The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-20
PENSIONERS GET
MONEY WHEN DEAD
Certificates of Teachers Signed,
Sworn TO and Collected
After Decease.
TWO CASES ARE UNCOVERED
Officers Who Took Acknowledge
mcnts- Will Be Prosecuted
by the State.

Some bencncarics of tho Virginia
school teachers pension system have
drawn their pensions after their
/ death. The facts nave come TO light
IN the Office oil the Department OF
( Public Instruction and the proof is
ample. While there nave been fire.
quent charges OF fraud In reference
I 10 the national military pension rolls.
+ IT Is probably without precedent III
/ Virginia, certainly as far as the teach
/ crs' relief system is concerned.
/ Not only has this practice been re-
] vcalcd in at least two instances, but
j the affidavit of The beneficiary has
! been sworn 10 before an officer en-
I powered TO administer oaths. The no.
tary public or Justice of the peace
has III each case certified that the
person receiving the money. whose
name is signed TO the foregoing re-
ceipt, and who is personally known
70 me, this day personally appeared
before me III my county Cor ciiy)
aforesaid and made oath that $3.50
IS tile person who is entitled to the
above mentioned pension. and to tae
p ! OF the same ut This time.
rms when the pensioncr WAS dead
Intend 10 Prosecute.
rs result. the names OF the jus
llces or notarses who signed the GER
titlcates have been transmitted to t.
Attorney General, in order that they
may be prosecuted for violating their
oaths of office. ana perhaps for con-
spring TO derraud the state. Which
! furnished part of the fund
one OF these cases happened in
huckinshans county. tho pensioncr
/ Uetns a man In the other instance,
occurring in Accomac the retired
'cacner, who was paid a pension af
ter death, was woman.
In Buckingham the pcnsionnr di,,
on october u. 1911. lie drew his nan
SION on January IS, 1912 Tho ,,ni
ua'lt is sworn to before a justice or
me peace in Buckingham. who WIN
low DC called unon 80 explain The
, .SSolliaG case is somewhat older
"here the pcnsioncr died on Deem
per ~ 1902, the pension certificate 10
ihS signed and sworn TO three d,Is
iatsr-on January /. 1910.
me superstition is. OF course, that.
me pensioners would not have taken
paSt IN any Illegal act ii alive And
othcials of the Department OF Pubic
Instruction are inclined to ,a,.a ~
chari table view OF the action OF any
relative III using the certificate think
ING IL may have been done inuoccutI>.
and in good faith.
Get After Officials
p"t no excuse can bL Imagined I'm
- 80 iot nolGrleS and
'cSS o! the peace who would take an
ACKNOWLEDGMENT looking 10 tn. nav
mcht OF money TO a person who t.,
dead This is especially true i'm re-
terence 10 what is practically a puL-
lie fund.
1t Is impossible that the money can
be collected without the aid of an a.
nicer competent 10 take caths. All the
proceeding is on one warrant, address
ed 10 the Second Auditor Of Virginia
VINO is the custodian Of the fund. The
order instructs that officer to nav tho
pension when the certificates and re
cepits herto attached have been prop
cry eXecutcd.' The division supcrin-
tendent OF schools :crtihes TO tho
qualification OF the pensioners and the
beneficiary signs the receipt. and them
sweats 10 the affidavit The voucher
is then complete and has the value OIL
q check OF draft.
No one can tell ho.y prevalent this
practice has been. II may not be wide
SPREAD, buL ii officers OF the Common
wealth. think superintendent l.gglcs
ton and Secretary Stcurncs are 10 be
concerned in such Irregularities. II is
time for prosecutions. The evidence is
In the hands OF the Attorney General
Tor tTansmittal to attorneys for the
Commonwealth.