The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-17
KEPT UP
WIDOWS
PENSION.
HER NAME HAD BEEN
STRICKEN FROM
THE ROLLS
ADSCONDIkG CASHIERS
AtxpuCABLE ACTION
For -Four Years Charged S12
a Monih TO Banks
Expense Account
tBy Leased wire.)

Topeka, NOV. 1.-THE pension de-
partment Is investigating the pension
Of Mary Dalhammer Of Abilene
whose pension was cancelled In
Washington nearly four years ago,
but who had received her pension
regularly from John A. Flack, the
defauIting Abilene banker. Mrs. Dali
hammer never knew her pension had
been stricken from the list, but pre-
sumed It was sent to Flack for her.
Two months ago, when the Abilene
bank failed, Mrs. Dalhammers pen
sion stopped and the case is now In
the hands of the pension department.
il appears from the records of the
department In Washington that no
word was received from Mrs. Dalham-
mer In 1906 and in November of that
year her name was stricken from the
pension rolls. She says that she re-
ceiveG her pension regularly from
Flack until the failure of the bank,
but was never required 10 sign any
vouchers. Flack, it appears, hid
charged the woman's pension of sl2
a month to the expense account OF
the bank.
Mrs. Dalhammer is the widow OF
Peter r. Dalhammer. who was a
member OF Company X. One Hundred
aud Sixty-ffth drafted militia. Since
bis death the woman has received a
pension of $l2 month. She Is very
feeble and IN modest circumstances.
Just why Flack should have paid the
woman nearly $500 pension money
from the earnings of the bank when
the government was willing TO give
tie woman the money, Is question
that is bothering special pension ex-
amifler, who is investigating the
case. He will spend several days in
Abilene and hopes to dig up some
features that will give the govern
inent more light on the transaction.
Mrs. Dalhammer is unedueated and
cannot read or write. She says she
did not know that Flack was paying
her pension out of the funds OF the
bank. but presumed that the govern
ment had sent the money TO him for
her.
my home Is between Mr.. Flacks
and the bank the woman said and
Mr.. Fiack frequently told me II would
be no trouble for him TO leave my
pension money at the house for me.
He did not bring any papers for me
To sign. He told me IL would be un-
necessary to sign any as he said ne
would attend to that for me"
In the four years that Flack
brought her the pension money. Mrs.
Dalhammer never execnted youcH
er. When the bank closed and the
woman failed TO receive her pension
money. she became worried and the
trouble was taken up with the pen
sIor department IN Washington. II
was the first communication the de-
partment had had with the woman
IA nearly four years and the case was
referred to the Topeka office for In
vestigation.
Il cannot explain the case" said
a pension examiner, unless Flack
was insane ANY reasonable man
would have known that the woman's
pcusion would have been paid by the
government, and his action could not
be attributed TO a charitable cause.
II the pension had been paid by the
government. Flack might have put
the money In his pocket and still
charged the account to the bank: but
By his method the bank lost nearly
$500 and Fiack apparently gained,
nothing.
Should the government decide to
remit the four years back pension, III
Il very probable that the bank win
ask TO be reimbursed for its loss and
the money paid to the receiver.