Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-11-08

to the merits of the claim for pension of
Daniel Duncan. No. 3i9,4i2, YOU furnished
several atlantis in said claim with copies of
their aflidavits, and instructed them to pre-
pare themselves accordingly. You will be
allowed 80 days to disprove the charge"
81 notice it says, that upon learning that
an investigation was TO he made. How did
YOU learn it ?"
From the usual official notice sent in all
similar cases. Here is a copy;
You are informed that it has become nee
c>sarv To have claim No. 349.i42. Daniel Dun
can. determined by a special examination. For
this purpose. the papers in the ease have been
forwarded TO Rodney Chip. special cNamin-
or of this office now at Rockland. Knox COun-
ty. Maine. who will notify You by mail. In due
time. Of the probable date at which he will en-
ter upon said examination. and will afford YOU
an opportunity 10 be present in person or by
attorney. Very Respectfully.
W. W. DUDLEY, Commissioner.
"What did YOU DO On receiving the no
tice?n
look al over the claim and the names of
the atlantis. found mos, of the witnesses
had testified three wears before. and none less
than ID Years. TO refresh their memories
| sent them copies OF their affiiavitN"
Have you copy Of the letter you sent
them?'
"les here is li,hogram copy. Having
quite a number to send made these cop
les:
DEAR SIE:-panicl Duncan'> claim for
pension j. soon 10 lee examined by q clerk from
the pension office. To refresh your memory
and enable YOU io answer iniclligcnty such
questions may be- put To YOU. ! send You
herewith a copy of YOUR affidavit. Please read
it ana refresh your recollection.
Very truly. J. Z. tILLEY."
did you violate any order or instruction
of the pension office in SO doing ?"
Not 70 my knowledge. have carefully
examined the pension office digest. some go
pages. and failed to find an, Implication Of
its being wrong. 1t lies in my own mind
thus: II was not only my right, but my
duty. 70 inform the atlitn'> on their former
aifida>iis No attorney would allow due Of
biz w.;nesses without notice. to be re-cX am
inel or cross examined on an affidavit given
, ! , to three wears before, withou, ali OPP
Yo;tun.ty "a read such au affidavit. and re-
fresh bis memory in;hc >lhjcoi. Otherwise
The ncrc surprise might confuse the aihIut'>
memory and DESTROY his power Of answering
intelligentv.
Where does Duncan live. and what was
his company and regiment p"
'He lives in Ninahaycn, and belonged to
Co. G. 2sth Me Vols, raised in RocAlaud
and Nina.havcn."
For Aba. doe, he claim pcu>iont"
.!le claims pension for 4 severe cold. fol-
lowed by kidney trouble and foy an injury to
his right shoulder aud arm received III East
New York the last OF 1862. which he de-
scrihes thus in his affidavit:
That at tn time Of INJURY to hi ri.ht arm
and shoulder H. was engaged near the fire Of
the company cook and helping him: liz doe
not remember whether or not he Wa- detailed
10 help the cpak, but WIS tllcrr for Tint pur-
pose: thai while thus engaged Paris Norton.
private Of said company. in play or in anger.
hc does not know which. but knows no 0cci-
sion for any anger. >eiZrd him. lifted him from
the ground and threw him down. - that he
struck on his right arm and shoulder. and r.
ct-ivc,i the injury for which he claim, pension:
that this aiiiant WAS not engaged in any >cuiiic
or play OF contest with said Norton. but was
without notice Of iniiinntion seized andthrown
a. stated above.
Have YOU any objection to giving the
name, If the witnesses Ia his calm r.
They were Capt. Augustine Thompson.
H..
Mills. Hiram II. Brai,;reet. j ameS c. Calder
wood. Vincent Norton-ail members of Go.
g. Harvey Carver. Eliza j. Ca.derwool
and Saran J. Carver testified as uei.hbo.s
DIR. Fred \. Smith a. physician; an Hos
pitai Steward Jennings. whose records kept
at that time showed that Duncan was adj
milted TO hospital Jan. ,, 1868, and re-
manned 70 Jan. II. 1868"
''What i YOUR opinion about the merits
Of the claim p
Il have always considered it a nertoriou>
claim. have only personal acquaintance
with one Of the above named w,nesses-
William Thurston. | know him to be
very truthful man. All the others sup
pose TO be. but have never met any of them
except Mills and Norton. Mr. Duncan has
been examined both at Rock land and Bel
fast, and the examining surgeons mus, have
found him disabled or the case would nave
been rejected on their reports | have never
heard 1t intmated that the claim was fraud
ulent or frivolous, but know nothing Of any
adverse testimony to il. can say emphat-
cally that | have acted fairly. honestly and
justly, with no intention OF purpose Of in
iluencing any affiant to vary in any manner
from the truth"
is it any presumption against pension
claim to have il examined specially?'
Ne, sir. Il is the purpose Of the pre-
sent Commissioners to examine in this man
ner, many CLAIMS as possible For in
stance, there have been examined specially
in this city and Ninalhaven this summer tie
following claims; Mary Thomas, James
Hull, John S. Randlett, Isaac Ciough. Geo.
Poole, David S. Mulin, Stephen Mills; and
many others in lhomaston and this county.
Most Of them have been allowed, and none
rejected"
''In regard to do yoa ever take fees
attornies. in cases without merit %
mo, never intend to take claim unless
am persuaded it is just, and can be proved.
When the applicants are well known to me.
bear very large portion of the expenses
of the claim, such as authorizations. the
correspondence with officers and physician.
the procuring and paying for such evidence.
On allowance Of claim, | ask the regular
fee, viz: the contract fee of S2j in claim,
filed prior to June 20, 1878, and so on
claims filed since, with reimbursement Of
my necessary and legitimate expenses, and
equitable interest on the same, for time of
delay. | can point you to dozen of claim
ants in this vicinity who have applied to me.
and l have told them that their disability
was not sufficient, or their proof fatally de-
fective, who, led by specious promises, have
sent their advance fees to Washington attor
MES. and are consequently so much out, and
no pension"
80 what do you attribute your success as
pension agent?"
Entirely to understanding the claim in
the beginning. particularly the medical his
tory of the disability. One naturally ac-
quires skill on this point, after years Of ex-
perience."
"Will your suspension, if not removed, be
of pecuniary loss to you?'
u can only say, l have since January l,
1880, filed 800 claims. Many are still pend
ing, as also some of an earlier date. You
can judge of the injury to myself and the
claimants"
81 have one more question to ask YOU:
Did you accompany the special examiner in
his examination Of the witnesses ?"
ii did not. Ny Office business rendered
it practically impossible. My only way to
enable the atlantis to refresh their memory
was by sending them copies of their former
affidayits | have never met or conyersed