Survivor's Brief — Increase Claim Rejected
This internal Bureau of Pensions case-tracking form, a "Survivor's Brief" under the Acts of January 29, 1887 and January 5, 1893, summarizes the entire adjudication of Elias Roberts' 1893–94 increase claim in one document. It lists his recognized attorney as Henry D. Phillips — annotated "(Disbarred & Reinstated)" — and shows the case moving through several rounds of review between January 10 and January 17, 1894. Examiner Rufus King re-submitted the claim for admission on January 10, subject to the medical referee's opinion. A proposed rejection on destitution grounds was struck through entirely, but Legal Reviewer H.W. Hall approved a final rejection on January 17, 1894 on different grounds: that the claimant "is not wholly disabled for manual labor." Medical examiner Clark and Medical Referee Thomas Featherstonhaugh had signed off two days earlier, on January 15. A requested $12 per month rate was ultimately stamped "REJECTED."
Full Transcription
(diagonal stamp/text, top left:) Old War and Navy Division
INCREASE.
(top right:) Ctf. No. [illegible mark]
MEXICAN WAR PENSION.
Acts of January 29, 1887, and January 5, 1893.
SURVIVOR'S BRIEF.
Claimant, Elias Roberts
P.O., Hockley
County, Harris
State, Texas
Rank, Private
Company, Gillespie's
Regiment, Texas Mtd. Vols.
Rate, $12 per month, commencing ___ (diagonal stamp across this section:) REJECTED.
(handwritten, above "RECOGNIZED ATTORNEY":) (Disbarred & Reinstated)
RECOGNIZED ATTORNEY.
Name, Henry D. Phillips
P.O., City
Fee, $2; Agent to pay.
Articles filed ___, 189_.
APPROVALS.
Approved for: Admission — (Subject to opinion Med. Ref.)
Re-Submitted Jan. 10, 1894 — Rufus King, Examiner.
Approved for: rejection (struck through)
Claimant is not in such destitute circumstances that twelve dollars per month are insufficient to provide the necessaries of life (this entire clause struck through with a heavy cancellation mark)
Approved for: Rejection
Claimant is not wholly disabled for manual labor.
H.W. Hall, Legal Reviewer.
___, Re-Reviewer.
Jan. 17, 1894
Clark, Med. Ex'r.
[illegible initials], Med. Reviewer.
Thomas Featherstonhaugh, Med. Referee.
Jan. 15, 1894
DATES OF SERVICE.
Enlisted ___, 18___. Subsequent or prior service, ___
Discharged ___, 18___.
