The National tribune., 1892-04-14

rendS case to Whlttlnghlll Inc Commissioners
had, in the meantime, received letter from
exCongressman Williams, of Ohio, calling at
tention to the fact that certain Ohio pension
attorneys were having their cases called up by
Hersey on Mr.. Cooper's Congressional slips
This matter was placed in Special Agent Green
waits hands, and he procured from the office
in which Raglan had formerly worked a letter
press book containing number OF letters re-
latng to claims which were called up on Mr.
Cooper's Congressional slip Linweaver was
deputized to assist Greenwalt, and he obtained
dispositions from number of persons which
showed that Hersey had secured information
on pension claims for Mr. Peet, and that Pee'
and Hersey had been brought together by MIR
Cooper, Peet having been clerk for Mr.
Cooper when the latter was Postmaster at Co
lumbus, and to whom he was related by mar
rage. The plan was that Raglan wrote to pen
sion attorneys and claimants and secured bust
ness, forwarded it to Peet, and the latter
correspondent with Hersey in Washington, the
latter using the Congressional slips of Mr.
Cooper and other members whom he repre-
sented as clerk. James Morgan deposes that
he was taken to Herseys Office by Mr.. Cooper,
and told that if he had anything worth pay
ing for, Hersey will attend to it for you" Nor.
gan wrote to Cooper, incosing $50, and asked
for the status of 25 cases. This letter was turned
over to Hersey, who acknowledged its receipt
and furnished the status of the cases. saying
also: eff you can state what you consider q
reasonable amount per claim for such service
shall be glad to correspond with you farther
with a view to our mutual interests. For the
statements now send you you may remit what
you think a fair compensation for the labor in
volved." One dollar per claim was aftcrward
agreed upon by Morgan and Hersey, so the for
mer testifies. Cooper afterward wrote Morgan
and returned the $25 sent him.
c. E. Foote states that he paid $l5 for the
status of five pension claims to Raglan & Co.,
which were procured by Peet and Hersey. Gen
Raum, in commenting on this evidence, says
in his letter to Secretary Noble: From all this
evidence it is perfectly clear that the privileges
extended to members of Congress under the
rules of the Pension Office have been grossly
violated, and as Hersey, an attorney practicing
before this bureau, has been party to TIN:
business, and has improperly secured informa'
ton and charged fee for the same, | think he
is not proper person to be permitted to prac'
tice before this Office"
1t was also shown that Maring, Slusher & Co.
pension attorneys, had printed in 1899 10000
Congressional slips with fac simile of Mr.
Coopers signature, which was done with Mr.
Cooper's consent and approval. Cooper's slips
became so numerous that Gen. Black directed
that they be thrown in the waste basket
Under Commissioner Tanner 5000 of the
Cooper slips were received, and Tanner directed
that they be destroyed, and Maring, Slusher
& Co. directed to quit using them.
In answer to questions Gen. Raum said
Hersey represented himself TO be Private Sec.
rotary for Mr.. Cooper, Mr.. Brookshire, of In
diana and Mr.. Gantz, of Ohio. He had heard
of Mr.. Hersey's doings some time ago, but
had only recently gotten the evidence against
him.
Mr.. Enloe again asked if Capt. Lemon had
not Endorsed Gen. Raum's note when the order
for completed files was made, and the latter
refused to answer. He was also asked if Capt
Lemon had not left Washington for Europe
when this investigation was ordered; TO which
the General said he had no personal knowl-
edge Of when Capt. Lemon went abroad.
Mr.. Brookshire, of Indiana, and Mr.. Gantz
OF Ohio, who were implicated In the selling of
status of claims for pensions by Hersey both
appeared before the committee and explained
their connection with that gentleman. Mr..
Brookshire said he had employed Hersey to at
tend to his pension business, for which he paid
him $25 month and postage. He employed
Hersey because he knew he was familiar with
the pension business. The soldiers seemed we'll
satisfied with the work performed by Hersey.
and this was the first time he had heard any
complaint or knew of any fraudulent transac-
tions.
Dir. Gantz said he employed Hersey, and was
not aware that Herscy was employed by any
other member. He had no knowledge that
Hersey had violated the privileges Of his po-
sition.
S. r. Hersey was then called to the witness
stand. He said he had been employed by Rep
rescntatives DnrborOw, Of Illinois; Perkins OF
Iowa; Rrookshire and Struble, but had no un-
derstanding that he should receive pay from
others than those who employed him. He and
Mr.. Cooper did not have such an understand
ing. He met Morgan, the man who made the
charges against him, through Mr.. Cooper's in
PRODUCTION. If Mr.. Cooper said that if Morgan
had anything worth paying for Hersey would
be the man to do 1t for him." he tHersey) did
not hear him say it. Morgan told witness that
he had $50 cases which he would compensate
him for He denied saying 81 would be reason
able compensation for securing the status Of a
claim. In answer to a question, he said. he
never charged fee when asked for a status by
a soldier. He knew he was violating no rule
of the Pension Bureau. He secured informa-
ton for attorneys, and if they gave him pay
he accepted it. He did this because attorneys
were not allowed to do it themselves. He had
been clerk in the Pension Bureau, but had
been discharged by Gen. Raum. He did not
think Congressman who employed him knew
that he was accepting money for services from
outsiders. He acknowledged selling nforma-
ton procured on slips Of Messrs. Cooper Brook
shire and Perkins, but did not think he had
on those Of Mr.. Gantz. Witness said he knew
other clerks to members who received pay for
this kind of work. They were the clerks of
Representatives Harter, Ohio; Cochran, New
York; English, New Jersey Martin, Indiana,
and Mcclellan, Indiana. the latter's clerk being
his own son. He said he had received pay for
about 200 cases. He said no member was
responsible for his actions.