Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-04
EXAMINING THE PENSIONERS
They Give Details of Their Business With
Money Lenders.
Anxious About the Out
Are Held Out to Them.

The examination of the old soldiers who
pledged their pension certificates for small
loans, as described in yesterdays Star,
continued today at the pension Office and
Special Examiner Jere Connolly conducted
the examination behind closed doors. AS a
rule, the soldiers confessed. but in many
instances an acknowledgment was obtained
only after long cross-examination. To
have their pension certificates confiscated
is new experience, and one fraught with
trouble. The pensioners all fully realize
what the loss of their certificates means.
and the possibility of being cut off from
their pension money naturally frightens
them. So when they are brought face to
face with the investigator some of them
are disposed to bubble.
One pensioner. when called upon to ex-
plain why he did not have his certificate
with him, said he had left it with the at
torney for safe keeping. He freely ac
knowledged that the attorney was a friend
of his and subscribed to an acquaintance
ship of some six or seven weeks. ne had
borrowed money. he said. from the attor-
ney, but not upon the certificate, which he
simply left with the attorney for safe keep
ing.
"It was not very safe, after all, was it,
since you tell me he hasn't got 1t now?"
1.-The officers took it away from him. I
and didn't care to take it with me-
so you have been travelling? Now tell
me exactly where you went.
Il went away to hobo around the coun-
try. 1 didn't have any money and had to
do something.
"Theu you want me to believe that man
whom you had never known before put his
hand in his pocket and lent hobo $5?'
This was too much for the pensioner
who threw himself upon the mercy Oh the
court.
The pensioners are unwilling to acknowl
edge their participation in the matter, be-
cause of the fact that they are familiar
with the law and dread the imposition of
the hundred-dollar fine. In many cases
they seek for some expression or promise
from the examiner that If they tell the
truth nothing will be done to them. But 10
promises are heiu out.
There are some pathetic features con-
nected with the case, and one yesterday
was especially so. Among the witnesses
was colored pensioner whose left arm
was nearly disabled. He had been drawing
pension of 81 month for injuries re-
ceiyed in the service, and up to within
short time ago was an active laborer on a
small farm down the river. He drifted TO
Washington and his arm became rapidly
worse, and ne found himself in a precar-
ious condition He had no money and he
sought a money lender. He told the exam
liner straight story. Eight dollars a month
was not sufficient to keep him alive. He
had applied for an Increase but the wheels
of the government grind slowly and he had
to borrow. He did not know how much In
terest he had paid. He knew that some
thing was taken by the money lender. but
how much he did not know. He said his
certificate he had left with a money lender.
but he thought he had put it there for
safe-keeping
Examiner Connolly is satisfied that there
has been an extensive business carried on
In Washington in this matter. The pension
office has not a record for compromising
its cases. and it is stated that thu money
lenders implicated will be prosecuted to the
full extent of the law.