Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-18

His Son and Cuts His Own Throat
Murders, Suicides and Frauds-A Few
Fatal Accidents.
GRAVEYARD PENSIONS.
Special Telegram to the Globe.
MADISON, Wis, Oct. IA great sensa-
ton was occasioned here yesterday by the
arrest of Thomas Reynolds by e. S. Mar
shall Oakly, on complaint of Lucien H,
Richardson, special examiner of the pen
with forging pension vouchers and appro-
priating to himself pension money mailed
to persons who have been dead for many
years. Gen. Reynolds was q. S. pension
agent at Madison during the
eleven years ending july 1, 1877.
When this district was consolidated with
the Milwaukee district, with Edward Fer
guson in charge, Betsy Sanderson, of Nc
Farland, Dan Roundy, and Bridget Pitts,
of Union, Rock county, Emilee Groscher.
of Sank city, Catherine Nolan, of Avoca.
Iowa county, Elizabeth Armstrong, of
Redwood, Redwood county, Nancy Long.
of Montrose, Dane county. and Lucy Sand
ers, of Paoli, Dane county, were all old
women and mothers of soldiers who
were killed in the late re-
bellion. They. were allowed the usual
pension of dependent mothers, S24 per
quarter. They drew these pensions regu-
larly until their death, which, in the case
of Betsy Sanderson, occurred in 1875, and
in the other cases during that or the fol-
lowing year, while Gen. Reynolds was pen
sion agent. Instead of notifying the gov
eminent of the demise of these women,
whose pensions lawfully expired with
their deaths, and taking their names from
the rolls, it is charged that Reynolds con-
tlnued to send on vouchers with
the forged signatures of pen
sioners and of the necessary witnesses
with his own Jurat as notary public, had
the mail of these deceased pensioners
placed IL his own post Office box, took the
checks sent on, Endorsed them with the
forged names of the dead women. and
cashed them for his own benefit. This
thing has been practiced regularly by him
each quarter, the complaint alleges, for
period extending from five to seven years.
and the government has been thus de-
frauded, it is alleged, out of about $1,000
per year, and there is no telling when
1t would have stopped. had not
the government in August last year obtain
nd Of the death of Betsy Sanderson.
and set agent Richardson to work. who
soon developed seven cases for which he
says he has legal proof, which admits OF
no question whatever. Examination of the
pension rolls at Milwaukee will very like
ly develop more of Gen. Reynolds crooked
ness. It is evident that Reynolds has no
accomplice.
A careful examination of all the youch-
ers shows that the signature of the pen
sioners, of the witnesses and of Reynolds
himself as notary public, are in one hand
writing. The merest novice in penman-
ship would detect the forgery. The high
character of Gen. Reynolds, and the fact
thathe was the former pension agent did
much to gain for his vouchers implicit trust
1t being proved that the pensioners have
been dead many years; that they
died during Reynolds term of
Office; that they being dead their sigma
lures must be forgeries; that the alleged
witnesses are unknown; that Reynolds has
had the mail matter sent to these grave
yard pensioners placed in his post Office
box on the pretext that they were his
neighbors, and he regularly cashed their
pension claims in this city, Endorsed with
their names, there certainly appears to be
no doubt that Reynolds will be elected to
term in the penitentiary. Richardson
says that his proof is perfect
The general will be examined next week.
and meanwhile he is out on $1,000 bail,
which the government officer objects to as
being too small, and will have to be in
creased. Gen. Reynolds has very little to
say about the matter, except to claim that
he is very much astonished, and that he
believes it is plot of his political enemies.
Gen. r. is seventy years old, and native
of Ireland; has lived in Wisconsin for
thirty-ive years. He was colonel
of the Sixteenth Wisconsin regi-
ment, and accompanied Sherman on
the march to the sea. He was for eleven
years United States pension agent, and is
now quartermaster general of the state
militia. He is very warm personal
friend of Gems. Sherman and Sheridan,
and the former is always Reynolds guest
at his suburban home when in Madison.
The affair creates much excite ment here.
and is shock to the entire community
A CONFIRMED RASCAL.
Special Telegram to the Globe.I
NoRTHFIELD, Mimi, Oct. 17.-One of the
most ridiculous and absurd things of the
season in this place is the insanity plea
set up in behalf of the notorious Roll
Kingman, the fellow who attempted muir
der on the person of young Searles, a short
time ago, for $40. Night before last this
Kingman, and S mall boy, about thir-
teen, by the name of Paddleford, were in
the woods, in the city's suburbs. the former
Will g.