The sun., 1883-10-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
GREAT FRAUDS UNEARTHED.
SOLDIERS AND THEIR HEIRS ROBBED
BY PENSION AGENTS.
TIE Government InvestisatinG Enorseus
Evii-swindiinr Agents Getting Rich All
Over the Country-Mrs. Lockweod's Case.

TIE Government Investigating nm Enor.aeus
Evii-swindiins Agents Getting Rich All
Over the Country-Mrs. Lockweod's Case.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Distrlct Attorney
Corkhill received nearly a half bushel OF letters
to-day. Yesterday almost as many came to
him. and his mail has been very heavy since 1t
has been learned that the Government intends
to make as thorough business as possible with
the swindling pension agents. Letters come
from all parts OF the country. and the evidence
OF the systematized fraud OF the obtaining Of
money BY false pretences and widespread dis
honesty OF pension agents is sufficient in the
Governments opinion. to secure the imme-
diate indictment of many pension agents.
While this move is the first that has been
made by the Government in this direction. the
fact that frauds have been committed has been
for a long time known. So sure was the late
Commissioner Bently of it that he did not
the pension cai ms were fraudulent. But no
special effort has been made until lately to
stop the frauds OF which pension claimants
MIR. Corkhill says that he has during the past
summer received many letters, written. cyl
dccepon ay and that have besn II pras
tised. Mr. Corkhill after several conferences
and the Attorney General. decided to make In
vcstigations The result is beginning to appear.
sId Besides s, those nos pension agents already sus-
| practice One Of these was Mrs. Belva Lock-
wood. the somewhat notorious woman lawyer.
She is charged with receiving money for which
no return was made.
The most frequent method pursued by dis;
was as follows: After writing to Postmusters in
different places. asking for lists, OF all soldiers
reward for such a list huge poster would be-
sent, and q request that the Postmaster would
display it in some conspicuous place; The
| on llc fhn Mt
IGNITION OF soldiers TO, the fact that Congress
has appropriated millions for PENSIONS and
% he Ie ss asaby The1
follow Ions. list of disabilities, that include
Pensioners are also reminded that nearly all OF
them are entitled to an increase of pension.
HaS1g ey these means tsmpted pit "a s2ldier @ to
claims. and persist in the demands, whether
the applicant has any case or not. In many
tional fee. The fraud consists in duping tho
claims that are worthless. and in frightening
applicants into payments by threatening to
the %nsfs m
thinks that several MILLIONS have been obtained
from soldiers their TidTTs and "rohans by
creased immensely Of late. BY dishonest rep
resentations the pension agents have induced
worthless and which they filed only to obtain
the fee Of $40 allowed by law. Many tales OF
| hardship nave been told. Tor nearly all the ap-
plicants are poor. and the small sums they are
required to- send mean very serious incon-
venience. In these casos. OF course the loss
does not fall on the Government. but there is
no doubt that the same agents who file iraudu-
lent claims have no hesitation in filing fraudu;
lent testimony. Such cases are known. and
this means robbery OF the Government.
This frGpdulent business is found to exist al
pension firms have been implicated. There are
more pension agents here proportionatey thar
elsewhere. and a good many Of them have beer
engaged in the business. There are some firms
elsewhere that do an immense business thai
the District Attorney has evidence against
Tho business must be a profitable one. On,
frY, N tho West thet he's several branches Il
| rebcrted to have made an immense amount q
money in a few years in the prosecution o
claims. good and bad. and one agent In Wash
ington. who 1t is believed does an honest busi
| ness. has risen from poverty to great wealth.