Copying Book: Secretary's Letters, 1860 (page 356)

356

conscientious I think they were particularly careful
to state^^only what they felt a conviction of the truth of.
They were both quite old men, & are well known in
Waltham as men of high respectability. One I
think is an uncle of claimant's husband, but neither
have any interest in the claim. There are six young
children and a husband between claimant and
any other person who could have a possible interest.
Both the claimant and her husband, so far as
I can learn are highly respectable and industrious.

3^d Mr Francis Conolly the husband is a
weaver - has been out of business for two months,
by reason of woolen mills stopping. He has been every-
where looking for work, & having a wife and six young
children, is sorely pressed now for means to live.

For the sake of hungry children, let nothing, I
entreat you, short of punishable fraud, make
delay in their claim. The appeals made to me can only reach
you through me. Personally, I care nothing about it, but
I am persuaded of their righteousness of their case.

I have never knowingly or carelessly, that I can
find, taken in hand an unjust claim. I am well known
to Senators Sumner & Wilson & many others I could
name: among them ass^t P.M. Gen^l M^c Lellan- and I assure
you the Government will not suffer in this case.

I trust you may deem this explanation sufficient.

Very Respectfully yours

A.J. Coolidge