Copying Book: Secretary's Letters, 1860 (page 355)

355

so well satisfied of it, although the means of verifica-
tion were not at hand, I wrote out the testimony
of the witnesses, without thinking a more particular
statement necessary; and it was signed and
sworn to as a bona fide statement according to their
best knowledge and belief. They still believe their
first statement to be true.

When you asked for more particular proof as to
what had become of other heirs, I made a more
formal inquiry, and found that I could not substan-
tiate John Gallagher's death from record evidence, and
did not know of whom to inquire, as the alleged incident
took place on the other side of the continent. It then
occurred to me that I ought to have used the fact of
his desertion, as that was positively stated. The claimant
at first gave me the wrong regiment by mistake, and I
could not find it for some time. But the moment she
corrected the error, I found that John Gallagher stands
upon the Massachusetts rolls as a deserter, as shown
by the certificate sent. I accordingly prepared the
last testimony to meet their fact.

It is no less true now than before that the claimant
and the witnesses are satisfied of the death of said John, but
as the means of proof were not at hand, I shaped the
language so as to leave that a matter of belief rather
than certainty. I sent the paper to Waltham, ten miles
away, and the witness executed it there.

Under the 2^d suggestion - I have to say, that I have
never had two witnesses appear more intelligent and