The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-03
THE TERRIBLE STORY OF BELK.
MAPS CORRUPTION.
All Efforts to Save Themselves Fail

at the w nlte House. IL Is also rumored
this afternoon that the president is in
clined to withdraw his acceptance of the
resignation to await investigation of the
charges against Belknap.
Following is Secretary Belknap's letter
rendering his resignation:
WASHINGTON, March 2, l876.--Mr.
PRESIDENT hereby tender my resignation
as secretary of war, and request it's
immediate acceptance. Thanking you for
your constant and continued kindness,
am respectfully and truly yours,
(Signed) VIM. W. BELKNAP.
The president to-day appointed Secre-
tary Robson acting secretary of war.
Following are the points of the unani-
nous report read by Clymer in behalf of
the examining committee-Clymer, Black
burn and Robbins:
Caleb p. Marsh, one of the witness or
dered to be subenaed by the committee
being present. was duly sworn according
to law. He testified that he had resided
in New York about eight years. In reply
to general question, he said: In the
summer of 1870 myself 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 to our house and 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 post leadership on the frontier
asked what they were, and was told that
many of them were very lucrative offices
and were in the gift of the secretary of
war; if wanted one she would ask the
secretary for one; upon my replying that
/ thought such offices belonged to disabled
soldiers, and besides that was without
political influence, she answered that
politicians got such places, etc., etc., ]
do not remember saying that if had a
valuable post of that kind that | would
remember her, but | do remember her
saying something Ike this: IF | can
prevail upon the secretary of war to
award you a post, you must be careful to
say nothing to him about presents, for a
man once offered him $4,000 for trad
ership of this kind and he told him if he
did not leave the Office he would kick him
down stairs" | believe the other state
ment is also correct. Mrs. Belknap and
Mrs. Bower returned to Washington and
u few weeks thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent
nee word to come over; | did so; she then
told me that the post leadership at Fort
Sill was vacant; that it was valuable
post, as she understood, and that she had
either asked for it for me or had prevailed
upon the secretary to give it to me; | call
ed on the secretary of war and applied tor
the position; the secretary said he would
appoint me if | could bring proper letters
and recommendations and this | said |
could do; either Mrs. BelkDap or the
secretary told me that the present trader
at the post, John D. Evans, was an ap
picant for reappolntment, and that | haC
better see him, as it would be unfair t.
turn him out without notice, as he would
lose largely on the buildings, etc.; i
would be proper tor me to arrange viii
him for their purchase; L found Evan.
alarmed at the prospect oflosing his place
l remember that he SAID that firm o
western post traders who claimed a goot
deal of influence with the secretary o
war promised TO have him appointed
but he found on coming to Washington thu
firm to be entirely without influence
Evans first proposed partnership which
declined, and then bonus of certa
portion of the profits if | would ALLOW
him to hold the position and continu
the business; we finally agree,
myself went on to New York together
where the contract was executed and
herewith submitted; this was subsequent
reduced to $4,000, payable quarterly i
advance; when the first remittance cam
to me, say probably in November, 1870,
sent one half thereof to Mrs. Belkual
either presume by certificate of depOs
or bank notes by express: being in Wasl
ingtOn at funeral some weeks alter til
| had conversation with Mrs Bowers
the following purport, as far as | can no
remember;
Witness stated that his memory wa
very indistinct on many points, He sale
| went up stairs in the nursery with Mr.
Bowers to see the baby; | said to her
This child will have money coming bt
fore great while;" she said yes, til
mother gave the child to me and told III
that the money coming from you she mus
take and keep it. | said ''al right
and it seems to me | said that perhaL
the father ought to be consulted; | say
seems so and yet | can give no reason ft
it, for as far Us | know Belknap kne
nothing OF our money transactions; l hay
a faint reccollection of remark of MIR
Bowers, that if sent the money to til
father that it belonged to her, and thu
she would get it anyway; l certainly ha
some understanding then or subsequent
with her or him, for when the next pa,
ment came due it was paid? | sent on,
half thereof to the secretary OF war an
have continued to do the same ever since
and one anu half to two years after tn
commencement of these payments | reduC
ed the amount to $4,000 per annum ii
reason of this reduction was partly be
cause of the combined complains on ii
part of Evans and his partner and partl
so far as / now remember, in consequent
OF an article in the newspapers about TIL
time rejecting on the injustice done
soldiers at this Fort, caused by the exc
bitant charges made necessary on the pa
OF the trader by reason of the payment
this bonus; to the best of my know
edge and belief the above is true stat
ment of all the facts in the cas-,
and as complete as | can remembt
occurrences OF so many years agt
the aggregate receipts from the post we
$4,000, Of which half was disposed of
already mentioned; usually. when | e.
pressed Belknap money. / would ser
him the receipt OF the company, which
would either return marked 20. k" /,
otherwise a. knowledged of the receiptof Il
same; sometimes | paid it to him in pc
son in New York, when no receipt w
necessary; have not preserved any r
ceipts or letters; when sent by express
always deposited the money personal
and took a receipt for it; have frequent
correspondent with the secretary of wa