The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-03-09

- The money coming from you she must take
and keep for it." I said sAll right, ana II
seems to me I said, that perhaps the father
ought to he consulted. / say it seems So and
yet can give no reason for It, for as lar as
| knew the father knew nothing of any money
transactions between the mother and myself. l
have a faint recollection of remark OF Mrs.
Bowers that if sent the money to the father
that it belonged to her, and that she would get
it anyway. Icertainly had some understanding
then or subsequently with her or him, for when
the next payment came due and was paid sent
one-half thereof to the Secretary of War. and
have continued substantially from that day for
ward to the present time to do the same About,
should say. one and One-half to two years
after the commencement of these payments, |
reduced the amount to $6, 600 per annum.
The reason of this reduction was partly be-
cause of combined complaints on the part or
Evans and dis partner, and partly, 80 lar as l
remember in consequence of an article I'D the
newspapers about that time rejecting Oh the
injustice done to soldiers at this fort, caused
by excrbitant charges made necessary on the
part of the trader by reason of the payment of
this bonus To the best of my knowledge and
belief, the above is true statement of all the
facts IN the case, and as complete as can re-
member The occurrences of SO many years ago.
HOW THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE.
@. (by the Chairman )--State how the pay
ments were made to the Secretary of War sub
sequent to the funeral of his then wife, which
you attended in Washington IN December, 1870
whether in cash, by check, draft, certificate OF
deposit Of bonds, or by express, or otherWlSe.
A-The money was sent according to lnstruc-
tons of the Secretary of War, sometimes in
bank notes by the Adams Express-I think on.
one or more occasions by certificate OF deposits
on the National Bank of America, In New York.
Sometimes have paid him in New York IN per-
son. Except the first payment In the fall OF
1870 and the last in December, 1874, all were to
be made to the Secretary in the modes have
stated unless, perhaps, on one Or two occasions;
at his instance, bought Government bond
with the moneys in my hands arising from the
contract with Evans, which either lost Or
handed to him.
SUMS PAID BELKNAP.
@. (by Mr.. Blackburn Gan you state the
sum in the aggregate received by you under the
contract with Evans and what portion
thereof you have paid to the Secretary of War,
including the first and last payments, which you
have stated were not paid to him !? Al Lave
no memorandum whatever on which to make
answer. 1t is very simple calculation. The
first payment to me by Evans was made IN the
fall of 1870, at the rate of $12 900 a year. He
paid at that rate about year and a half or two
years, and siuce then at the rate of $4,000
year. 1t would aggregate about $40, 600, one
half of which have disposed of as above stated.
THE VOUCHERS.
O. Cby the Chairman Did you receive let
ters from the Secretary of War acknowledge
ing receipts of sums forwarded to him in tn 9
manner you have stated, or did he acknowledge
the receipt of the same in any way? A
Usually when I sent money by express would
send the receipt of the company which he
would either return marked 30 K, = or other
wise acknowledge the receipt of the same.
Sometimes paid him in person in New York,
when no receipt was necessary. l have not
preserved any receipts or letters. When sent
by express always deposited the money per-
1lxyo %ro1 int for
TALKS WITH BELKNAP.
O. (by the Chairman Have you at any time
had any conversation with the Secretary OF War
regarding the post leadership at Fort Sill, or
have you corresponded with him regarding
same /? A.-Oh frequently. Ihave forwarded
requests to the Secretary made to me by Evans,
Wishing privileges about the fort such as to,
sell liquors, etc. don't remember what ac-
ton was taken upon them. They were not re-
turned to me as far as [ know. Evans CORE
sponded regarding affairs at Fort Sill through
me with the Secretary of War. never heard
of any other way.
@. (by the Chairman WAS the contract be-
tween you and Evans ever the subject of con-
versatiOn between you and the Secretary OF
War Alt never Was-but | am not
pusitive-yet it seems to me it was
when an article in the newspapers re-
about the time the reduction was made in the
payments from 1900 to $4,000, appeared.
The next time I saw the Secretary of War he
asked me if I had contract with Evans. /
told him I had. I never showed it to him or
any one else until produced it here.
RUN DOWN.
@. (by the Chairman after receiving by
telegraph the subpoena from the Sergeant-at-
Arms to appear before this committee, which
was on Monday, the 21st.of this month, did you
come to Washington, and, if so, had you an in
terview with the Secretary of War, and
when and where? Al came to Wash
ington on Wednesday, the 23d of this
of War, staid Wednesday night, and re-
turned on Thursday morning. I showed him
the telegraphic subpoena and asked him what it
meant. He said he supposed it was to state
before the Committee what l knew about our
transactions together. said did not like to
appear, because thought my testimony would
be damaging to or would implicate him or give
him trouble. He said he thought not, and adj
vised me to stay and meet the Committee. Du-
ring that evening my conversation was chiefly
with his wife, he being present part of the
time and understanding the general tenor OF
our conversation. She suggested that l could
make statement which would satisfy the Com
mittee and exculpate the Secretary. She wanted
me to go before the Committee and represent
that she and l had business transactions to-
gether for many years, and that all this money
/ had sent the Secretary was money that she
naQ from Time TO Time u0pOblt0u Will Lu0 as
a kind of banker, and that she had instructed
me to send it to the Secretary for her. I
dined there and spent the evening, and stayed
all night, retiring about IL o'clock. The even
ing was devoted to discussing this matter
told her the statement would not hold water
before the committee, and even if it would,
could not make it. At the same time / was SO
wrought up, and had such an anxiety, she press
ing and pressing me about it, and having slept
little since the receipt of the subpoena, and
sympathizing with their condition, did not
give them positive answer that night. Iwent
to bed at IL o'clock, ana do not suppose slept
a wink. They said they would breakfast about
8 o'clock. I came down at 10, and met the
Secretary alone. told HIM / thought i had
better leave and get out of the country. for
would not perjure myself for any one; that
could afford to have my throat cut, but not to
PEI june myself. He said he did not
wish me to do that that we could
fix il I'm Soma other WAY. ] said. s. I