New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-29
DISHONEST CLAIM AGENTS.
PROSPECTIVE PENSIONERS swINDLED.
SOME OF THE METHODS EMPLOYED TO ROB TIE
POOR AND IGNORANT.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBUNE.I

w AoIiNplONJ OCl. ZOs-ODltSS DlSllNb-hO-
torney Corkh Is greatly deceived to the weight and
value OF tho testimony in his possession showing fraud
and deception the part Of largo number Of pension
claim agents In Washington these persons will be so
busy for the next few months efforts to keep out of the
pententiary that they will not be able to push with their
usual ygor the various schemes they have hand to
further legislation Ostensby for the benefit Of
the late soldiers Of the Union hut really to I'LL their own
pockets at the expense Of the taxpayers. These
schemes, as well tho fraudulent practices against
which tho authorities have not begun hOstities, have
been frequently exposed in the columns OF The TRIB
USE.
ARRANGING A NEW CRUSADE.
For months past claim agents have been busy crcu-
lating petitions and obtaining signatures from eN-
soldiers and others praying Congress to remove the re
stricon TO the time for fling claims for arearages OF
PENSIONS and there Is To believe that they have
thus succeeded In obtaining material enough already to
impress a great many creduOus and weak-kneed Con-
grcssmon with the belief that overwhelming public
sentiment demands the proposed legislation.
Colonel Corkhlll describes Of the favOro methods
used by dishonest claim agents to obtain money under
false protences follows: There a poor widow in
Pennsylvania who got OF those circulars. The agent
obtained her name, suppose, through letter to the
postmaster You what the effect Of one OF these
circulars would be when sent to ignorant person. man
or The circular says: You entitled TO
pension. Please h up the inclosed blank lmmedl-
atcy III raises expectations 1ncn pension
begin milking for moncy-one dollar for postage,
One OF these things addressed TO this widow.
She thought that the pension attorneys Of course knew
whether she entitled TO pension not and 80 she
signed the papers and sent them Some time after
ward tho express agent told her that there package
for her marked collect delivery ten dollars What
I'm the world could It be The eXpressman brought up
one Of these large envelopes with Union flag and ords
United states Pension Agent printed on II. She had
only $40 IN inc Word-Somo money sent her 10y lorIler
friends of her husband, who are now living In Nebraska
This she intended to use IN buying her winter Hour OF
coal.
PARTING WITH HER LAST DOLLAR.
"Tho express agent went with her to the Justice of tho
Peace who said the package undoubtedly came from the
pension agent and that the $40 his fec allowed by
law They went also 10 the lawyer who said that It was
the pension certificate. she went home got the $l0
which was more TO her than 10000 TO people and
went the express office jos fully with the money She
told the express agent that II Gods doings that
brought pension Just the time that she almost
starving. She gave the money. Tho express agent
opened tho package and read the contents. II was sim
ply paper from pension agent In this city with the
inscription: Received our fee, SO Inc cypress mn
said: This + such an outrageous case, madame, Will
retain tho envelope and write To the man lie Wrote
got further satisfaction believe than that that
the fee allowed by law"
DUpING EX-CoSFEDERATE sOLDGEUs.
There is zomo evidence indicating that or more
claim AGENTS have attempted 20 procure pensions for
Confederate soldiers or at least have collected money
from them under tho prcence that they entitled to
pensions. The D~tRct-Auorucy mentioned one case Of
this knid.
lie said: Another letter Of one OF the firms that
think has been suspcudc-a letter TO Confederate SOL
dcraayH: There Is balance of - stu due on our zee
You have paid only -. Please send us the balance "a
now 10 20 aver all tho papers that you SEQ before meI
but what have read are fair sampos'