The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-03

such places, &C., &c. | don't remembel
saying that II ] had a valuable post o
that kind that would remember her
but do remember her saying something
like this: ."If ! can prevail on the Sec
retaTy Of War 10 award you post yot
must be careful to say nothing TO hin
about presents, for man once ofieret
him $4,000 for a leadership OF this kline
and he told him that II he didn't leayt
the office he would kick him down stairs
Remembering as 1 do this story, presum,
the antecedent one to be correct. Mrs
Belknap and Mrs. Bowers returned L
Washington, and a few weeks thereafter
Mrs. BeIknap sent me word to come over
did 80, and she then told me that the
post leadership at Fort Sill was vacant
and that it was valuable post as she un
stood, and that she had either asked FOL
it or had prevailed upou the Secretary o.
War to agree to give it to me. At al
events called on the Secretary OF Wa
and, as near as | can remember, made
application for this position in the reg
ular printed form. The Secretary said ht
would appoint me il could bring proper
letters Of Recommendation and this said
/ could do. Either Mrs. Belknap or the
Secretary told me that the present trader
at the post, John S. Evans, was an ap.
plicant for re.appointment and that l
had better see him, he being in the city
as il would not be fair to turn him out
Of Office without some notice as he would
lose largely on his building and merchan'
disc If his position was taken from him
and that it would be proper and Just Tor
me to make some arrangement with him
for their purchase il wished to run the
post myself. l saw Evans and found
him alarmed at the prospect OF losing
his place. | remember that he said
thata firm Of western post traders who
claimed good deal Of influence with the
Secretary Of War, promised to have him
appointed, but he found on coming 10
Washington, this firm to be entirely with.
out influence. Evans first proposed q
partnership, which declined, and then q
bonus Of certain portion Of the profits
il | would allow him to hold the position
and continue the business. We finally
agreed on $4,000 per year. Evans and
myself went on TO New York together,
where the contract was made and exc
cuted, which is hereby sumbitted-the
paper marked "a"
During our trip over Mr.. Evans read
something in the Army and Navy Journal
which led him to think that some OF the
troops were to be removed from the fort,
and said he had offered too large sum,
and before the contract was drawn it was
reduced by agreement to $4,000, the
same being payable quarterly in advance.
When the first remittance came to me,
say payable in November, 1870, / sent
one.haif thereof 10 Mrs. Belknap, either,
l presume, by certificate OF deposit or in
bank notes by express.
Being in Washington at funeral
some weeks after this, l had a con.
yersation with Mrs. Bowers to the follow
ing purport, as far as now can remem.
ber, but must say Just here my memory
is exceedingly indistinct and l judge
partly from what followed as to the de-
tails Of the conversation. | went up
stairs in the nursery to see the baby. |
said this child will have money coming
to II before great while. She said yes;
the mother gave the child to me and told
me that the money coming from you she
must take and keep for it. l said all
right, and it seems said that perhaps
the father ought TO be consulted. l say
it seems so and yet ! can give no reason
for 1t, for us far Ms I knew the father
knew nothing OF any money transaction
between the mother and myself. | have
faint recollection Of remark OF Mrs.
Bowers that il 1 sent the money to
the father that it belonged to her and that
she would get it tanyway. Icertainly had
some understanding then or subsequently
with her or him, for when the next pay
mcnt came due and was paid ! sent one:
half thereof to the Secretary OF War, and
have continued substantially from that
day forward to the present time to do the
same. About, l should say, one and
half to two years after the commence
ment Of these payments, / reduced the
amount TO $4,000 per annum. The rea'
son Of this reduction was partly because
Of the combined complaints Of Evans and
his partner and partly, so far as remem'
ber, in consequence OF m article in o
newspaper about that time refecting
on the injustice done to soldiers
at this fort, caused By the .exhorbitan'
charges made necessary on the part ot the
trader by reason OF the payment OF this
bonus. TO the best Of my knowledge and
belief the above ls true statement oi all
the facts in the case, and as complete as ]
can remember occurrences OF so many
years ago.
Question by the Chairman-State how
the payments were made to the Secre-
try OF War subsequent 10 the funeral oi
his then wife, which you attended in
Washington in December, 1S70-whethel
in cash, by check, draft, certificate Of de-
posit, bonds, or by express, or other
wise? :,
Answer-The money was sent accord
ing to the instructions Of the Secretary oi
War, sometimes in bank notes by the
Adams Express, l think on one or more
occasion by certificate Of deposit on the
National Bank OF America in New York
Since have poid him in New York In
person, except the first payment in the
iall Of 1870 and the last in December
1872, all made to the Secretary II
the manner have stated, unless perhap!
on one or two occasions, at his instance,
bought a government bond with the
money in my hands arising from the con
tract with Evans, which either sent oil
handed to him.
Question by Mr.. Blackburn-Can yor
state the sum in aggregate received by
you under contract with Evans, and wha
portion thereof you have paid to the Sec
rotary OF War, including the.frst and las
payments, which you have stated wer'
not paid to him?
Answer-I have no memorandum
whatever on which to make an answer, il
is very simply calculation. The frs
payment to me by Evans, was made II
the fall Of 1870, at the rate Of Sl2,OOC
a year; he paid at that rate for about
wear and half or two years, and sine
then at the rate OF $4,000 year. 1t viii
aggregate about $4,000, one half o
which Ihave disposed Of as above stated
Questioned by the Chairman-Did yot
receive letters from the Secretary OF Wa
acknowledging the receipt OF sums for
warded to him in the manner you hay'