EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 23, 1886_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return herewith without approval House bill No. 5995, entitled "An act
granting a pension to David T. Elderkin."
This claimant enlisted August 5, 1862. From his record it appears that
he was dishonorably discharged the service, to date from June 11, 1863,
with a loss of all pay, bounty, and allowances.
He filed a declaration for a pension in 1882, claiming that he was
wounded in the head by a shell January 1, 1863, which cut his cheek
close to his right ear, causing almost total deafness.
There is conflicting evidence as to the claimant's freedom from deafness
prior to enlistment, and on a special examination it was shown that he
was slightly hard of hearing before enlistment. Indeed the claimant
himself stated to the special examiner and also to the board of surgeons
that he had been somewhat deaf from childhood.
In 1882 an examining surgeon reports that he finds no scar or evidence
of wound, but his hearing is very much impaired.
The claim was rejected in 1885 on the ground that deafness existed prior
to enlistment, and also because of no ratable disability by reason of
alleged wound in the cheek.
I think, considering the manner of the soldier's discharge and the facts
developed, that the claimant should not be pensioned.