The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-04-07
Answers to Correspondents.

e. d. c., BRATTLEBORo.-Th act
March 10Th, increasing widows and
Fpendent relatives pension from IS to
2 a month, does not increase the pen
on of officers widows who are receiv-
e pension of more than S12 month.
M. S. W., GRoToN.-This corre-
pendent wishes to know if she is en-
tied to widows pension. She was
nee pensioned, but remarked and gave
up. Her second husband left her
nd has not been heard from for over
Pn years. She is very needy and her
eighbors tell her that she is entitled
pension, and she desires to know
ur opinion. Ansocer-You are not en-
tiled to a pension. When you re-
harried you forfeited your right to
tension. If your present husband was
cad you would be the widow of the
hst husband and not the widow of the
older who died in rebel prison"
w. S., NoRTHFELD.-This CORE
$pondent wants the address of Alphonso
Lessor, first lieutenant of Company
D, Second Vermont Regiment, who left
dependent mother residing in North
field. Lieutenant Lessor was supposed
TO have died in the army and about
Twelve years after the war the mother
was about to apply for pension, as he
had not been heard from for more than
seven years and was presumed to have
died. Between the making and the
Signing of the application she received
a letter purporting to come from him.
[He was then on the frontier, and as he
has not written since his mother thinks
he was killed with General Custer in
the battle with the Indians where all
the United States soldiers were killed.
Any information concerning this soldier
sent to William Stone, Mortified, VT. &,
will reach his mother.
G. F. S., CRAFTsBURY.-This CORE
spondent writes that George w. Pettee
served nine months as soldier in the
Fifteenth Regiment, Vermont Volun-
teers; that when the regiment returned
to Brattleboro to be mustered out Pet
tee was sick and was given furlough
of few days to go home, and when the
furlough expired he was unable to re-
turn to Brattleboro to be discharged,
but sent friend with physicians GER
tificate, giving the reason why he did
not return to his command; that the
friend received his pay but not his dis
charge certificate, and in fact the soldier
has not been discharged. The soldier
is advised that he is now entitled to the
monthly pay of SIG a month from 1868,
when last paid, to the present time,
and he desires to collect the same.
AnsaUer-The soldier has been misin-
formed. He enlisted to serve for period
of nine months. He served nine months
and has been paid for nine months
service, which is all he is entitled to in
law or equity. He could have obtained
discharge at any time by applying fol-
it and showing the facts. He is entitled
to pension if he is suffering from dis.
ability contracted in the service and
line of his duty.
SOLDIER, BETHEL.-This CORE spond,
ent again writes us, saying that he fol
lowed the advice given in the Budget
two weeks since and addressed note
to the commissioner of pensions, ask
ing to be informed of the reason foI
stopping the payment of his pension
and has received the following lette
from the commissioner of pensions:
PENSION OFFICE, |
WASHINGTON. ID. c., March oath, 1886.
Sir:-You are informed that the paymen
of your pension has been suspended pend
ing an investigation to determine the gen
eral merits of the case. No injustice will b.
done you in the examination, which will b.
made at your residence, and you are priv
legged to be present and cross-eXamine an
and all witnesses who may testify adversel
to your claim. Due notice of the time @
taking testimony will be given you by tn
examiner who has the case in hand. Yer
respectfully
JOHN G. BLACK. Commissioner
We judge from this letter that tn
pension Office has been informed tina
the disability for which you was pen
stoned was not contracted in the Unite
State service or does not now exist
The latter fact could be decided by a
examination by a medical board, bu
the former one can only be settled b
the testimony of persons knowing tn
facts stating when, where and the Gil
cumstances under which it was cor
tracted. You ought to produce all tn
witnesses you can showing the origin {
your disability in the service, and thu
you was free from hernia at enlistmen