Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-05
A CLEVER PENSION swINDLER.
An Interesting Story Connected with
Henry Pyfer's Crime.

A CLEVER PENSION swINDLER.
An Interesting Story Connected with
Henry Pyfer's Crime.
Henry Pyfer, recently convicted at Trenton,
N. j., for criminal violation Of the pension
laws, was sentenced yesterday 10 four years
imprisonment and to pay a fine Of s1,ooO.
Pyfer was arrested in this city. The story Of
his crime, its detection and his subsequent
wanderings and arrest is full Of interest.
In the spring Of 1882 extensive frauds were
discovered in the pension bureau number
Of claims for pension that had been practically
abandoned, were revived in a peculiar manner.
Each applicant in asking q reconsideration OF
his claim, stated that he had removed from the
place OF former residence, and gave a new ad-
dress, to which he asked that all correspond
ence touching his claim might be sent. Among
the claims thus revived were those Of Daniel
1eamans, John F. Keator and James Martin.
When their claims were filed Yeamans resided
In New York city, Keator lived at Shokan,
Ulster county, N. Y, and Martin at Hoboken,
N. J. In reviving the claims Yeaman's address
was given as Hudson, Columbia county, N. Y;
Aeatorls as S59 Grove street, Jersey City, and
Martins as 2Ol Bridge avenue, Camden, n. j.
The first intimation of crookedness came to
the Pension Office in May, 1882, when Keator
wrote from Shokan to know why his claim was
not allowed, He was informed that il had been
allowed and paid in February, 1884, and that
check for 1884. SO had been mailed to him at
No. S59 Grove street, Jersey City, the address
or at once replied that he never lived in Jersey
City, and had not been out Of Ulster county.
N. j., since his return from the army in 1865.
NosINa THE FRAUD.
Special Agent Jacobs, who was directed to
investigate the case, visited Shokan, N. Y, and
satisfied himself that Keator was honest and
that his statement was entitled to credit. He
then went to 359 Grove street, Jersey City,
where he learned that q man calling himself
John F. Keator had applied for and obtained
Lodgings in January ISL telling the landlord.
in the union army and was expecting pension.
After being there about five weeks he received
q pension check for S834.93 which he showed
to Brown, at the same time asking that he 60
with him to the bank, to identify him as John
F. Keator. Thoroughly believing his repre-
sentation, Brown went with him and identified
him at the Hudson Co. national bank in Jersey
City, as John F. Keator and the check was
cashed there, after which Brown and his ledger
parted company and did not meet again for
several years.
The agent subsequently found that descrip-
tons Of the bogus Jas. Martin and the bogus
Daniel Yeamans, each of whom had obtained
handsome sums in pension checks, seemed to
agree with that Of Keator. Mr.. Jacobs learned
that the true Yeamans was killed in New York
city in 1874, and buried in potter's field; and
that the genuine Jas. Martinswas prosperous
merchant in Brooklyn, N. Y. 1t was now patent
that there was a confederate inside the PEN
sion office. All three Of these claims had been
passed by the same examiner, and that fact put
him under suspicion. His place Of residence
when the frauds were committed was ascer-
tanned, as well as a description of the persons
who visited him about that time. Among these
descriptions was that of Henry Pyfer a brother
in-law Of the suspected clerk. Pyfer had been
q seafaring man, and his description was iden-
dcal with that of the man who personated
Keator, Martin, and Yeamans. Indictments
were procured against both Pyfer and the sus-
pected clerk upon charges Of forgery and false
personation.
HUNTED AROUND THE WORLD.
Search was made for Pyfer, and in December
1884, he was located in the copper mines Of
Clifton, Arizona, by Special Agent Jacobs. who
thereupOn obtained from United States District
Judge Nixon, Of New Jersey, bench warrant
for his arrest. On the day when the agent was
was received that he had left for Clifton.
From this point he was traced to Lordsburg,
New Mexico, and thence to San Francisco
where he shipped as sailor on the Kate
Davenport. bound for Sidney. New South
Wales. He returned to San Francisco. in July,
1886, and again shipped on a sailing vessel
bound for Liverpool, England. At Liverpool
he shipped on the Cimbermere, for Calcutta,
India, under the name of Joseph Gail. He re-
turned to Liverpool. June Is, 1887,
and on June 81, again sailed for CAL
cutta, returning to Liverpool October IL, 1887,
where he boarded at the Canning House, No.
l Hanover street, and was known as Joe Gail
Application was made at the State department
for extradition papers, on which to return him
to the United States, but before they could be
prepared the authorities at Liverpool, who
had him under surveillance, reported that he
had sailed for New York, on October 49, in the
British steamship Michigan. Agent Jacobs
went to New York Just before the steamer was
due, and there learned that the Michigan
was bound for Boston instead of New York He
too late, as the passengers were landed the day
previous The passenger list showed the name
Of Joseph Gail, as among the 'steerage pas
sengers." While ON the voyage ual became
acquainted with one of the crew of the Michi-
igan, by name Miller, and to him impaired
the information that he had relatives in WASH
ington whom he intended to visit.
ARRESTED IN THIS CITY.
Armed with this information the special
agent returned to Washington, and cured the
assistance of Inspector Swindells, VII, detailed
Detective Joseph Carter to aid Special Agent
Jacobs. They located Pyfer's relatives in
Washington, and hired room on the opposite
side of the street, from whence they could
command a good view. After patient watch
for two days, man answering Pyfer's descrip-
ton was seen to leave the house in question
Jacobs and Carter followed him to the grocery
store of Ashby & Co., at the corner of Sd
and E streets northwest, and there arrested
him. On the following day he was taken to
New Jersey and lodged in fail. Pyfer's con-
federate was arrested at Hutchinson, Kans., and
at the April term of the United States court at
Trenton, N. j., they were tried on a charge of
conspiracy, and acquitted. Pyfer proved an
alibi, the trial being upon the charge growing
out of the Keator case.
On the 2Sth ult. Pyfer was tried at the adj
journed term Of the same court upon an indict-
ment charging him with forgery and false per-
sonation in the case Of James Martin. The
Jury were out but a short while, and promptly
returned verdict Of guilty upon both charges.
He was sentenced yesterday.
During the late war Pyfer served in the con-
federate army in company A, second Maryland
infantry. The amount of money involved in
his frauds cannot be definitely determined, but
1t is known that he practiced his pension swim
dies for more than three years.
Masonic vIsITATIoN.-Last evening Lafay-
cite r. A. chapter. No. s, was paid its annual
grand visitation by the Grand Royal Arch chap
ter of the District Of Columbia. After an ex-
tensive order Of exercises consisting Of singing