Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1886 — L REMARKABLE CASE [ARTICLE]

L REMARKABLE CASE

Washington, Nov. 29.—A New York paper this morning contains a dispatch representing that (sen. Black had caused to be stricken from the pension rolls a worthy soldier named John K. Ladd, who had contracted chronic rheumatism during the war. The case was presented as one of gross injustice to a good soldier, and as there has been persistent effort to make the public think that the present administration is unfriendly to the soldiers, the history of this case is worth calling attention to. On the 23d of last March the commissioner addressed the secretary a letter regarding Ladd’s appeal, in which he set forth the following facts: ‘ The appeal in this case is taken by the appellant in person, who states therein that the honorable commissioner of pensions refuses to reopen his claim for restoration on the ground that he alleges that appellant had rheumatism previous to his enlistment. He appeals for a reconsideration on the ground that some person or persons did make false statements against him in the pension office, and thereby prejudic d the honorable commissioner of pensions against him; that since his claim for restoration was rejected he has filed testimony of persons of good standing to show that he was free from disease previous to enlistment, and that they never knew him to have a doctor. The appellant was pensioned Sept. 8, 1870, at $8 per month from June 28, 1867, on account of rheumatism' This was increased to sls from Nov. 2, 1871, to $lB from June 5, 1872. and was reduced to $lO June 5,1873, on biennial examinations; again increased to sl4 from Feb. 2, 1876, to $lB from Oct. 10, 1876, to ( s24, from Feb. 2, 1877, to s3l 25 from Nov. 5,1879, and to SSO from April 6, 1881.

HIS NAME WAS DROPPED from the pension rolls J uly 10, 1885, on the ground that the disability from-which he was pensioned existed previous to his first enlistment as shown by the fecord evidence and confirmed by the pensioner’s admissions. The evidence filed in rebutt 1 was not deemed sufficient to change action. The records of the war department show that appellant enlisted March 3, 1847, in battery B, 4th United States artillery. The rolls for November and December, 1847, report him present sick. The nature of the sickness is not stated. He deserted on Sept. 14, 1848, at Fort Brown, Texas. He enlisted January ] 3,1862, in company A, 98th New Yofrk volunteers, and was dis-

charged on a surgeon’s certificate of disability on April 18, i 862, on account of rheumatism, “which has existed two years.’* On Aug. 24, 1862, he enlisted in company 13, 92d New York volunteers, and was discharged therefrom on Aug. 20, 1863, on certificate of disability on account of “chronic rheumatism” and dysertery, and with the remark: “Not entitled to a pension.” He again enlisted on Dec. 29,1863, in company C, l4th New York heavy artillery, and was discharged “without pay” April 20, 866, on certificate of disability for chronic rheumatism, with the remark:— “This man was discharged from service in August, 1863, on acconnt of this disease, and re-enlisted, knowing that he was not able to discharge the duties of a soldier.” On Aug. 19, 1864, ho enlisted in the 64tli New York volunteers ns a substitute under the name of Henry Lodd. He was MUSTERED OUT at Emory General hospital June 27, 1865. He also bore the name of John K. Ladd. He entered the hospital March 6, 1865, with chronic rheumatism, and was transferred to Emory hospital, which he entered May 1,1866, with chronic rheumatism. In his original declaration filed Feb. 12,1866, ns well as in the separate declarations filed for increase since said date, the appellant alleges that he contracted the disease for which he was pensiond in the fall of i 864, in front of. Petersburg, Va., while a member of company D, 64th New York volunteers, and in neither of saiddeclationß does he mention his other services, and the facts were only discovered by this office by < orrespondence during the pendency of the special examination. Upon being questioned by a special examiner of this office, the appellant very reluctantly remembered that he had served in the several organizations as shown by the records, and he also acknowledged that he had been afflicted with rheumatism prior te his first enlistment in 1862, thus corroborating the statement made in his fiast certificate of discharge, ihat the “rheumatism had existed for two years.” Miss Harter, our new dressmaker has arrived and we would be glad to have you call and give her a chance to give you a perfect fit.

Mrs. J. M. Hopkins.