New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-03
THE INsTIGAToR OF THE INVESTIGATION
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPT. ROBINSON. RECENTLY
STATIONED AT FORT suL-wHAT HE KNOWS

| yestigation and conviction Of Secretary Belknap
| was by Capt Geo. T. Robinson, now residing In
| Baltimore, who for a period Of six years was
stationed at Fort Sill. Between this gentleman and
| Gen. Belk1ap very bitter feeling has existed
and still continues growing ont Of the fact as alleged by
Capt Robinson that attempt publicly proclaim Gen.
Beknaps guilt had resulted In his Robnson) being tried
| by Military Commission and cashiered. He is civil
engineer by profession and at present employed by the
Columbian Iron Works at Fels Point This evening rep
resentave OF THE TRIBUNE called upon Capt. Robinson.
nj his residence No. 16 South Charesst and the follow
ing conversation ensued al understand, Capt Robin
SON" the correspondent said, that you formerly
staff ned at Fort Sill :" al stationed there" he
replied for six years. II and now Is the largest
posttradng station in the United States. aided IN Its
establishment"
"When did you assume your duties there ~
entered upon my duties Captain In the 10th United
States Cavalry Fort Sill 1866, and remained until
1872, a period Of six years"
"You heard that Secretary Beknap has confessed
having been brbed in awarding this trading post Z"
"Ihave was instrumental in having the investiga-
ton made. although ny name has not yet appeared IN
connection with the matter"
"Do you know positively OF your personal knowledge
that Gen. Beknap is gutyi"
lido know personally that Gen. Beknap received
as brbe the of $4,000 annually for three years.
payable monthly IN advance"
by whom was this money paidp your correspondent
asked.
| Capt Robinson replied "By Mr.. Marsh of New-York
j. s. Evans and j. J. Fisher the postraders at Fort
| Sill"
! "was IN post so remuneratve that they couli pay
! this large bribe Z"
at was the most valuable in the United States When
this firm took possession posttraders they were heav
iy in debt and had small stock of goods. When left
the fort their stock was worth from $4,000 TO 100000
and they were all wealthy and out Of debt.D
'How are pOst-.raders usually appOntedp
| "They were usually voted in as post-traders or
settlers by the officers OF the fort. Three months after
nv arrival there this changed s. ah from the
Secretary OF WgT (6eknap), stating that thereafter all
! appointments would be made by him personally"
What efforts made to secure the posttradershp
| to be applied fort"
"Mr Evans was the first TO apply and procured pc
tition signed by the officers OF the tn United States
| Cavalry and 9th United States Infantry stationed at
the for addressed to the Secretary OF War; asking his
appointment as posttrader Mr. Beknap read this Pc
| tition and told Mr. Evans that he would as
soon have a petition Of many wagon masters
as the officers Of that post. He then told
Mr. Evans he had already appointed as ostirader for
Fort sill Mr.. Marsh OF New-YOrk. He aided that he
thought Mr. Marsh did not wish TO go out to the Indian
Territory and told Mr. Evans that II he went on to New
York he could sec him CIarsD there, and might maxi an
arrangement with him. Mr. Evans went to New-York
and found Mr. Marsh. He also found interested In the
matter the firms Of Durfee & Co. and Dent * Co. (hr
Dent is brothernaw Of President Grant,, ana others
How was the post disposed OF finally 7" Mr. Marsh
put the posradershp up at public auction and was
bid OF to Eyans CO.. the terms being that Gen. Bcknap
was TO be paid $4,000 year for three years, ana
Sl2 600 ayear afterwar1."
"IIow was the business conductedp
"The business was conducted in the Of j. Evans
Co.. and the firm paid tho bride TO Mr.. Marsh, by whom
II was turned over Beknap, they say now, to
Mrs Belknap. It made difference; 1t went In the
| family"
Being familiar with these particulars, did you make
any effort TO have them investigatedf"
"More than year ago visited Washington and made
charges against Gen. Belknap, employing "a counsel
John j. Key OF that city and subsequcn y Gen. Hende
also Washington. The latter was largely instrumental
bringing the matter to issue These charges were
| presented to the Military committee"
"What was the resuitp
| 1.-THE result was that was cashered.'
"Dd President Grant know Of these charges against
| Gen. BelknapT
| President Grant has known Of these charges for
years. He knew much nearly two years ago as he
| knows to-day"
when did you make effort to renew the chargesp
"some two months ago renewed the charges, employ
ing the same counsel backed by all the officers of
the fort and furnished list OF witnesses for the Com
mittee and aided possible in collecting the evil
denee by which he convicted"
"What list Of witnesses did you give the Commit
|
b. H. Grlerson OF the 10th United States Cavalry and Of
every officer of that regiments also OF Gen. W. b. HazeD
commanding the 9th Infantry and all the officers of that
regiment Both Of these commands were stationed AT
Furt SILL and the officers fully acquainted with The
| frauds being pracuced."
ibid you submit any dOcume ntary eydencep
81 transmitted all the correspondence had on the
subiect and my letters to the President and Others"
"Can you indicate definitely the profits Of the
post to Evans & Cop
"The profits everything were very great, equaf
fully 20 500 per cont This extorted from the peck
cts OF officers Of the United States to enrich Mr.
Belknap"
"What knowledge have you OF thist"
at knew OF this officially having been member OF the
Post Council of Administration part Of the duties Of
which were that the post trader does not make
overcharge for supplies. When we asked why the
charges exorbltant told 1t was because
they had pay Secretary Beknap $4,000 year for
the privilege"
"Was any action taken on this at the timer
"The Post Commander upon being told this, insisted
upon Evans Co making affidavit to the fact This was
DONE aud the affidavit forwarded to Secretary Belknap
at Washington"
"was any reply recevedp
"Eone, and thus the guilt OF Beknap fully estab-
tabshed in the minds OF all the officers at the post"
"For how long has knowledge OF these frauds been
in such shape that they must have become known "
Preside Grantp
"They fully developed in 1868, and since that
time have been notorious"
90 How about your own trialf
81 was warned against meddlipg In these charges and
M soon did charges were preferred against me.
While the nourt-martial was sitting was told that
Belknap had said, by -, n that court don't convict
Capt Robinson will"
"whst charges we're prefsrred against you,"
was tried on the 18th OF September There 10
specifications, aud every charge passed. Among