The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-10
A VILE SCOUNDREL.
He Makes Soldiers Widow His Prey, and Fright
ems Her Out of $100.


On Friday last middle-aged man visited
the residence of Mrs. Henry Cash, a widow
lady of our town, and after some preliminares
informed her that he was called upon to put her
under arrest. In answer to her question as to
the cause he replied that it was for drawing
double pensions. Mrs Cash is the widow of
two soldiers, and was drawing pension for the
first husband when she married the second
Then the pension, under the law, was drawn
by the children. Her second husband had APP
piled for pension, and after his death she was
successful In her effort to get the arrearage
The man was fully conversant with these facts
also as to who her attorneys were, and other
minute which gave his words much influence
with her. Besides this he showed great dis
tress at the necessity of doing his duty told her
he knew she meant wrong, laid the whole
blame upon her attorneys and advisers, but as
sured her that her drawing the last pension
was crime which the Government could not
condone, and hence she must get ready and
Immediately proceed with him to Springfield
She protested thatshe must see her friends, but
this he would not allow, stating that if she
undertook to do so he would handcuff her and
take her away in irons, which threat and the
dread of the penitentiary he kept constantly
before her eyes Besides this he warned her
to tell nobody why she was under arrest and
added other threats to keep her silent. He ad-
viged her to take at least $500 along to pay
costs; and after trying to get money on some
notes here in Flora without avail, she con-
clnded to try her brother-in-law Joseph Stur-
tevant. The officer n took carriage and he
and Mrs. Cash visited her relative, where she
was successful in raising the required sum.
They returned to Flora just before the night
train passed east over the o. & NJ, at which
time the man pretended TO have received a dis
patch to take her to Washington, instead of
Springfield, and informed her that they would
go to Vincennes that night. Upon reaching
Vincennes he locked her in room at hotel,
after threatening for a while to put her in JAIL
pretending to do this against orders and out of
regard for her. Early the next morning he ap-
3peared at her room and pretended he had re-
ceived dispatch that the costs in her case
would be Sl65, and that he was empowered to
settle the matter for the Government After
getting all her money and note for $65 he
released her, bought her ticket, and she is now
at home. From the fright and nervous shock
received she is now sick iii bed and under the
treatment of DR.. Wilson.
Lit ought to be said that before her release he
swore her to secrecy, on the ground that it
must not be known that he interceded in her
behalf to make the settlement
1t is needless to add that this brute is the
vilest kind of thief, plying his well-learned
trade upon the widows of dead soldiers more
dastardly outrage we have not been called upon
to record for long time, and we hope that the
FRANKS of this villain will soon be permanently
closed The indignant people of Vincennes
hung one fellow the other day and we hope
they will look up our chap and hold jubilee
over him.