Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-28
TRICKS TO GET PENSIONS.
SNYDER'S INSANITY GREATLY
EXAGGERATED.

Ills NonthIy stipend of ds92 to be Cut
90 IS or $3O-A Possibility of an
INe,tigatiOn-The Claim of the Vir-
.iuiA CaynIryman Not Allowed by the
Commissioner.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-Snyder, the
New York pensioner who yesterday went
TO the Commissioner of Pensions and
offered to relinquish his pension of $72 a
month. is insane. A pension of so large
amount Is never given except to persons
suffering from total disability, blindness
or insanity. When Snyder's case was eX-
9mIncd to-day it was found that he had
been awarded his large pension, the high
,.f known to the office, because he was so
insane as to need the care of an attendant.
rb. application was filed for him by his
family in 1878, and the award was made
about a wear ago. His Oldest daughter,
as his representative, received over
10000 at that time by way of arrears of
pension.
SNN DER'S EXPOSURE,
Had SNYDER kept away from Washing
TON his family might haze drawn his S12
month until the day Of his death; but
his visit to the Commissioner Yesterday
attracted attention 10 his case, and when
he returned today be was examined 10y
the Grief Medical Office of the Pension
Oaice. He found that he was indeed in-
sane, but that his INSANITY was Of very
mild type. consisting manly of delusious
anOut religion. 1t was perfectly evident
that he could take care nf himself with
out the assistance Of an attendant. The
Chief Medical Officer will therefore re-
commend that his peDsiq be cut down TO
between $50 and $50 NINTH. An inves-
tgatjon OF the Oigin0 award may be
made.
PLAYING TUINCOAT.
The Commissioner OfPensiOns has de-
cided adyers ely upon tie application for
a pension of one Dawson of the West
Virginia Cavalry who idned the COntede-
rate service while a L non prisoner. 1t
isalleged In this case tht the claimants
enlistment in the SOuthTn army while
prisoner Of war was for be purpose of es-
Gaping 10 the Federal Ines at a favorable
opportunity. In his decHOn the Commits
sioner saws:
To the proposition thatlhe enlistment in
the rebel service was nOta voluntary act
cannot give assent Whll' his enlistment in
the enemv's service practically illustrated
the claimants shrewdnes it certainly does
not youch for MS patrlosm. y soldier Is
called upon to face deathn many fOrms-tO
lie shot on the field, to be slrved in captivity,
and in other ways to saclice his life for his
country.
NO JUSTfFIdTI0N.
can see no iustihcatil, however, for his
enlistment under the enay's standard and
qrirg lhem, il oalv for limited time aid
anu c0mfOiN. II il were 5owable for cap
tured soldier TO join the lemy for the pur-
pose of escaping the harddps am privations
Of prison life. the principl would be estab-
lished that prisoner Of ar would become
simply a recruit for thenemy. In law a
mans intentions and motes are tobe judged
by his overt acts, NOT by hsubsequent eXpla-
and in view Of the provlsis of the statute. |
cannot hold otherwise thathat the soldier in
this case uid render Voluary aid aud COM
fort to the late rebellion aiast the authority
Of the United States. Thelaim will, there
fore he rejected. and in Is and all similar
cases Congress alone can &c relief.