The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-23
.DESERTERSAREON
PENSION ROLLS
Lee Camp Discusses Invcstiga-
tion-Would Make 1t
Roll of Honor.
DR.. MASON MADE COMMANDER
Two Ministers Honorcd at An
nual Elcction-Flag Given
by Sponsor.

Frauds on the pension rolls OF vir-
Sinia was under considerable discus
sion at the meeting of Lee Camp of
confederate Veterans last night De-
sertcrs who draw money from the
state were denounced. and the opinion
seemed to be general that some action
should be taken. There was no mo-
ton regarding the mattcr. since Col
oncl Joseph V. Bidgood. who brought
camp suggested that the members
should give 1t some thought before
taking any sort OF action.
1t was evident. however. that the
veterans felt deeply OH tho subject.
Those who spoke agreed that all spur
ious claims should he rejected: that
more attention should he paid to APP
plicatlons by local camps. and that
tho pensions lists of the Common
wealth should be Il roll OF honor.
Investigation along this line was
urged by the Joint Auditing Commit
tee of the General Assembly In its re-
cent report.
Dcserter Drew Pension.
Colonel Ridgood, who. in his position
as clerk of Virginia Military Records,
has much information on the matter
of soldiers records. suggested that the
camp Should memorabilia the Lcgisla-
ture to appoint body whose duty II
should he to investigate the pension
office. He said he felt sure there we're
n number of Q1r1aorthy names on the
rolls. He gave one instance: \ man
applied for n pension and his applica-
ton went up approved by Lee Camp.
and he received the pension. Later he
died, md his widow asked for a claim
as such 70 looking into her case. IT
was found that the husband had been
deserter from the Southern cause.
ID. A. Brown, Jr.. Quartermaster ~
Lee Camp, expressed the opinion thut
local camps do not do their full duty
in approving applications. lilo con-
,demned the practice of receiving and
approving such paper on the same
night and said 1t should lie over for
investigation for at least II week
Should BE Supervision.
The remedy, In tho opinion Of At
torney-Gencral Samuel w. Williams,
was In some sort OF localized super
vision. He felt that camps did not al-
ways do their full duty in this matter.
He called attention to the fact that the
force in the pension clerks Office is
entirely insufficient to permit, the de-
lection of abuses. especially as all APP
piications come in from camps of vet
Grams.
The only solution. in the opinion of
Adjutant ]. Taylor Stratton, was in the
constitution of "a central board Of. say.
three men located in Richmond, and
paid salaries by the State. to make a
complete investigation. lie also gave
an instance Of an application which
almost went through. when almost by
accident II was stopped by receipt OF
information from the War Department
that. according to the Confederate
rolls, the man had been a descrtcr.
1t Ia unnecessary to say what the
members OF the camp thought about
descrters-the object abhorred by SOL
dicrs.
Officers Arc Elected.
The annual election of officers for
the camp was held last night, and re-
suited as follows:
Rev. Landon r. Mason. p. D.. com
mandcr: r. Catcshy Jones, first lieu
tenant commander; Edgar p. Taylor,
second lieutenant commander: Rev.
James T. PoindcXtcr. third Lieutenant
commander: j. Taylor Stratton. adju-
tant; D. a. Brown. .Ir.. quarterma ster;
George It. Dean, officer OF the day;
Colonel W. b. Freeman. treasurer w.
B. 1ightfoot, sergeant ma jor; J. J. II.
Brewer, vidctte; y. c. Wrenn, color
sergeant; George winfree and w. r.
Wood. color guards; John y. Gordon,
member OF executive committee for
three years.
John w. Gordon is the retiring COM
mander.
The camp now has two ministers in
important Offices. DR.. Mason Is rector
of Grace Episcopal Church. while Mr..
PoindeXter is rector of the Church of
the Ascension Highland Park. He
now starts on the road to promotion.
the other officers being advanced each
n stop.
Mrs. Rosalynd Roberts Evans, of
Salem. sponsor for the camp at the
Little Rock reunion. sent Christmas
present in the form of q Confederate