The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-08

testimony embodied In these dispositions
indicates that some time in the year 1889
very large number of these spurious con-
gressional slips bearing the fac-simile
signature of George w. Cooper. member OF
Congress for the Fifth Indiana district.
were prepared at the instance of Maring,
Slusher N Co.. and with the Endorsement
and approval of Mr.. Cooper.
In regard to the printing of these slips
Mitchell testites that he took form pre-
sented to him by Maring to the Hon.
Mr.. Cooper at Columbus. who gave him
the privilege of having duplicate of his
signature made from which TO PRINT his
signature in fac-simile On tho slips That
the slips were printed by him aud shipped
to Messrs. Maring. Slusher & Co.. Colum-
bus. Ind.
Henry Holt testifies that he saw o large
number of these blank sliDs in the Office of
Mar1ng Slusher & Co., and his recollection
Is that Maring said there were twenty
thousand of them; that he knows that o
in calling mp the claims of said firm In MIR.
Cooper's name from circumstances con-
pAeted Herewith.
'Mr. Maring corroborated Mr.. Mitchell.
He conceived the idea OF having them pre-.
pared III this manner from the fact that
Mr.. Cooper had previously furnished him
with congressional slips In blank, which
he would nil up and take them TO MI.
Cooper's office or send them by clerk to
have them signed: that they did this In
great quantities through Mr.. Cooper, and
that he conceived the idea of getting mp o
congressional slip the Same as that used by
the office and having Mr. Cooper's name
printed In fac-slmil1e upon them; that he
spoke to Mr. Cooper about 1T. who assented.
and he then went on and had them printed;
that his impression IL the order was for
either twenty thousand or forty thousand
slips.
CooPERs NAME WAS on THEM ALI.
MIR. Bailey testified that his attention
was called to o number OF spurious con-
gressional call slips by Commissioner Tan
ner. who said there were over three thou
sand of them; that he picked up one Of the
slips, examined it and found the name
of George w. Cooper printed thereon;
that Mr.. Tanner stated that they were not
printed in the bureau: that they came IN
the regular way and asked for the status
or claims pending In the bureau. and
further that they related to claims filed by
Maring. Slusher 81 Co., and were used by
them under Mr.. Cooper's name Mr.. Bailey
stance during his connection with the
bureau where his attention was called to
the use of spurious congressional call slips
used with the fac-simile of the signature
of Congressman upon them.
Mr.. Fisher, the chief clerk of the bu-
reau, testified to the same facts; he KIN ows
of no other instance in the history of the
Pension Office where spurious congress
sionai call-sllps were printed and used with
the fac-simile signature OF member OF
Congress attached.
"fhe records of the bureau disclose that
the attention OF Maring Slusher 81 Co.
was called to the spurious character of
continue their use. While at Columbus,
Ind. | obtained from Mr.. John n: Maring
q pad of the spurious slips. and attach
several of them as exhibits. 1t will be OBJ
served that the intent was to reproduce
hA o0e for md nrn na
OF the genuine slip as printed by the gov
eminent and furnished to members of Con-
gross by the bureau. But an error in
spelling the word claimant. in the spurious
slips. easily served to identify the fraud
and prevented their use to any great ex-
tent.
mir. David L. GIFTS testimony refersmore
particularly to large number Of Maring,
Slusher d. Co. g call-slips. filed in the Office
during the term of Commissioners John e.
Black, such slips bearing the Endorsement
of Hon. George w. Cooper, NJ G., and which
Slips were. by General Blacks order.
thrown aside, ana no attention paid to
them. There appears to be q difference of
opinion as to the quantity Of spurious slips
ordered or printed. but Mr.. Maring, the
most interested person, testihes that the
order was for from forty TO forty-tive
thousand"
TELL-TALE LETTERS.
Here is . verbatim copy of the letter of
Cooper's letter-hea which opened up the
subject of the trafficking in the official in
fuence of the Representative of the Fifth
district of Indiana. the first notice that the
honor and virtue of the office was upon the
market:
WASHINGTON, July IL, 1891.
H. c. Peet. Columbus. Ind.
At the suggestion Of our mutual friend, Hon.
Geo. W. Cooper, write TO invite correspondence
relative to pension claims, and 70 say that shall
be glad to enter into any ARRANGEMENT which
may be 10 our mutual benefit Mr.. Cooper gave
me no details as to what you desired. but only
intimated that you proposed entering into the
pension business and that you would like to
make some arrangements with some one In
Washington to advise, etc. Hoping TO hear from
you at an early date, am truly yours
lows:
should not like to be known as charging
claimants for exarlInIng and advising them as
to their claims. as 1 do not know how the de-
sn5 ssrd It. S Sad wnnS a Re
no trouble about Tly examining claims for an
attorney for am frequently requested bv them
| to do SO and am paid by them for my trouble
and advice. There is one attorney IN your
State for whom not only examine many claims.
but for whom file evidence and attend to little
| thc-delays have been vcxatiOus. shall
be- glad to hear from you further, particularly as
as to the manner of obtaining compensation for
| such service. have the status OF about
one thousand claims which have examined for
the various attorneys who are prosecuting them.
The majority Of them are Indiana cases.
Under date of August g. 1891 Hersey
wrote Peet o letter, in which he said:
The proposition you make accept. trust
you may be able TO make as much as out OF the
enterprise. One dollar for the examination Of
claims and making reports therein is not too
much - 1 suggest that you do not advise Mr..
Ragon as TO who is at this end Of the line.
III can see the Rlimmer OF dollar anywhere
, rest assured that shall embrace the opportuni-
~ OF securing IL.
Jan. S1S92, Hersey wrote Poet that a re-
cent order or the department forbade at
tOrneys examining the records, but remind
ed him that the order did not apply to Con-
gressinen or those who call up claims for
Congressman. He observed that the attor-
neys had taken the matter to the Presi-
dent and hoped to have the order resclnded
HERsEY BECOMES FRIGHTENED.
Feb. % last. Hersey wrote Peet o letter
in which he admonshed him as follows.
please keep as confidential. SO far as my
name is concerned. any information gave
YOU" 1t appears that Hersey got very
much frightened about his transactions
with Coopers relative about this time. as
q, number of letters passed between
the two on the subject of keeping
things quiet" and not using each Their 5
names in public. They knew full well. as
| did Mr.. Cooper. how public opinion would
regard snch tTansa ctions
Feb. lS. 1892, Hersey wrote letter TO
james +. Morgan. at Bloomington Ind.
which should clear up any doubt as 10