Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-02
The Terrible Charges Against Secre-
tary Belknap.
FHH History of the Affair.
His Resignation.

munlcatlon was received by the chairman
to the effect that w. W. Belkpap, Secretary
of War, had been guilty OF high crimes and
misdemeanors, In that he hal sold for pecu-
mary reward, certain military post suffer
ships. The information being of startling
nature, and of an import which the commit
tee deemed il its duty to Investigate, 1t was
decided TO make thorough inquiry, to the
end that II innocent, General Belknap should
nave the benefit ofcOmplete vindicatiou, and
II guilty that he might suffer such penalty
as attached to such derilection of official
duty.
BELKSAP ADVISED OF THE ACCUSATION
Before entering into the investigation.
Hon. Hester Clymer, chairman of the com
mittee, advised Secretary Belknap of the
grave charge alleged against him. Not only
personally did he direct the attention of the
War Secretary thereto but in addition, he
wrote him an official letter detailing to him
when the Investigation wOull commence,
and invited him TO be present TO confront
his accusers.
AN OLD, OLD STORY.
Now 1t had been repeatedly charged that
Secretary Belknap had sold sutlerships. 1t
was daily theme, which inspired attacks
in certain western papers when he was a
candidate for Senatorial honors in Iowa.
Not only was the charge made of selling the
one post, now unhappily ascertained to be
lact, but q list of posts which he was alleged
10 have sold was recently printed in the
New York Herald As a consequence when
Secretary BelKnap received word from
Chairman Clymer that the charges were to
De investigated, he seems to have supposed
lhat they were the same old stories. Acting
under this assumption he paid no attention
70 the matter, aud the committee went on
with the wOtK without his presence.
THE INVESTIGATION.
Then the investigate commenced. The
drag net OF the committee was thro gn ont
numerous witnesses were summoned, but
more seemed to have personal knowledge
OF the sale OF posts, other than that In the
western section OF the country IL was cur
rent TumOr, and often the basis of re Sspaper
publications. OF course this kind of evil
dence was not OF a tangible nature. II was
vague, incoheTent, and served no definite
purpose. Nevertheless the committee went
on picking up stray facts here and there in
dulging IN the hope that luck or something
else might ~ The lC1g run briug TO them a
BONANZA.
AN OLD NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION.
In due course OF time the attention of the
committee was invited to an old publication
in the New York San. This went on to
charge that Mr.. Marsh mot the Yale college
Marsh,) had paid valuable consideration
for the post at Fort Sill. in the Indian terri
tory. = IS this led TO a new witness, Mr.. Marsh
was summoned to attend. He came here last
week and gave his evidence.
STARTLING TESTIMONY.
From the time Mr.. Marsh gave testimony
The members of the committee cossed their
mouths like clans. There was a curious
glitter, however, in the eyes OF the demo-
cratic members, and the republicans looked
coTespOndingIy depressed. The exhaust
pump was applied quite thoroughly to
Marsh, and he was excused for the nOnce,
but with directions not 10 leave Washing
ton. Meanwhile, the committee having 90
tanned damaging testimony from him, noti-
fled Gen. BeAnap that his presence was re
quired before ii.
GENERAL BELKNAP RESPONDS.
Yesterday Secretary Belknap, in obedience
TO the summons, presented himself to the
committee. Here he was confronted with
the Marsh testimony, which was read to
him. Marsh was also present. The substance
of the testimony was that years ago Marsh
entered into a contract with Mrs. Secreta-
~ Belknap, to the effect that for and in con-
slderatiOn OF go 030 in hand paid, and for the
further payment of $4,000 annually, he
(Mersh) was TO remain unmOlested as the
post trader at Fort Sill. The agreement was
In writing. and IL is alleged a copy was
shown BelBnap. Further, that In cOmpli-
ance with the terms of the agreement, Marsh
die pay the $40, 600 and for the time ne held
the post paid the promised Sc, 900. The checks
were made out By Marsh payable TO Mrs.
Eelhnap, and 1T IS said that Marsh testified
that when the checks were returned TO him
they were endorsed pay 10 w. W. Belknap
by Mis-. Belknap," and the endorsement of
the Secretary was also on them, showing
mat ne drew the money.
BELKNAP AsTOUNDED.
or course. this information astounded the
Secretary. There stood Ia his presence his
accuser, and even the more potent accusa-
tior, the checks ard agreement There was
but one Interpretation TO put upon the mat
ter. The Secretary b!uEhed, became con-
fused, and did not deny the accusation.
This much members OF the committee
Will disclose. Further than this, however
they refuse to communicate. 1t is said by
congressman, not of the committee, that so
overwhelmed was the Secretary with the
passioEed way he besought them to keep the
disclosure from tie public, promising 10
promptly resign, or make any reparaLion
within his power. or course, this was not
also said that Mrs. Belkuap was before the
committee yesterday, and stated that she
alone was responsive Tor the wnole trans
action The committee then produced the
checks to show that they were made by her
payable TO her husband, which evidenced
the fact that he was aware OF the agreement
and its pecuniary benefits.
SECRETARY BELKNAP RESIGNS.
Early this morning Secretary BeIknap re-
paired 10 the War Department. He re-
NAMED but few minutes, and at half past
nine walked over 70 the White House. He
at OCce proceeded to the President and hand
ed INN an enclosed manu- pt. The Presi-
dent tore ii open hastily, thinking it mat
ter Ofroutine business. His surprise can be
imagined when Its purport flashed upon
him; hUt dOubly so when the facts prompt
ing IL were made known. Both walked down
stairs into the corridor facing the red, green,
and blue rooms. Soon after Secretary Cnand-
Ter arrived. Then came Senators Edmunds
and Morton. Soon after the latter arrived
Belkpap and Secretary Chandler came out.
Tie Secretary declined TO have anything TO
say 10 THE STAR representative concerning
the matter, and drove Oft with Secretary
Chandler.
THE MR.. MARSH IN THE CASE.
Marsh was no voluntary witness. Before
be was brought before the committee the
members had such definite information of
the Fort Sill transaction that no amount of
prevarication on his part could have saved
the Secretary. When he was first summoned
te Tefu' ed to come. A deputy sergeant-at-
AIMS was sent for him, and secured New
York city before finding him. He was
brought here under arrest. 1t appears that
when he secured the monopoly of the Fort
Sill post, he sub let 1t TO go between, at a
sum which more than repaid him for his
outlay in the transaction.
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