Title	J. M. Tracy to M. D. Welsh, April 4, 1867
Record type	correspondence
Creator	Welsh, M. D.
Date of creation	1867-04-04
Series	Records of the field offices for the state of Tennessee, 1865-1872
Description	Correspondence about the alleged frauds practiced by William W. Osborn and John E. Dromgoole concerning John Mathews and Squire B. Hawkins.
Additional notes	Series M1911, Reel 80, [Frames 669-671]
Excerpt from record	In compliance with verbal instructions I have the honor to report that I came to this place, called on Lieut Nelson for all the information he could give me concerning the alleged frauds practiced by Osborn and Drumgoole, Claim Agents at this place and From statement made by Lt. Nelson, and Mr. Kelso, former partner of Osborn, I was satisfied that Mr. Drumgoole, Osborn’s partner, has not been guilty of any dishonest acts in connection with his business; but I am not so well satisfied in Osborn’s case though I have been unable to arrive at any definite conclusion, from the fact that John Mathews the col’d soldier whose claim was awarded and sent here for payment cannot be found; and no one seems to know of his whereabouts, except Osborn & Drumgoole, themselves, who are both absent. One at Shelbyville the other at Nashville. Mathews is supposed to live about 12 miles in the country, but cant learn in what direction, and the return of O. & D. being indefinite, I have concluded to return to Nashville this P.M. and at some other time, when all the parties can be found will return and fairly investigate the case. I am prepared to report on one fraudulent case of which Osborn is the principal and probably only participant though not particularly in our line, but will give it, and you can make such a disposition of it as you like. Squire B. Hawkins, citizen claims money collected on vouchers supposed to amount to $150.00, none of the money ever turned over, though collected about one year ago. Osborn acknowledged to Mr. Kelso, a former partner, to have collected this claim, but did not turn it over, as at the time it was received he had an occasion to use some money, and had since been unable to replace it. Mr. Hawkins lives one mile from Cowan station on the Chattanooga Nashville R.R. and he told Mr. Kelso who is a partner in this claim, that he had not received any portion of the money. Osborn acknowledged to have collected another claim for a gentleman in the same neighborhood, of the same kind which he has not accounted for. Mr. Kelso had forgotten the name and the account.
Geographic location	Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Rutherford County (Tenn.) Shelbyville (Tenn.) Nashville (Tenn.)
Names that occur in the record	Walsh, M. D. Nelson, J. K. Tracy, J. M. Mathews, John Kelso, David Osborn, William W. Dromgoole, John E.
Subject (LC)	African Americans--Tennessee--Social conditions--19th century Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Race relations Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)--Tennessee--Rutherford County Rutherford County (Tenn.) United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands
Coverage	1860-1869
Contributing institution	National Archives and Records Administration
Medium	microfilm
Bibliographic citation	[Document title, date]. Records of the field offices for the State of Tennessee. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Series M1911, [Reel number, Frame number/s]. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
Copyright status	public domain
Collection name	Freedman's Bureau Records