, 1876-07-09
Inc managers Expect to Finish
Their Case in a Day
or Two.
knott's Whisky Investigators
Encounter a. Knotty
Witness.
MIR. BristoW Persists in Declining
to Answer Certain !.
Questions.
No Change in the Condition OF
the Appropriation Bills.
IMPEACHMENT.

TIE PROSPECT.
Special Dispatch 10 Ine TTtbune
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 8.-The impeach-
ment trial, so FAR Us the direct examination of
witnesses Oh the part Of he:prosecution is con-
cerned, will be closed on Mondny. The man.
ayers have no doubt they will make their case,
and they say also that there will be some very
sensational testimony before the case Is done
with. The evidence so far does not leave any
doubt Of Belknap's guilt.
AD5uTANT-GENERAL TowssEvD's TESTIMONY.
To the Western associated Press.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July Sat noon the
Senate resumed consideration of the articles Of
impeachment against Mr.. Belknap, late Sccre-
tary of War, and continued the examination Of
E. D. Townsend, 'Adjutant-G General u. s. 4.
The witness testified there were two copies of
the letter Of the Army Officers at Fort Sill
recommending John s. Evans for the appoint
ment as post-trader there. One copy was trans
mitted directly to the War Department, and
the other came to the Department through
Caleb 3. Marsh. There were two letters from
Evans accepting the position Of post,trader:
Jan. Il, 1871, OF tho Secretary OF
War to Gen. Gricrson to remove
all traders from Fort Sill except ]. s. Evans,
and testified that the manuscript eamc to him
IN the handwriting Of the Secretary Of War.
Witness also produced letter from Gen.
Grie1son, Comlnandant at Fort Sill, acknowledge
ing the receipt OF the order Of Jan. Il, and tes-
titled that the order applied only to Fort Sill.
The Managers proposed to offer testimony to
the ef1eet t},at s1arges ~ Wers made against
ducing liquor into the Indian country.
Mr. Carpenter, OF counsel for accused, object
ed, but the Senate admitted the testimony, and
lettcrwas read from E:P. .Bandeld, Solicitor Of the
Treasury, dated Oct: 2s, 1871, addressed to the
Secretary Of War, with two enclosures signed
by ]. s. Huckelberry, United States Attorney
for the Western District Of Arkansas, charging
that liquor had been introduced in the Indian
country By Evans and others. Witness pro-
reply reply to o.: Banaeld, the M 1rst dated Nov a. stat
ing that Evans had authority to take ten gll-
Ions Of brandy and ten gallons Of whisky to
Fort Sill for the use Of the officers there, and
the other dated Nov. S, 1871, stating that Evans
without authority that no complaint Ind
been made by the officers Of the post, and re-
questing that no proceedings be commenced
against him till after full Investigation Of the
charges made against him;
Q.-How long does It take letter to go from
Washington to Fort Slls A.-About seven
G.-Was it possible to have received any COM
naunication from Fort Sill between Oct. g and
telegraph.
Witness then produced letter Of the secre-
tary of War to John S. Evans, dated
Nov. 2, stating that tho attention Of
the Department had been called to charge
Indian country without authority, Of Inv, and
asking if such was the fact. He also produced
a letter from Gen. Grierson, dated Feb. 19,
1872, relating to Post-tradcr Evans, stating that
his character as business man was good, but
that he was absent from the post, and left it in
charge OF J. J. Fisher, who was associated with
him; that repeated complaints had been made
Of tile high prices charged by post-tradcrs; that
lie (Grierson) had investigated them, and was
told BY Fisher that they
to man in New York for the appointment as
post-trader, and that he {Grierson) had request
I'd them to make the statement in writing that
he might lay it before the proper authorities,
but they would NOT do So for fear that the
license to trade would be taken from them. 1n
regard to this letter witness testified that it
zane to his Office on the 9th Of March, and was
to the Secretary OF War OH the 11th.
Q.-By Manager McMahon-Statc whether, In
pursuance Of that letter, he took action, and, it
circular Of March 25, 1872, relating to settlers
was issued, unless it was iu consequence Of
Gen. Grierson's letter.
Witness knew nothing Of the facts Of Gen.
mittcc of the House three days before. Had no
knowledge Of any letter Of the Secretary Of War
10 response to that Of Gen. Grierson's of Feb.
~, 1872. The appointment Of Evans as post
trader was revoked March i, 1Sii6, after Belknap
retired.
cRoss-ExAMINAT1oN.
The cross-examination by Mr. Carpenter was
by short recess.
Witness testified that he knew Capt. George
T. Robinson, formerly Of the Tenth Cavalry,
xho was court~martialed and dismissed.
Mr.. Carpenter then offered to put in evidence !
The finding OF the court in the case Of Capt. |
Robinson, and a letter written BY him to the
Secretary of War, to the effect that he Robins0n)
Snew Of the abuse in the Fort Sill post-trader-
Ships and threatening that if the Secretary did !
lot disapprove Of the finding Of the court he |
Robinson) would expose the whole matter. Mr.. t
Carpenter stated he would follow this up with !
cstimony to show that the Secretary did |
!pproye Of the finding Of the Court; that the Of
yas placed on file in the War Department by |
Secretary Belknap.
Witness testified that he received letter |
rom the ge-Advocate-Gcneral the 80 Of
'larch, 1876, after Bclknap left the War De-
,artment.
The managers objected to the admission OF
he testimony. After argument, the objection
vas oyyssrruled, and it was admltted-yeas' u;
lays, Is.
Stanton, Grant, Rawlins, Schotic1d,
3elknap, TAFT, aud Cameron. Secretary Bel
map impressed him as person who took great |
are to understand all business that CAME be-
orc him, and transact it efficiently and justly.
". F. MOODY,
money clerk In the New York office OF Adams
Express Company, testified that he made out
,ay-bills for the money packages sent to Secrc- |
ary Belknap. Did not know whether the
ackages contained money or brown paper. |
hey were sent as money packages.
E. V. SMALLEY
cstif1cd that in 1872 be was connected with the |
lew York Tribune and was clerk to the Com
1ittce on Military Affairs; that he wrote the
rticle in regard to Fort Sill.
@. ~ Mc1fahon-From whom did you obtain
be information upon which you wrote that
Mr. Carpenter-That won't do. A regular
,urpalist is not bound to furnish any authority
,r his statement.
The manager withdrew his question.
LEONARD WHITNEY,
tanager OF the Washington office west
ru Union Telegraph Company, was
worm, w and testified that he had copies PIE
tejcgraIus as far back as June, '13, only. The
thers had been destroyed in the regular course
business. The rule OF the Company was to
.tain messages two years. Witness then en-
red the usual protest against producing mes,
|ucs. hut the Senate decided that he must, ana
submitted q number, but Is none OF them
Id any connection with the case they were not
;ad. ,.,,,,.+a5.
The following telegrams were then suomittea:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1874--C. r. -ndfsa,
fIrHI