Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-20


Pension Bureau-The President Has
Taken a Hand in the Case and We
Have the Commissioner by the Hip
GLOBE readers will recall the case Of Dr.
Oatman, published in these columne five or
six weeks ago Dr. Oatman was wounded
in the head by piece of she'll and from the
effects of which be became an imbecile
years after his marriage and war service.
He was a pncticing physician making a
fair living for his wife and family when the
collapse came. For years his devoted wife
cared for and maintained the imbccile hus-
band and young children. The house over
her head was mortgaged and the same was
about TO be foreclosed The husband was
happily at rest in his grave, and the widow,
aided by a sympathetic friend, endeavorcd
TO secure the pension Congress and CRATE
full country allowed her But H. Clay
Evans, the fighting soldiers enemy was on
deck and determined that she should not
AT least he was bound that no pension for
total disability should be allowed with It's
attendant arrearages thus depicting his
$1,000, 900 surplus
Even Evans knew that this was meri-
torious case and one in which the humanities
called for a little stretch of charity to cover
any technical shortcomings in the proofs.
But he sent out his field inspector and on
his report rejected the claim
II might as well be stated right here and
now that IL Is worth the job Of any of these
inspectors or spies sent out by Evans to re-
port otherwise than adversely on the claim,
and where they can manufacture testimony
or intimidate uusophisticated people they
are promoted or advanced by the serviceless
soldier at the head of the Pension Bureau.
Dr. Oatman's case is complete, Evans TO
the contrary TWO witnesses have tesu-
fed under oath as to the wound being re-
ceived They were present where wounds
and death were inflicted, and Evans is par
TALLY excusable for not understanding such
testimony. as he never heard the ping or
the hiss" of a bullet
The Medical Board of Examiners report
describes the wound. Therefore the case
so far, is complete. But Evans insists that
the resultant imbecility was not due to the
shell wound Aud he, the Commissioner
insists and maintains this position alone
and against testimony enough to convict
Evans before any court of equity or JUS
tice
All these things were shown up In the
Dr. Oatman case by the SUNDAY GLOBE
Among others who read the article was tine
writer of the following letter. an extract
from which is here given:
FORT COLLINS, Colo, Ocf9bey II, I91L
OLD CONRADE: / received the paper CON
tanning the article about Dr.. Oatman and
showed it to c. c. Emigh who knew him
He wrote a letter to our new President and
enclosed the clipping from the GLOBE you
sent me. Enclosed you will find the reply
of the Hon. H. Clap EvaRS, Commissioner
of Pensions Comment is unnecessary.
Your friend
II. c. HOWARD.
And now we give our readers and the
general public the benefit Of Commissioner
Evans letter, aud deductively the subject
matter of his defense to President Roose-
welt, for, of course the President referred
Mr. Emighs letter to Evans for report
Here is Evans letter to Mr. Emight
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WAsHINGTON, Ork0ber 81 I05I
Mr.. CHARLES c. ENuGH
Fort Collins, Colo
NY DEAR SIR. I'm reply TO your letter of
recent date addressed 10 the President and
referred here for consideration relative to
the claim of James j Oaunan, late of Com
pany B, nth Pennsylvania Reserves Cert
No. 7S8o53 you are informed that this
soldier was a pensioncr at SI2 per month
under the act of 1890 from December 29
1900, and his widow is now a pensioner at
SI7 per month for herself and two minor
children of the soldier.
A claim was filed by the soldier May 22
1885 for pension under the general law
based upon a shell wound of the head, all
legged to have been received June 20, 1862 at
Peach Orchard Virginia.
This claim was rejected in 1850 on the
ground Of no record Of alleged wound and
no evidence Of its origin in the service and
line Of duty aud claimant, with the aid of
special examination, has been unable to
connect same with his military service.
On appeal this action was affirmed by the
department December %, 1892
The claim was rcopened July L, 1899, on
additional evidence, and was again sent to
the field for special examination. The evi.
dence obtained on such special examination
showed am entire absence of merit in the
claim for shell wound of head and the
claim was again rejected December I, 1899
on that ground
An appeal from this action was filed by
the attorney February @, 1900; and is now
awaiting the action of the department
beg to assure you that this case has re.
ceived unusual consideration in this bureau
ever since the date of It's filing in 1855, and
every effort has been made to assist the
claimant in establishing his claim without
avail
In the absence of any competent proof
that his alleged wound was received in serv-
ice and line of duty 1t would not be proper
for this bureau to grant pension under the
general law. Very respectfully,
II. CLAY EVANS
Commissioner
Competent proof" to establish the claim