General Affidavit
State of Minnesota, County of Benton

In the matter of Invalid Pension claim of James Longley Co F 77 Regt Ohio Infantry

Personally came before me in and for the aforesaid County and State, Thomas J Longley, aged 62 years, citizen of the town of St Cloud, County of Stearns, State of Minn well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

I was in the Boat when my brother James Longley had his left hand crushed between a stump and the boat about Mar 1853 in the Muskingum River in Ohio.  I saw the accident for I was in the boat at the time.  It was an unavoidable accident and was not caused by carelessness or vicious habits.

I also knew that about the year 1859 while working in a cooper shop at Hawsburg, Ohio he accidentally cut the middle and ring fingers of his right hand in a jointer while jointing stoves.  I knew that he has been disabled in his right hand ever since and has also been disabled in his left hand ever since it was injured in 1853.  The hand is one half disabled for labor, I mean the left hand, The injuries to both his hands are permanent.  My brother has alway sbeen a man of good habits.

This is written in my presence at Sauk Rapids Minnesota, June 24th 1897 by Thomas Van Etten from my oral statements then made and in making such oral statements I did not use and was not aided or prompted by any written or printed statements or material prepared or dictated by any one and this affidavit has been read over to me before I sign and am sworn and the facts are currently written as I desired them to be stated and are true of my own personal knowledge for I was present at the times he injured both his hands respectively as above stated.

He further declares that he has no interest in said claim and is not concerned in its prosecution.
                          Thomas J Longley

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant; and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, and acquainted him with its contents before he executed the same.  I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant is personally known to me; that he is a credible person and so reputed in the community in which he resides.
Witness my hand this 24 day of June 1897
                Charles S Hawkins
                Justice of the Peace