Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-25
ONE VERY BIG FRAUD
blind Patterson" and His Enor-
NOUS Pension S~indIe.
ne SECURED OYER $4,000
ruon the Fake AmdAvtss % ratd Per
turrrs--Gre~Eest InpsstsLoa Ever
Perpsssased On Uncae 6aA


United States PENSION ofsee h the cele-
hrsted case u sElind Patterson The
rnen Who planned il got more than VA
co.. from tho govern mens, and by some
technically Of the Law they kept II.
though the United States bad eil.vo OF
il in hand at one time. A Washington
correspondent tells the story Is follows
Patterson was blind begyar. Who
ranged the streets Of Elmira- New York
Like many Who suffer from similar mis-
fortune. he Was dissipated and he ssusn-
dered the money which he gathered On
the streets from day To day. one day
some one took pity on him and bought
him q hand-orean TO assist him 10 ms
begging. But he got drunk on the FIRST
day and broke il into hopeless pieces.
After that he continued his plain beg
riug for small coin on the strength OF
his infirmity. For eighteen years he
begged. His son led him and he fol
lowed a big shepherd dog. Every one
in Elmira knew .Blind Patterson. and
though few liked him. he excited much
pity.
His Army Record
II was known that he had been in the
army. though but little was known oil
his service. lie had enlisted at the age
Of "A. Some claim agents named H. y
Mills and John Milis-brothers- made
application for pension for Patterson
and pressed it for many years: but
| charge Of desertion stood against hiu
and his case was rejected more than
once on this ground. The story thai
his attorneys told was that he had beer
struck blind while on picket duty; tina
be had tried TO find the camp but has
wandered of in another direction
where he did not know. lie found hl
way to Elmira finally and remained
there. knowing nothing Of the charge @
siesertion against him. He was neve
arrested.
This story the pension Office woul,
| not accent at first; but finally when
had been sustained by many affidavit
which seemed unansweralle. the charg
| II desertion was removed and in 1887
pension Of s12 a mouth with arrears wa
granted. The arrears amounted 10 sL'
:rs2 The announcement that this emo
nous sum had been awarded 10 Patte'
con amazed the people II klmira. Som
people OF standing. who had taken q
interest in tho blind man. took steps In
me.iiately 10 have a guardian appointe
for him and the court appointed Davl
NJ. Pratt.
Patterson Had skipped.
When Pratt went 10 take charge
Pattersons affairs. no found that Il
blind man had left the city accornpanis
by his wife. who had returned 10 him
soon AZ she heard Of his good forum
Patterson went 10 Troy where one
| the Mills brothers joined him. Fro
, Troy (Pennsylvanial they went 10 vii
amsport where Patterson cashed sever
| thousand dollars worth OF pension CD
cues and gave tho money 10 Mil
, Mills fled to Virginia. while Patters
and his wife went to Repova. Penne.
4 yania. where Mr.. Pratt. who had be
) on their trail all this time, found the
All OF the excitement over Patterson
. fight and the pursuits by Pratt
r tracted additional attention 10 the ca
l and on the heels Of the excitement Cal
: the first evidence OF fraud. A M
t named Wilkes Miller. frightened at
8 prospect Of discovery, confessed that
Y had received elo0 from one OF the Nj
" brothers for swearing that he had kno
Patterson in the army and knew that
!, had sore eyes. He also told Ut ot'
!. propositions which Mills Ind made
" him TO commit perjury in the case.
!. was TO have received $1,000 more IL
= case was prosecuted successfully.
: With this confession rs a clue.
: agent Of the pension Office uneartl
: the whole Of the great fraud. The 2
! sion had been obtained on false aff
Wits. Indictments were found agai
!, the chief actors In the case and sll.
. Of the money was recovered. But
q attorneys for Patterson went to the
= partment az justice. and on techni'
= ity got ruling from the attorn
. general that the money was nnlawf'
withheld. and it was paid over finall,
10 the Patterson attorneys. The COVE
IL meat did not recover cent OF the {
le ~. During the trial OF the case
lie chief witness for the government "
r mad.