New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-26
STOPPING PENSION ABUSES.
COMMISSIONER EVANS DETERMINED TO
PUNISH vIOLATORs OF THE LAW.

PUNISH vIOLATORS OF THE LAW.
4 NEW AND DANGEROUS SPECIES OF FRAUD DE-
TECTED
Washington. June 2s.-commissioner Evans. Of
rho Pension Bureau Is after negligent and dishon-
est officials OF the Pension Service with sharp
stick Hereafter pleas OF ignorance or careless
ness without criminal intent or that no fraud has
been committed loss suffered by the Govern
ment will not be OF any avail 70 stop prosecutions
on account Of violations OF the Law. Notaries pub
lie. magistrates. postmasers and all other officials
by before whom pension vouchers are executed
have been warned by the Commissioners circular
a copy OF which published In these dispatches
yesterday. and II they fail 10 heed the warning II
will be at their peril. Full instructions as 70
what they must do in order to comply with the law
are printed on every voucher. and no excuse VIII
hereafter he accepted for failure TO obey It's re-
suirements Special examiners OF the Pension
Bureau as we'll as the Government pension agents
have also received strict instructions 70 scrutinze
closely the practices Of officials who cerury 20
pension vouchers and report every case in when
there is reason 10 suspect violation OF the la" IN
any respect.
Commissioner Evanss experience has already
taught him that vigilance is as necessary to pre-
vent fraudulent payments after pension certificates
have been granted TO detect and prevent the
arproval and certifcation OF fraudulent pension
claims. He has taken hOld or the Nldti'i VIII 'i'
usual energy and his subordinates have followed
his example with commenhahe prompttude and
zeal The result will undoubtedly he the cutting
Of ~ fruitful OF pension frauds and the
exemplary punishment Of number OF scoundrels
who VIII receive their Just deserts only when they
safely lodged IN peniten'isry. one OF THESE
was sentenced yesterday to five years imprson-
rnent on his own confession Of forgery Of pension
vouchers No less than thirty-two other indict-
rnerts against him for violations Of the pension
laws are st pending.
This man If one William A. Munson. OF Provi-
donce r. L. who acted both pension claim
agent and A notary public. and whose speciaties
wore % collect the pensions OF pensioners after
they were dead. and Of widows after remarriage
Some Of MS pra ctces and achievements are briehy
outlined In the report OF special examiner OF the
Pension Bureau which laid the foundation of the
criminal proceedings against this professional ana
thrifty friend Of the Union soldier" Here Is one
case.
PAID AFTER PENSIONERS DEATH
A pension was granted to a mother on account Of
the death OF her sor in the Union service Inc
pensioner died on March H. 1897. but the payments
on the pension certificate continued until December
J. 1897 period Of nearly ten years ana nine
months on this case the examiner remarks:
The pensloner was an aunt Of one William A:
Munson. the attorney In tho case and members Of
Mr. MunsOn's family were In attendance n, ncr
fSre on. William A. Munson. notary public and
his Endorsements appear on the checks cashed nj
tho bank.
I, took more than ten years and 800 stolen
from the Government to assuage Mr. Munson's
grief on account OF his aunts death. and 1t would
have taken longer X the Pension Bureau had not
rudcly interfered with and stopped his little game.
Munson did not confne his operations. however TO
members Of his own family. on March s. 1881. a
pension granted TO one Mahala 5. Jaques 10
date from February g. 1870 Tho pensioner died on
June 2 1856 nearly year before the pension GER
,incate was ISSUED. but that made no difference TO
tho versatile and vrtuous soldiers friend. PEN
sion claim agent and notary public. Munson FOR
the special examiner In his report remarks:
ind IN this the irst payment made
September ~ 1857. tho Of which s.7is %
u appears by tho indors"mcnt on said checks that
name o, william 4 Munson follows her indorse-
mont have ascertained AZ the bank whore this
william + Rake. whose name appears on the said
check Mr. Blake s the father OF one Abby J.
nineteen out OF ne thirty checks cashed since June
-, ! am advised that Miss Blake ls the
has operated quite extensively in these matters
Tho payments forged vouchers and checks in
tho jacques continued until December 4. 1885,
and the total amounted 10 t297s.
ANOTHER SIMILAR CASE
s'il another was that OF Charlotte r. Lewis
widow - Union soldier and sister OF William
\ Munson. pension attorney and notary publ,
The peusioner died January a. 1902 but pay
ments on her certificate continued until December
lss- on this case the special examiner remarks:
This p"nsoncr WIS the sister ~ William
A. Munson attorney. and died ut his home IN
East Providence X l. on subsequent vouchers
Mr. Munson's name appears notary public and
the Endorsements on checks appear in his tame.
The Special Examiner. report gives he facts re-
specting a number OF other His remarks on
the last case that Of John c. Hopkins. who died
on February 3. 1872. but payments on whose pen
sion certificate continued until December l.
l,s7 relate not only 10 that but 10 many other
cases eNamined and reported on nv him. and are
Interesting well pertinent He saya:
II will De observed ny reference 10 me vouchers
subsequent TO me death OF all the deceased pen
sloi.rs hat The poe 'Oifc" addresses chan sed
from ~. orgiua. addresses which We're given IN
the lifetime ~ To" pensioners. All OF these adj
ncsscs- none ~ whom can be- found appear 10 *
~ only paper I'm all those cases for IN" quar-
notary public one John Morrison. The names
- 'he witnesses 70 these vouchers being hciuors.
! have been unable 20 obtain the history relating
T. their execution.
In al these cases william A Munson Endorsed the
checks and received and applied 10 his 0"n benefit
the money the vouchers. which purport"i TO
have been Nerut"d boy persons who had been dead
from nine OF ten months to as many years
The foregoing facts reveal new and dangerous
speces - pension fraud. which there is reason 70
fear exist 10 alarming extent They indicate
content with shady and unlawful practices In
! other respects nave sought with considerable SUE
20 obtain large AMI steady revenue by collect
Ing yenr after year FOR their and benefit
pensions On the certificates 81 henehciaries who
4 ed years ago. or who being widows have long
since remarked and thereby forfeited their rights
under the pension laws