Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-18
NOT THE MAN.
States Witnesses FAN to lden-
tify Daniel H. PooIer
As the Daniel R. Hodgdon With
Whom They Served.
Evidence in Palmyra Alleged Fraud
uIent Pension Case.

| of David H. Pooler of Palmyra, charg-
ed with making fraudulent application
for a pension, the request of counsel for
the defence for permission to enter a
demurrer and a motion to quash the
indictment. was, after argument, over
ruled by Judge Hale.
At the opening of the court, Tues
day afternoon, the respondent formally
entered plea of not guilty. Hhe chal-
lenged none of the jurors who were
duly sworn for the case. Ten minutes
were taken by Miss Russell, the deputy
clerk of the court, in reading the indict-
| ment. an unusually long document.
After all Of the preliminaries had
finally been arranged, Frank H. Swan
| of Westbrook. recently appointed as
sistant United States district attorney,
| addressed the jury, presenting the side
| of the government. This was the first
appearance of Mr.. Swan in an opening
argument before the court and his mai
| den effort was most successful.
In 1889 Mr.. Swan said that Mr.. Poolcr
at Washington applied for a pension
but subsequently when requested to
give data about his regiment that he
had claimed to have enlisted in, in
Pennsylvania, withdrew his petition
| In April, 1892, under the name of Daniel
r. Hodgdon. who had been member
of the 9Th Maine Regiment, he was able
to secure pension of $12 a month. In
1886. Daniel r. Hodgdon died. For the
last 10 years Daniel H. Pooler has been
impersonating a dead man. Daniel H.
| Pooler never served in the 9Th Maine
under his own name or that of Daniel
r. Hodgdon, who was born in Wales,
but came to this country and enlisted
in Co. D at Brunswick. After the war
he returned to Brunswick and after
wards went to the Soldiers Home at
Togus, where he died. There is but
one conclusion and that is that Daniel
II. Pooler never served in the 9th
Maine. He was born in Skowhegan,
and there are people who remember
when he lived there. He and D. r.
Hodgdon are entirely different. Pooier
went to Pennsylvania when a young
man and enlisted in regiment in that
L
and of light complexion, while Pooler
| is a large man and when young was Oh
dark complexion.
Mr.. Swan said that no dusty old rec
ords would he relied upon but 1T would
be easily shown that Pooler and Hodg-
don were not one and the same man.
Evidence would be produced and the
stories of the life of each one of these
men would be told with such fineness
that the jurors would be surprised at
the nicely with which it could be
| shown that they were distinct men,
The facts would be seen to fit in so
nicely that it could be easily shown
| that for 10 years Pooler had been liv-
ing under an assumed name and draw
| ing a pension to which he was not en-
| TITLED.
| A certified contract for the pension
department showing the claim OF Dan
| iel +. HOdgdon was offered as evidence
after the witnesses had been sworn.
Mr.. Stewart objected to the admis-
sion of the certificate but the court al
lowed it to go in, an exception betting
| taken.
| Ex-Governor Seldom Conner, United
States pension agent at Augusta, was
the first witness to be called. He pro-
duced a book of records containing the
| list of pensioners in his Office and
showed the order to inscribe the name
| of Daniel Hodgdon on the pension rolls.
These records show that Hodgdon was
a corporal of the 5th Maine. that he had
rheumatism and that he had begun to
draw a pension of sl2 a month in April,
| 1898. The name of Daniel r. HodgdOn
was continued and the last payment
that he drew was in December 1901.
The district attorney asked General
Conner to explain the method of pro-
cedure in inscribing the names of pen
sioners on the rolls but Mr.. Stewart
objected on the ground that this was
not relevant and the question was
withdrawn by the district attorney.
Thomas F. French. postmaster of
Palmyra, identified the pension receipt
signed by the respondent as Daniel r.
HoGgdon" last December. 1t was sign
ed in the presence of and sworn to be-
fore witness who has known Daniel II.
Pooler for the last Is years.
Il never knew him as Daniel r.
Hodgdon until about three years ago."
said witness. Then he came to me
and said that was his name. Pooler Is
a farmer"
Mrs Flora E. French, the wife Of
Postmaster French. also identified the
pension receipt signed by the respon-
dent On cross-examination Mrs
French was asked what the reputation
of the respondent was for truth and
veracity. District Attorney Dyer
strongly objected and the question was
withdrawn.
Court adjourned to 10 O'Clock
Wednesday morning.