Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-03
MANY PENSION FRAUDS.
Reports to the Bureau of Criminal
Prosecutions.

The pension office has received a tele-
gram from Nashville. Tenn. announcing
that James A. Kellogg, a disbarred pension
attorney and a prominent notary public of
that city was yesterday convicted of for
gerry In connection with the pension claim
of Melvina Patton, widow of Moore Patton.
VINO served in an Indiana regiment during
the civil war. Sentence has been Withheld
nehdihg a motion Tor new trial. In order
10 convict this notary the pension office has
been compelled to make one of the strong.
est nights In its history. Several months
ago number of pension claims We're sent
to corps of special examiners stationed at
Nashville, Tenn, for investigation as it
was apparent that numerous foreeries as
well as sundry other viola lions of the law
mad been committed in connection with the
preparation OF the papers on file therein.
Many OF the papers sent out for inyestiga-
ton purported execution before Kellogg as
notary pubic. AS result of the speciaI
eXaminatlon numerous indictments have
been found and convictions had. Several
indictments were returned at the April
term of court against Kellogg and he was
convicted, but, on the plea Of insanity, a
new trial was granted. He was defended
by some of the best criminal lawyers in the
state of Tennessee. He was again placed
on trial at the present term of court, with
the result tina he has again been con-
vcted,
Information was also received from San
q.
William G. Hawkins. was arrested at the
Veterans Home in Napa county Cal and
that he Is now on his way east to answer
a charge for violation of the pension laws
Leland enlisted in the war of the rebellion
in the 18th New York Regiment and de-
serted from the service some time after his
enlistment. A few years ago he went to
Chelsea, Me- where he conceived the idea
or applying for a pension in the name of
a comrade of the 18th New York, whom he
knew to be dead. He therefore applied for
pension under the name of William G.
Hawkins. The pension office having ascer-
tanned that there was some doubt as to the
claimants identity, instituted special in
Vestigation, as a result of which an in
dictment was recently found at Portland.
Me. The impostor, however before the in
dictment had been found, left the state of
Maine, and 1t was only recently that he
was located in California, his wherea bouts
having been ascertained through letter
written by him to the pension office asking
as to the status of his pension claim
Lewis j. Kaufman. notary public doing
business at 216 Broadway, New York, was
convicted in the United States court at
BROOKLYN. n. Y, on the charge of having
made false certificates to pension vouchers,
and was sentenced to pay a fine of $3.50
Dora Koch, claimant for pension, was
convicted in the United States court at Gin
cinnau on the LIST instant on the charge of
filing a false claim and perjury
August Schardt was also convicted by the
same court for having assisted the above
named claimant in the prosecution of a
false claim
On the 30th ultimo Martin ,Holzer was
convicted in the United States court at
Cincinnati of making false affidavit in the
claim of Elizabeth Dressing, sentenced to
pay a fine of $1,000 and COSTS and was
committed to Hamilton county Jail until
fine is paid.