Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-27
THREE MORE INDICTMENTS
United States Grand Jury at Nashville Afte,
Pension Frauds.
Several Additional Convictions se.
cured and Sentences imposed
Case at Little Rock
Special Dispatch to The Evening star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening star
NASHVILLE. Tenn. October 27.-In the
United States court the grand jury has re-
turned three more indictments against per
sons implicated in the pension frauds now
under investigation in this city. making a
total of thirteen indictments found during
the present term of court.
Convictions were secured and sentences
imposed as follows:
John Harris. convicted Of filing false
and fraudulent claim for pension. sentenced
to imprisonment for twenty months: Re
becca Starks. convicted of conspiracy and
forgery In the pension claims OF Jemima
Brown and Matthew Swoopes. sentenced to
imprisonment for thirteen months and to
pay fine of 500 and costs I'm each case:
Matthew Swoopes, convicted of forgery and
conspiracy in his own claim and that of
Jemima Brown. sentenced 10 Imprisonment
TOR one year and ten days in each case:
Rosetta jackson, alias Rosetta Horton. con-
victed of filing a false and fraudulent ren-
sion claim. sentenced to imprisonment for
one year and five days. Alice Black en-
tered plea of guilty to a charge Of for
gerry in her own case, but sentence has lot
as Yet been imposed.
These numerous convictions are the result
OF months OF earnest and conscientious
work on the part of the pension officials
both here and I'm Washington. For a long
time II had been suspected that certain
notaries public and suhagents in and
around this city were engaged in the bust
ness of manufacturing claims for pension
as well rs of the evidence filed in support
of these claims Ignorant or vicious tools
We're persuaded to file pension claims when
| IN fact. title to pension did not exist.
Equally ignorant and vicious witnesses
were found to give testimony in behalf Of
fraudulent claimants; or, in she absence Of
| obliging witnesses, what purportcd to be
afiidaVits, were prepared by these notaries
a Ih1p taFofg lDsr -,
the names of witnesses being forged there
to, and the papers 50 prepared We're for
| warded to Washington as evidence for the
consideration Of the pension officials In
order TO arrive At complete understanding
with reference to these claims a number
OF them We're sent out for special inVestiga-
ton. The discoveries made 10y the special
examiners detailed on the Investigate IN
have far exceeded their expectations and
will save mary thousands of dollars TO the
government.
1t is understood that the commissioner Of
pensions Will spare no effort To bring all
persons implicated in the pension frauds
now being investigated to the bar of JUS
tee and his determination meets with the
! nearly approval of all Of Nashville's law
abiding citizens.
Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
LITTLE ROCK. Ark, October 2T-In the
United States district court for the eastern
district Of Arkansas. Henry Crump OF Lit
| tie Rock, who is a pensioner has been con-
victed of violation Of the pension laws in
| filing a false and fraudulent claim for PEN
| sion and of perjury committed in support
| thereof.
Crump filed a claim for pension in March,
1891, alleging service In Company H. Sd
| United States Colored Heavy ARTILLERY war
| of the rebellion, and successfully prosecuted
| the same. A pension of So per month was
allowed him in June, 1898.
subsequent to the issue OF the pension
| certificate the bureau of pensions came
| into possession of information tending to
| show that the pensoner was an impostor
Inc matter was made the subject of a spe-
| cial investigation. which disclosed the fact
| that the real soldier died about twenty-five
years ago. Prosecution of the pensioner was
| promptly begun in this district with the
| result that conviction was secured and the
| lmpostor has been sentenced to inprison-
| ment in the penitenuary for two years.