EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 16, 1889_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return without approval House bill No. 2236, entitled "An act granting
a pension to Eli. J. Yamgheim."
The beneficiary named in this bill filed an application for pension in
the Pension Bureau April 15, 1875, basing his claim upon an alleged
wound of his left leg from a spent ball about October 15, 1861.
There is no record of his incurring any wound or injury during his
service, and it does not appear that the company to which he belonged
was in action nearer to the date he specifies than September 17, 1861,
and his captain testifies that the beneficiary was not injured in the
engagement of that day, which lasted only about fifteen minutes.
The proof taken in the case establishes that before enlistment the
beneficiary had a sore on his leg which was quite troublesome, which
suppurated, and after healing would break out again.
In the medical examinations made during the pendency of the claim the
diseased leg was always found, but no mention is made of any other
injury and no other injury seems to have been discoverable.
I can not avoid the conviction upon the facts presented that whatever
disability has existed since the discharge of the beneficiary arose from
causes which were present before enlistment, and that the same is not
chargeable to his military service.