B-125544, JAN. 13, 1956
Highlights
PEARL JONES SUMNER: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR CLAIM AS WIDOW FOR AMOUNTS DUE BEN J. WHO WAS LISTED BY THE DECEDENT ON AN OFFICIAL FORM AS HIS WIFE. YOU SAY IT IS VERY PROBABLE THAT MARY MINOR SUMNER WAS THE DECEDENT'S COMMON-LAW WIFE IN 1947. IN VIEW OF THE CONFLICTING EVIDENCE AS TO THE MARITAL STATUS OF THE DECEDENT OUR OFFICE IS WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO ALLOW YOUR CLAIM ON THE BASIS OF THE PRESENT RECORD. YOU ARE ADVISED THAT PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT DUE WILL BE WITHHELD PENDING THE RECEIPT OF A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DECREE OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION SHOWING A FINAL DETERMINATION AS TO WHO WAS THE LEGAL WIFE OF MR.
B-125544, JAN. 13, 1956
TO MRS. PEARL JONES SUMNER:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR CLAIM AS WIDOW FOR AMOUNTS DUE BEN J. SUMNER, DECEASED, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, OFFICE OF VICKSBURG DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.
IN YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 16, 1955, CONCERNING THE STATUS OF MRS. MARY MINOR SUMNER, WHO WAS LISTED BY THE DECEDENT ON AN OFFICIAL FORM AS HIS WIFE, YOU SAY IT IS VERY PROBABLE THAT MARY MINOR SUMNER WAS THE DECEDENT'S COMMON-LAW WIFE IN 1947. IN VIEW OF THE CONFLICTING EVIDENCE AS TO THE MARITAL STATUS OF THE DECEDENT OUR OFFICE IS WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO ALLOW YOUR CLAIM ON THE BASIS OF THE PRESENT RECORD.
ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT DUE WILL BE WITHHELD PENDING THE RECEIPT OF A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DECREE OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION SHOWING A FINAL DETERMINATION AS TO WHO WAS THE LEGAL WIFE OF MR. SUMNER AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.