-
ceased, procured the services of Mr.. d. A. Cock,
who in addition to the duties of postmaster is al
SO exercising the vocation of a licensed claim
agent, to procure the back pay and bounty due
them upoi, their soa's demise. The application
was made in the fall or winter Of 1857 During
the early days of July last, Mr.. Cook informed
Mr.. Lafferty that his money had come upon the
claim, took him to his Office, wrote receipt las
he was informed by Cook for the money, and
which Mr.. Lafferty signed with his cross, when
Mr.. Cook paid him one hundred and fifty doll
airs, and told him that he charged him ten doll
ars for his fee as claim agent. The whole amount
received by Cook being $167.50.
It should be borne in mind that these claims,
when audited, are in tho form Of certificate,
made PAYABLE to the order of the claimant, which
is next to the attorney, and notice at the same
time to the claimant. This certificate is made
payable at any U. S. paymaster's Office, upon the
claimants signing the same before notary pub
lie, witnessed by one witness, and to which the
notary has to certify that it was done so in his
presence and that he knows him to be the ideati-
cal person to whom it is made payable, and that
the witnesses are creditable persons, also known
to him ; and if the claimant is unable to write
them there must be two witnesses to his sig
nature. Nor can the agent act as notary in any
claim prosecuted by him. Then, on this certifi-
cate the U.s. Paymaster issues check on the
u depository, made payable to the order Of
the claimants, which is transferable like any
other note or draft by Endorsement. These sing
ings and Acknowledgements Mr.. Lafferty positiv-
ely declares he has never made, nor received the
notice from the post Office here.
How this certificate was signed and duly &C.
knewledged Mr.. Cook fails to furnish infer
nation.
Mr.. Lafferty, feeling unsatisfed with the war
rant, procured other attornies to ascertain the
amount of the certificate issued to him. Mr.. Laf-
ferty received letter early in September last
from the second Auditors Office at Wash ing
ton, stating the amount awarded to him by that
certificate was three hundred and seventeen doll
ars and three cents, (S3l703) OF this sum Mr..
Laferty got Sl57.50 and the claim agent the rest,
little more than one-half.
About Christmas, Mr. Laferty plainly told
Mr.. Cook the amount of money he had got on his
claim. Mr.. Cook protested ignorance, and thought
perhaps the the clerks at Washington had made
some mistake. Two days after he called Mr..
Lafferty into his office and paid him $135 more,
Claiming that the balance of the $317.03 was his
for fees in procuring the same; but thereby ac-
knowledginy he had kept that amount from Mr..
Lafferty six months or more.
Mr.. Laferty is poor, hard working uneduca-
ted Irishman, unable to read or write. The in
justice Of retaining his money it would seem of
itself ought to be crime legally as well NJ
morally.
Mr. Cook received the appointment. of post
master here in the spring of 1865, from Mr.. John
son, and was duly confirmed by the senate,
against Mr.. Jacob Augustine, his predecessor,
who was appointed by Mr.. Lincoln, at the in
stance of Mr.. Leveioy, (and by the way, a very
accommodating and efficient oficer.)
sharp contest was had between Mr.. August
inc andsCook at the tiae--Augustine urging em-
inent services rendered as one of the advanced
guards of the abolition party. And Mr. Cook
likewise urging eminent military services, great
suffering, and the shedding of much blood from
two SQUIRREL shot wounds received about the
TANKS and posterior by HIM, at Donaldson and
Corinth. These coupled with charge upon Mr.
Augustine as iireside patriot and jdanacle that
his laurels were won in the service of God and
Humanity, were gained by him in the capac-
ity Of station agent on the underground rail road
and running niggers into Canada &c. Mr. AS
friends reply by charging upon Mr.. Cook, as be-
ing "little bantam street. and noodle. whose
vanity exceeded all endurance.
Our worthy congressman sorely tried and
badgered pro and con, until at last, when nil
things must be broryht tn n close r.lnctnntlv