Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-10

Recently q. 8. Commissioner Allen, in
Brooklyn, N. T., had before him for further
hearing Robert Henry, the sexton an under
taker Of Grace chapel, arrested there week be-
fore last on the charge of having presented to
the government false aud fraudulent bill for
funeral expenses of the minor child of de =
ceased soldier. A few weeks ago, Gen. W. W.
Dudley, Commissioner Of Pensions, having
learned Of suspicious circumstances in connec-
ton with claim presented by Henry, ordered
an investigation by the special examiners of the
office. This investigation resulted in state
ment Of facts, which, if true, show that the in
human treatment Of the father in AndersonviIe
prison, which caused his death, did not surpass
the treatment experienced by his children.
A VICTIM OF ANDERsONvILLE PRISON.
In 1861 Patrick Conroy, likely young labor
enlisted in company H, 99th New York volun-
teers. leaving at home yoang wife with two
children-Teresa, four years old, and John. an
infant of one year. Conroy went with bis regi-
ment to the front and was captured in one of
the earliest engagements the regiment was in.
He was sent by the c0nfederates to the Ander-
sonville prison, where he died August 18th,
1854, as the record says. of starvation. The
widow was granted pension Of S8 per month
on May Cd, 1866, dating from the death of her
husband. Mrs. Conroy died January Both, 1872,
and application was made for the continuance
Of the pension to Robert Henry, the guardian
of the children, until they should arrive at the
age OF 16 years. 1t appears from the statements
made that Henry gave no care to the children;
that the girl was obliged to 60. into service and
the boy was allowed to run at large, sleeping
wherever he could.
HORRIBLE DEATH FROM HYDRoPHOBA.
About May LIST, 1876, the boy was bitten by a
vicious dog. When the sickness came on he
went to the house Of his guardian and asked to
be admitted. but was told to go to the stable.
Here he made bed in the loft and on May 9th
he came down. Henry said all the boy wanted
was drink of water, which was given him.
This caused a development Of the disease and
the boy commemorate howl and bark like dog.
He was thereupon driven into the street, and
was pursued by a crowd till he fell into the
hands Of the police. By the police authorities
he was sent to Flatbush hospital, and died the
following day Of hydrophobia. Henry having
due the children, amounting to over $500, went
to the hospital, and finding the body in pau
per's coffin had it buried at once. The check
was next presented to Col. McLeer, the pension
agent, but he refused to pay it, On the ground
that the boy was dead. although the sister had
claim to a portion Oft.
HOW THE TRAGEDY CAME TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Col. McLeer wrote to Commissioner Bentley
for instructions, and was directed to pay so
much of the certificate as was due the girl and
return the balance, to await any claim that
might be made for reimbursement. Col
McLeer paid over s1s3, the amount due as the
girls portion; but Henry compelled her to pay
out most OF it for medicines, medical attend
ance and the burial of her brother, leaving her
but $40 or $50. Henry then put in a claim of
s12O for the funeral expenses-the coffin being
Charged at $25-knOwing at the time that the
boy had received pauper's burial. AS no
favorable action was taken on this bill, he cut
down the amount to 500. swearing to the items
The girl, who had paid Henry over 500 for the
funeral expenses, having learned that the gov
eminent paid the funeral expenses of deceased
soldiers orphans, wrote to the pension office in
1879, and Col. McLeer recently called Commits
sioner Dudley's attention to the case, and he
ordered an investigation at once. This was
made by special agents, and the result
was the arrest of Henry and his commitment to
jail for hearing, his bondsman surrendering
him.