The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-08
A Wrong Set Right,

To the Edtto" Of the Press:
lately found the following in the True
Religion, published at North Conway,
N. H:
The Rev. Henry Cox, D D. was Secretary
of the Young Mems Christian Association
in San Francisco, pastor of a mission
church, and a United States pension agent.
Thomas Hill was blind and paralytic pau
per in the county almshouse. Under the
new law Hill was entitled to $7,27S in back
pensions as veteran of the Mexican and
civil wars, and 10 $72 month for the re-
mainder of his life. Senator Miller wrote o
Cos at the suggestion of the Commissioner
of Pensions in Washington asking him to
pay particular attention to this award, as the
amount was unusually large, and the help
less recipient might fall into swindlers
hands unless protected. Cox's method OF
getting control of the matter was to induce
Hill to sign an irrevocable power of at
torney, authorizing him to take possession
of all the money; and when he had got the
cash he used it for a personal speculation in
mining. He prayed with his dupe. and
saf hymns with him, but this only allayed
suspicion for while. An investigation has
resulted in an exposure, but the unfortunate
veterans fortune is probably beyond the
reach of recovery.
Having conceived more favorable opinion
of Mr.-Cox than this would warrant, sent
it to a friend in San Francisco for investiga
ton, and have the following reply:
81 have made diligent inquiry into the
matter referred to, and can truthfully say
that the slip you enclosed gave ntterance to
as base SANDER as was ever uttered The
Facts are as follows:-
DIR. Cox, (who, by the by, is the Rev. Hem
ry Cox alluded to by you,) as Pension
Agent, paid to Thomas Hill the $7,279 back
pensions to which he was entitled. Shortly
afterwards Hill insisted that the Doctor
should take $1,000 of the amount and invest
the same for him. the Doctor finally con-
scented, and power of attorney mot an iy-
recocable one, as stated,) was drawn up by
HIPS attorney, appointing the Doctor attor-
ney to hold aud invest the funds for HIPS
benefit. The money $4,000 only remained
in bank for two months or more, when the
Doctor had an opportunity for favorable in
vestment. The loan was made in HilEs
name to mining company in which Dr.
Cox owned no interest whatever. and was
trebIy secured-arst, by a mortgage on the
mill and mine, worth at least $4,000, sec
ond by the transfer to Hill of one thousand
shares OF stock, valued at $4,000, and third,
by note iqadorsed by three men IL believe)
worth over hundred thousand dollars each
The money SO loaned became due on the
9th OF January, 1888, aud to show how am
pie was the security held by Cox for Hill, a
man in this city who makes large loans took
up the note of Hills, or rather, paid Hill
his principal and interest. and advanced
$1,000 more on the same security. Thus you
see the money was never in Cox name, was
never used by him, except as Hills attorney
aud that Hill receiUed every dollar, with one
per cent. per month interest, back again.
The move was made, aud the ISLANDERS cir
culated to get the Doetor's place or Office for
some more pliabte tool for parties interested
and the whole thing concocted and put
forth before the loan was due. When due.
it was paid, as above stated, and the Doctor
then washed his bands of the whole matter
and a guardian has since been appointed
by order of Court for Hill
The above is the whole story, in brief; and
am glad OF the opportunity to correct SO
gross misstatement and SANDER
Signed THOMAS Il. CAswELI.
The signature will be a sufficient guaranty
for the fact, and doubt not that Mr. Cox S
old friends here will be glad to see such a
SANDER refuted, and that Mr.. Seitz will re-
Jcice to do an honest man justice, for think
be will concur with our old townsman,
Henry H. Body, who belongs to his demon
ination, THAT being minister is nothing
against mans character if he is otherwise
worthy S. b.