Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-05
Pension Frauds.


Some time ago The HERALD printed
a letter, received from Mr.. Sylvester
Moody, of Animation, detailing the oper-
ations of a bogus pension examiner.
The letter was turned over to DR.. A. H.
Barber, of this city, who sent the same
to the Commissioner of Pensions The
past week, he received the following re-
ply:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 9th.
DR.. A. H. Barber, Lancaster, WIS.
Sir:-Receipt is acknowledged of the
letter of Mr.. Sylvester Moody to the ed
itor of THE HERALD at Lancaster, Wis,
and referred to me by you, informing
me that there is person going round
claiming to be appointed by the govern
ment to examine pensioners and report
their cases to Washington, and that he
has obtained money under such pre-
lenses. In reply have the honor to
inform you that no Special Examiner
or other person employed by this office
is authorized to receive money either as
fee or as expenses in any manner,
from claimants or pensioners. Unfor-
tunately there is no United States stat
ute under the provisions of which per-
sons falsely representing themselves to
be in the employ of the government can
be punished, but the good citizens where
they operate should endeavor to procure
their arraignment under some state stat
ute bearing upon the crime of obtaining
money under false pretenses. Until leg
islation can be secured to protect poor
soldiers from such impostors, it is hoped
that the local press of the country and
postmasters will use every proper en-
deavor to so publish these frauds as to
save pensioners and claimants from be-
ing ieeced Herewith find enclosed
circular addressed to Special Examiners
relative to this class of swindlers.
Very respectfully,
M. M. DUDLEY,
Commissioner.
Enclosed, with the letter, is the fol-
lowing circular to special examiners:
TO Special Examiners:
Numerous complaints have reached
this office that INSCRIPTIONS persons
are travelling throughout the country
claiming that they are authorized to
represent the Commissioner of Pensions,
and upon this and various other pre-
texts have Gefrauded pensioners and
applicants for pension, out of certain
sums of money. 1t is, therefore, my
duty to direct that the Special Exam
liners of this office shall in every such
instance inform the public that no Spec
ial Examiner or other person employed
by this Office is authorized to receive
money, either rs fee or as expenses
in any manner; and that each Special
Examiner of the Pension Office is pro-
vided with a certificate over the sigma
ture of the Commissioner of Pensions.
whose signature is duly verified by the
Hon. Secretary of the Interior, under
the seal of his department, showing that
the Examiner has been regularly detail
ed by the Commissioner from the clerical
force of the Pension Office under section
4744 of the Revised Statutes, and is
qualified to administer oaths, &c.
Therefore, if any person, in the absence
of such authority should represent that
he is a Special Examiner of the Pension
Office or shall demand or obtain money
under any pretense whatever, he may
be safely set down as fraud and
swindler, and among the worst of his
class.
1t is my earnest desire that when
money has been obtained from pen
sioners or claimants under such circum-
stances that prompt and vigorous
measures may be taken at once tc
bring the offenders to Justice. This
may be done under the laws of the
State wherein the otfense was committed,
under such statutes as have been en-
acted for the trial and punishment OF
persons obtaining money or any val
liable thing under false pretenses. In
order that this class of imposters NAV
be published as widely as possible,
each case of defrauding claimants OF
pensioners should be reported by some
responsible person, with full dis
cription of the imposter, to the Com
missioner of Pensions, who will at once
instruct his Special Examiners to give
the public proper warning.
VIM. w. DUDLEY,
Commissioners