EXECUTIVE MANSION, _August 22, 1888_.
_To the Senate_:
I return without approval Senate bill No. 1542, entitled "An act
granting a pension to John W. Reynolds."
The bill describes this beneficiary as being "late of the One hundred
and fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry."
He filed a claim in 1872 that he was a deputy United States
provost-marshal for the Twelfth Ohio district from October, 1864, to
March, 1865, and that in December, 1864, while ascending a stairway to
arrest two deserters who had been drafted, a barrel of cider was rolled
down upon him, by which he was severely injured.
The claim having been rejected on the ground that the claimant was
not entitled to a pension as a civil employee of the Government, he
afterwards, and in January, 1888, informed the Bureau that he was
drafted in November, 1864, while serving as assistant deputy
provost-marshal, and was sworn in and reserved for home duty, and was
discharged from the One hundred and fifty-first Ohio Volunteers. The
records of the War Department show that John W. Reynolds served in the
One hundred and fifty-first Ohio Regiment from May 2, 1864, to August
27, 1864.
It is perfectly apparent that this beneficiary was injured while acting
as a deputy assistant provost-marshal, arresting deserters for the pay
and rewards allowed him, and that his injuries were not at all connected
with actual military service.