The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-03-10
The Pail Of Belknap.

] from washington that Gen. Beiknap,
Secretary of War, had been charged
with disgracefuI and criminal conduct
| in office; that the charges we're backed
| up with strong evidence. and that the
high official had confessed his guilt.
| The origin of the investigation which
led to the discovery Of this high officers
malfeasance, is thus stated in Wash
inRton di-patch:
while in search for house for his
family in December. Hon. B. B. Lewis.
of Alabama, was referred to G. o. Arms,
a real estate agent in this city. During
their search for house Mr.. Arms. in
conversation, stated to Mr.. Lewis that
he had formerly belonged to the army.
but was dismissed through the enmity Of
Belknap; that if he had the assistance of
a member of Congress he could in sixty
days develnp facts that would force Bel
knap to resign.
Lewis rendered his assistance, and
they subsequently had several inter
views. Lewis being impressed sought
the advice of Randall, who adv that
the facts be brought before CIymer.
Chairman Of the Committee Of Expen-
ditures in the War Department.. Lewis
and Arms saw Clymer. and the latter
gave a list of Witnesses, including
Marsh. Afterwards Clyner thought
Arms was acting in bad faith, as the
Secretary said Arms had prosposed that
if he WAS restored to the army, and Ger
tain other conditions complied with, hr
wOnld drop the matter. Lewis said il
Arms was seeking only TO levy black
mail. Of course they could have nothing
TO do with it, but advised, az Arms had
furnished names of witnesses, that they
he called and examined, which was
done"
The man Marsh, named in the dis
patch, is the individual who rendered
the damnatory evidence against the Sec
retary. His testimony pertains to his
(Marsh's) appointments by Belknap TO
the position Of post-irader at Fort Sill.
Indian Territory; how il was brought
about, and how much Of the profits of
the place was handed over to the Secre-
tary of War as 'consideration" for the
same. Following Is his statement:
| Q. Were you or not appointed or
rendered an appointment as Post Trader
al Fort Sill, Indian Territory, in the fall
Of 1870, by the Secretary of War? If
so, under what circumstances WAS said
/ appointment returned to yon2 State,
also, if you were commissioned BY the
/ Secretary as such Post Trader, or if not
who was 40 commissioned; and il any
other person than yourself was 30 com.
missioned, give his name and the reasons
why he was commissioned? If any
| agreement was made between you and
| appointee, state it or produce il if in
writing; and was such agreement made
with the knowledge of the Secretary Of
| War, and state the circumstances con.
nected with the making of that agree
ment, and all the transactions in detail
hereunder fully and particularly, as If
yoE were specially interrogated in re-
gard to the several transactions, and so
fully as TO save the necessity Of repeated
interrOgatories.
Ans i'm reply to your question, / would
state that in the summer Of 1870, my
self and wife spent some weeks at Long
Branch, and on our return to New York,
Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bower, by our
invitation, came for a visit 10 our house
Mrs. Belknap was i'll during this visit
some three or four weeks, and suppose
in consequence of our kindness to her,
she felt under some obligations, for she
asked me one day, in the course Of
conversation, why did not apply for a
post tradership on the frontier. I asked
what they were, and was told that man,
of them were very lucrative ofFices or
positions, the gift of the Secretary Of
War, and that IL wanted one she would
ask the Secretary for one. Upon my
replying that thought such offices be-
longed to disabled soldiers, and besides
] was without political influence, she
answered that politicians got places, &c.
] do not remember saying that If ] had
a valuable post Of that kind that wonld
remember her, but ! do remember her
saying something like this. "If I can
prevail upon the Secretary Of War to
award yon post, you must be careful
to say nothing to him abont presents, for
man once offered him $4,000 for a
leadership of this kind, and he told him
that IL he did not leave the Office he
would kick him down stairs." Remem-
bering as do this story, I presume the
antecedent statement TO be correct. Mrs.
Belknap and Mrs. Bower returned to
Washington, and a few weeks thereafter
Mrs. Belknap sent me word to come Ov-
ca: did so. She then told me that the
post tradership at Fort Still war vacant,
that it was a valuable post, as she un-
derstood, and that she had either asked
for it for me, or had prevailed upon the
Secretary OF War TO agree TO give it TO
me. AT all events, ] called upon the
Secretary OF War, aud. az near as can
remember, made application for this
position on a regular printed form. The
Secretary said he would appoint me il !
could bring the proper letters and re.
concentrations, and this said could
do. Either Mrs. B"lknnp or the Secre-
tary told me that the present trailer at
the post, John S. Evans, was an appii-
cant for reappointment, and that had
better see him, he being in the city, as il
would not be fair TO turn him out of Of
fee without some notice, as he wonld
lose largely on hir buildings, merchand-
ise, &c, if the Office was taken from him,
and that it would be proper and just for
me to make some arrangement with him,
for their purchase. il ] wished TO run
the post myaelf 1 saw Evans and found