EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 26, 1880_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return without approval House bill No. 11586, entitled "An act for the
relief of Stephen Williams."
It appears from the records that the beneficiary for whom a pension is
provided in this bill served as a volunteer in an Illinois regiment from
October, 1862, to October; 1864, at which date he is reported as a
deserter.
He filed a claim for pension in 1881, in which he alleged that he was
struck with a gunstock upon his head and injured in October, 1864.
The evidence shows that a drunken comrade struck the claimant with the
stock of his gun because he would not buy whisky for him.
This, upon all the facts, does not appear to be a proper case for
allowing a pension for an injury suffered in the line of military duty.