Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-05
A NEW PENSION FRAUD FOUND,
Attempts to Trace Ex-sIaves In tn
South.

-Aess~p~~ ~ 1890 A1A-SA"vC1 IN tuc
South.
The pension office authorities have Just
unearrhed q gigantic scheme of fraud
While 1t does not Immediately affect the
pension office far as pensions are con-
cerned. the department is brought into the
scheme. and, through the representation
made. many persons have undoubtedly been
swindled.
Briefly, 1t is based upon the bill which,
was introduced I'm 1896 by Senator Thurs
ton, having for its object the pensionine
ed Information from time I'd time of the
agents Of certain organizations travelling
through the south and obtaining from ex-
slaves fees for the alleged filing and prose-
cut!on of claims. Up to this time three
agencies have been located.
One at Madison, Ark, having forty-fve
agents and offices, and known as the Ex-
Slave Petitioners Assembly,: another known
the Vaughns' Pension Club, located at
Nashville, Tenn, having twenty nine offices
and agents, and one located at Union City
Tenn, and known as the Ex-Slave Bounty
and Pension Association, with twenty male
and twenty female officers.
The department has been investigating
this matter for a short time and has al
ready succeeded in convtcting three men,
the most important arrest being that of !
II. Harris, who Is to be tried next April for
alleged embezzlement in obtaining money
from ex-slaves upon the promise Of secur-
ing for them a pension.
The following circular letter has been
sent to agents Of the Ex-Slave Petitioner
Assembly:
'Sir: This bureau is advised that you are
an agent for the ex-Slave Petitioners AS
sembiy, organized with view to securing
legislation granting pensions to ex-slaves.
while any class of citizens has an I'M
questioned right to associate for the DUR
pose of attempting to secure legislation be-
lieved to be advantageous 1t is an I'M
fortunate fact that certain impostors have
taken advantage Of the Organization of
your assembly, and of similar associations
to prey upon the innocent through false
and fraudulent representations.
ION February 6, 1896. bill g. No. 1879
was introduced into the United States SEN
ate, by which 1t was proposed to grant such
pensions. This Dill was read twice, referred
to the committee on pensions and failed on
the adjournment of the Fifty-fourth Com
gress. and there, Is no provision Of law un-
such. -'o' ~
This bufeauI has received MANY rom.
plants that CERTAIN unprinc;pled persons
have been TRAVELLING through the southern
states representing that the bill had be-
come law, that various sums had been
appropriated. tospay the pensioners there
under, and that they were officers of the
government Of The United States. fully au-
thorized aad empe wered to cause the
names Of ex-slaves to be inscribed upon the
pension rons; and under cover Of these
false and fraudulent representations these
impostors have collected Various small
sums FROM the4s dupes, and by SO doing
have rendered themselves liable to a fine
of not more than $l,O00, or to imprisonment
not longer than three years, or both. in the
discretion of the court, under the proyts-
ions Of thesaot Of April 10, 1884
This bureaulttwould appreciate any In
formation which you may be able to fur
nish as to the name and Whereabouts of
any person who has thus impersonated an
with this matter"