The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-28
"SUSPENDED."
Some Who Have Lost Their Dues by
Action of the Pension Bureau.

The case of Stephen Sturdevant, Of st.
Johns Mich, is one of the most cruel. He
served over four years in defense of the flag,
enlisting in Co. j. 29th Ohio, in 1861. He had
run OF typhoid fever, but went TO the front
again, and in '63 was once more stricken by
illness. de was sent to the hospital in Phila-
deiphia, and while lying there he was struck by
an ak in the hands Of an insane soldier. This
fractured his skull and broke his arm. He was
discharged in 1864 for disability, but REIN
listed and served nine months more. lie was
finally discharged in September, 1885, His
pension was suspended without warning, and
he Is in destitute circumstances He asks that
III any comrade remembers the circumstances
at the Philadelphia Hospital he will communi-
cate with him.
IL. c. Adams, of Roscoe, H., was one Of the
many old soldiers who had to die to convince
tho Administration that he was not pension
fraud. An examination proved that his death
was due to the same wounds which secured
him small pension. which pension was sus-
pended several months before his death.
distressing account comes from South Da-
kota. Comrade Aaron Flyte. who has been
bedridden for over two years. received an
order to report at Faulkton for examination
He had already been suspended. 1t was asked
by q number of his friends. because of his help
less condition. that he might be examined at
ms home at Gettysburg. The Pension Depart
ment promised this consideration, but in No
vember he received another order to appear az
Faulkton, and there he was brought, on his
bed. distance of 40 miles. He vas a member
of Co. 6, 9th Pa.
Z. &. Krabiel, Winterset, Iowa, who served
In the 50th ILL.,, was for many years a great
sufferer, aud he died in April of consumption
and heart disease. In July his pension was
suspended, and short time ago he was ordered
before an Examining Board for a rerating.
One OF his comrades says that Hoke Smith
LET m Nm 10 krAhi ae
no was an earnest Christian and has now gone
out OF the reach of further rebel spite.
Patrick Sheehan. of Gardner, Mass. served
in Go. b, 9th Me. On Aug. his pension was
cut of, and after appearing before an Examin-
ing Board he was restored to the roll on Oct. 5.
Eight days later another letter came from the
Pension Bureau, which informed him that he
had been again suspended. and il he could not
prove within 90 days cause why he should be
retained, he would be permanently dropped.
Though he has not been able to do a stroke of
work IN two months, he must go to the expense
OF proving second time that be is deserving
beneficiary of the Government
William Foote, Adjutant, Post 81. GAR,
Kaolin, Pa, says he is one of the suspended
frauds" condemned to do without a pension
ct 50 month, which, small as it was, was a
great help and necessity to him. He has been
an invalid since his discharge, but the Govern
ment has paid him less than $500 in pension
q
livelihood. COmrade Foote declares it cuts an
honest man very deep to be accused of fraud,
when he gave up all his hopes of health and
happiness in this life to save that Government.
James Richards Is an old man, feeble and un-
able to help himself. He was a member of Co.
A. l1th Iowa. and returned from the war
wrecked in health. He had no trouble in pro-
taken away from him last June.
Comrade A. G. Pringle, Co. q, 18th Ind. Cav,
now of Mitchell s. d., writes that his pension
was suspended last July, and that he received
card 20 days afterward, which was the first
notice of it. He wrote to Vim. Lochren, and
received the reply that he had been dropped
from the rolls because his disability had ceased
to exist. The comrade would like 10 know how
the Pension Office can know of happening
before it happens. The false assertion was
made before he was even examined.
John Stetson, an old soldier whose pension
has been withheld, hanged himself in despair at
his farm, near Jefferson City, No., short time
ago.
Walter F. Mapes had his pension of S12 sus.
pended He has not been able to work for I2
years and has been insane for year. He was
ordered to 90 before an Examining Board and
was reinstated, but his friends had to bear the
expenses of the trip, etc.
Charles Fl. Beckstiue. Hoosick Falls N. Y,
was suspended, and then reinstated, but
ordered before Board of Surgeons to see "if
he is entitled to the present rate of pension he
is now drawing" The present rate, a comrade
says is the lowest, Sc per month, and asks,
How is that for high?"
Moses Laport, of the same place. was notified
that medical evidence had shown that he was
not totally disabled and could perform manual
labor. The comrade thinks himself in pretty
bad shape as he can do nothing, and has
nothing except what his young children earn,
Later he learned that he was reinstated; then
he received the notice: "Your are further adj
vised that examination of further evidence on
file shows that You are not entitled to a rating
in excess of Sc per month" He had received
SO, and this was done without any examination
or proof.