Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-24
wAsHISGTOs.
Testimony OF mrs. Marsh Before
the investigating Commtttee.

Testimony OF MIS-. Marsh Before
the investigating COMMITTEES.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Mrs. Marsh,
who arrived this morning, came into the
room Of the Committee on Expenditures
in the War Department to-day accom-.
panied by her husband. She was sworn
as a witness, and under the examination
of Mr.. DAnford testified: She left Gin
c%innati in 1866, where she formerly re-
sided, and has lived in New York most
Of the time since that year. She had
known Mrs. Bowers NOV Mrs. Belknap)
since 1860, and had been at the same ho-
tel with her in Cincinnati four years.
Cincinnati was her home, and she revis-
tied that city twice a year, staying there
two or more weeks. She met Mrs.
Bower in New York, where Mrs. Bower
was her guest; Mrs. Bower was a widow
at that time; the witness commenced
housekeeping in New York in the sum
mer Of 1871; she went to Europe in COM
pany with Mrs. Bower the last Of 1872,
and knew Mr.. Pendlston's name was on
the list Of passengers.
Witness was asked whether she had
any conversation at any time with Mrs.
Bower, now Mrs. Belknap, relative to her
interest in the Kentucky Central railroad
claim. The answer was-Two or three
weeks ago at Arlington Hotel; at that
time witness asked Mrs. Belknap
whether she ever received any money on
account Of the claim; witness told her
she heard she received $4,000; Mrs.
Belknap replied: "Ths claim was for
only 100000, and how could l
receive $7O,OOO," During that CONVEX
satisn witness was in a state Of excite
ment and distress; Mrs. Belknap
was a friend Of hers, aud witness
felt much interest on her account; she
had simply mentioned to Mrs. Belknap
en- idle rumor; she had always talked to
Mrs. Belknap as she would to her sister;
she had heard the r1mor for over a year;
she related to General Kiddoo the con-
versstion between her and Mrs. Belknap;
she did not know Of Mr.. Pendleton pay
ing money to Mrs. Belknap on account
of the Kentucky Central claim or of
making her presents; she never heard
the Secretary of War say anything about
a contract between her husband and Nj.
Evans.
On cross.exsminstion, by Mr.. Rob.
bins, the witness said she understood
Mrs. Belknap as denying she received
anything, and meant to convey that i'm
preston.
In response to a question by Mr.. ely
mer the lwitness said she saw Clymer
bat once and that was three weeks ago;
it was at the breakfast table at the
Arlington Hotel; her husband presented
her to Clymer, but their short converse
ton had no reference to the matter be-
fore the committee,
C. P. Marsh was recalled and interro-
gated by Clymer. he testified that he
left Washington for New York the day
the impeachment report was presented,
March I'd, and did not then design going
to Canada.
Question-0n the evening Of Wednes-
day you came to my lodging and saw
me a moment; tell what transpired.
Answer-From something said at the
dinner table | inferred that Belknap was
not only liable to impeachment, but to
criminal prosecution. l said to you:
If the Secretary is in danger l am in
danger" When you said: you are
not in danger"
Mr.. Clymer-I did not intend to alarm
you. A. On the contrary, you paci6ed
me; | was alarmed when l came to you,
but l went back to New York easy when
you said l was in no danger.
Q. When you reached New York what
induced you Il conclude to 90 to Canada1
A. There was something in the papers
Friday morning concerning my testi-
mony, all Of which was published; l read
the remarks in the House hat the Sec
rotary Of War was not only liable to i'm.
parchment, but 10 criminal prosecution; l
therefore / thought that if the Secretary
was in danger l was in danger
as we'll. l consulted a lawyer, who made
an exhaustive examination Of the case;
the lawyer did not think / could be in
dicted, bat il l should be / could not be
convicted; counsel said there seemed,
however, to be some danger; this very
much alarmed me and determined me
to not remain in New York; l left early
in the afternoon Of Friday for Montreal;
this was the first time l heard ii said /
had committed an ofense for which l