Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-21
FRAUDS IN PENSIONS
QUEER swISDLES CONCOCTED TO DECEIVE
UNCLE SAM.
One Remarkable Banco Arhss Drew ~Twsniy-FOur
Bogus PsnsiOns-How Some Veterans
Have Faxed Up DISABILITIES"
cneinnan comnereiaI. AK.

OF bold and ingenious IrauaS pefpe-
trated at Uncle Sans expense. One OF
the most remarkable OF these was con.
Quoted right here In Washington by a
man who secured for himself and a con-
federate the proceeds OF tWenty-four
bogus pensions.
This person was a clerk 10 the Pen
sion Office. de rendered himself con-
spicuous by attention 10 duty, staying
long after hours each day. This extra
time he devoted TO searching the hles
for widows claims which bad been
abandoned. He was In collision with an
Individual on the outside. The latter
would hire a women for 3 70 p~ersonate
a widow 10 the category mentioned. To
earn this small sum thu IN would
bring two other persons TO swear that
she had never remarked. II was a great
deal OF perjury for a very little money.
In each case the confederate would
draw the pension o. SIP q month, re-
tanning the certificate. This highly
original game was worked until he held
twenty-fOur certificates, good for Sl44
each per annium, which represented 10
himself and his friend In the Pension
O1lce an annual income OF IS, 456. When
toe conspiracy was discovered the clerk
disappeared and was not captured; the
other man got three years In the penl-
Tertiary.
Two years ago a supposed widow In
Michigan applied for a pension, claiming
that her husband had died in a Coated
crate prison. She was entirely honest.
Nevertheless, 1t was found on searching
the record that the msn was not dead.
On the contrary, he was living near
Asheville, and was himself drawing q
pension for disability. lie had been
confined in a Southern prison, and dur
ing his incarceration he and other cap
tive Union soldiers were visited Oy char
table ladies in the neighbOlhood.
Among the latter was q susceptible
young woman who fell In love with
him. After his release, inetead OF 60
ing home, be decided TO begin life again
on a new plan. He stayed where he was
and married the girl. On looking the
matter up il was found that the delin-
ouent was one OF the most highly re-
spected people in the vicinity. lie had
a hat store; did q good business, aud
was looked up TO by everybody. The
Pension Bureau could not stop his
money allowance. IL simply notified
the former wife that her husband was
alive, and told her where he was living,
leaving the drama TO work itself out.
In another case the claimant was an
old soldier, living In Somerset County,
Pa. He stated that he had incurred
disabling injury, Of the nature Of a rup-
60. -AfT, a., The carufnn Iha records
showed that he was hOnOrably dis
charged on account OK this trouble.
Nevertheless, suspicion was aroused,
though everything seemed as straight
as possible. Mr.. ID. l.. Murphy, the
present acting Commissioner Of Pen
sions, went 70 sec the man, he was
big, hearty looking fellow.
Though he answered all questions salts
factOrily, q lingering doubt was still
felt. on investigation, it was dlscOv-
cred that the whole affair was a fraud.
the witnesses who had indOrsed the ap-
~pllcation had been bullied and terror
iZsd into doing 80.
The truth was that the applicant had
proved himself an arrant coward while
in the service. One night he said 10 his
tent mates that he would not stand up
and be shot at. he even boosted 10
them OF the scheme, which he proceeded
TO put into practice. By IN ingenious
artifce, which must have cost him In
describable agony, he produced temper
arily the appearance OF a friEhttul in
fury. When he exhibited himself TO the
surgeons they were Mortified, and on
their recommendation be obtained his
DISCHARGE az once. When he applied
for a pension, before going before the
Examing Board OF Physicians, he re
peated the operation referred 10, again
bringing about the shocking condition
described. They also were deceived,
and Endorsed his statement. II the
swindle had been finally carried through,
he would have got several thousand dol
lars IN arrears, besides aud an allowance
monthly for life.
Not long age q widow Of a Union SOL
der applied for q pension. The records
showed that her husband had been killed
in an early battle OF the Rebellion. Al
forwards along came an application from
the soldier himself for an allowance for
disability. He declared thar, instead Of
being killed, he had been captured and
confined for q long period in Southern
prisons. As a result be had become
broken, mentally aud physically. The
papers in both cases being before the
Pension Office simultaneously, q special
examiner was sent 20 look them up. He
took the man to Illinois, where he was
supposed TO have lived when young, but
the testimony Of prisoners proved that
he was a fraud. In fact, be was trying
TO ~persoDate the dead soldier, with whom
he must have been acquainted. Mean
while he had actually persuaded the
widow that be was her long-lost hus-
band. Finally he confessed. AT pres
ent he is in prison awaiting trial.
One Of the Queerest frauds OF the
thousands which have come under the
notice Of the Pension Bureau was the
case OF a very old man who claimed to
have served in the war OF 1912. In
three or four dispositions, made at diff
ferent times, he did rot give the same
name ia any two Instances. This did
not excite suspicion, because lie was
very feeble and 10 was supposed that his
memory was bad. However, IL vas
found at length that be vas trying 70
~personate an elder brother, who really
had fought in the conflict refereed 70.
The special examiner appointed 20 look
into the matter was still more mystihed
when, on a certain evening, he was dis
cussiug the subject with the supposed
veteran at the home OF the latter. Dur
ing the conversation the Government
official had q notion that somebody was
listening on the outside Of the sitting
room door. 10 the midst Of il q pretty
girl burst 10, sObbing, and, throwing
herself upon the old mans neck, said:
'.GrandpaDa. tell the truth! il was