B-130743, MAR. 1, 1957
Highlights
EVIDENCE WAS SUBMITTED TO OUR OFFICE SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH A COMMON-LAW MARRIAGE BETWEEN ERNEST NEAL AND ELNORA HALSTIED NEAL. PAYMENT OF THE COMPENSATION WAS MADE TO MRS. IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT MR. NEAL'S DEATH WAS NOT SUICIDAL AS STATED IN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE. SUCH A MATTER IS NOT UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF OUR OFFICE. THE DISALLOWANCE OF YOUR CLAIM APPEARS PROPER AND IS SUSTAINED.
B-130743, MAR. 1, 1957
TO MRS. LUCY BANKS NEAL:
YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 25, 1956, REQUESTS REVIEW OF OUR SETTLEMENT OF DECEMBER 18, 1956, DISALLOWING YOUR CLAIM IN BEHALF OF BETTY JANE NEAL, MINOR DAUGHTER OF ERNEST NEAL, FOR UNPAID COMPENSATION DUE ERNEST NEAL AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, BY REASON OF HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.
AS STATED IN THE NOTICE TO YOU, THE ACT OF AUGUST 3, 1950, 64 STAT. 395, PROVIDES THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF A DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY, ALL UNPAID COMPENSATION DUE A DECEASED EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE PAID TO THE SURVIVING WIDOW. EVIDENCE WAS SUBMITTED TO OUR OFFICE SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH A COMMON-LAW MARRIAGE BETWEEN ERNEST NEAL AND ELNORA HALSTIED NEAL. ACCORDINGLY, PAYMENT OF THE COMPENSATION WAS MADE TO MRS. ELNORA HALSTIED NEAL AS THE SURVIVING COMMON-LAW WIDOW OF THE DECEASED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT MR. NEAL'S DEATH WAS NOT SUICIDAL AS STATED IN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE, THE EVIDENCE APPEARS TO BE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LOCAL POLICE AUTHORITIES IN THE CITY IN WHICH HE DIED. SUCH A MATTER IS NOT UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF OUR OFFICE.
UPON REVIEW, THE DISALLOWANCE OF YOUR CLAIM APPEARS PROPER AND IS SUSTAINED.