Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-03-09

in regard to the several transactions,
and 50 fully as to save necessity Of res
pcated interrogatories ?
STATEMENT OF GALES MARSH.
In reply to your question would
state that in the summer of 1870 myself
and wife spent some weeks at Long
Brauch, and on our return to New
York Mrs. Belknap ana Mrs. Bower,
by our invitation, came for a visit to,
our house Mrs Belknap was i'll dur
ing this visit some three or four weeks,
and supposed in consequence of our
kindness to her, she felt under some
obligation, for she asked me, in course
Of a conversation, why did not apply
for post leadership on the frontier. l
asked what they were and was told
that they were many of them very
lucrative Offices or posts in the Gift of
the Secretary of War, and that if
wanted one she would ask the Sec
rotary tor one for me. Upon my re.
plying that thoaght such offices
belonged to disabled soldiers, and
besides that was without political in
tiuence, she answered that politicians
got such places, sc, &c. l do not
remember saying that If had valu
able post Of that kind that would
remember her, bnt do remember her
saying something lihe this: IT I can
prevail upon the Secretary of War to
award you a post you must be careful
to say nothing TO him about presents,
for man once offered him $4,000 for
a leadership Of this kind, ana he told
him that If he did not leave the Off ce
he would kick him down stairs" Re-
Numbering as do this story, I pre~
sumo the antecedent statement to be
correct. Mrs. Belknap and Mrs Bower
returned to Washington, and few
weeks thereafter Mrs Belknap sent me
word to come over. Il did so. She
then told me the post leadership at
Fort Sill was vacant; that it was a
valuable post she understood and that
she had either asked for it for me, or
had prevailed upon the Secretary Of
War to give it to me; at all events |
called upon the Secretary of War, and
as near as I can remember, made ap-
plication for this post in regular
printed form. The secretary said he
would appoint me if l could bring
proper recommendatory letters, and
this said I could do. Either Mrs.
Belknap OF the secretary told me that
the present trader at the post, John S.
Evans, was an applicant for rsappoir.t
ment, and that had better see him, he
being in the city, as it would hot be fair
to turn him cut Of Office without some
notice, as he would lose largely on his
buildings, merchandise, &c, if the
Office was taken from him, and that 1t
would be proper and just for ME to
make some arrangement with MIN for
the purchase, if | wished to run the
post myself.
COMPROMISING WITH TIE INCUMBENT
I saw Evans, and found him alarmed
at the prospect of losing the place. l
remember that lie said that a firm of
Western post traders who claimed a
good deal of influence with the Scores
tary of War had promised to have him
appointed, but he found Oh coming to
Washington this firm to be entirely
without influence. Mr.. Evans first
proposed partnership, which I de.
clined, and then bonus of a certain
per eentage Of the position and con
iinue the business. We finally agreed
upon fifteen thousand dallars per year
Mr. Evans and myself went to New
York together. where the contract was
made and executed, which is herewith
submitted. During our trip over,
however, Mr.. Evans saw something in
the Army and Journal which led him
to believe that some of the troops
were to be removed from the post aud
that he had offered too large sum, and
before the contract was drawn it was
reduced by agreement to twelve thous
and dollars, the same being payable
quarterly in advances.
HALVES WITH MRS. BELKNAp.
Upon the first remittance coming to
me, say probably in November, 1870, l
sent half thereof to Ms. Belknap,
either, | presume, by certificate OF
deposit or bank notes by express.
Being in Washington at funeral some
weeks after this [ had a conversation
with Mrs. Bower to the following pur.
port, as far as | can remember, but
must say that just here my memory is
exceedingly indistinct, and judge i'll
part, perhaps, from what followed as to
the details Of the conversation.
THE PATIENTS TO 1uR SECRETARY.
Questions by chairman.-State how
the payments were made to the Secre-
tary Of War subsequent to the funeral
Of his then wife, which you attended
in Washington in December 1870,
whether in cash, by check, draft, certi>
fcate Of deposite, bonds, or by express
or otherwise
Answer. The money was sent ac>
cordiug to the instructions of the Secs
rotary of War; sometimes IN bank
notes by Adams Express. think on
one OF more occasions by certificate OF
deposites On the National Bank of
! America in New York. Sometimes /
have paid to him ia New York in per.
sons, except the first payment in the
fall of 1870, and the last in December
in 1872, all to be made to the secretary
in the modes / have stated, unless,
perhaps, upon one or two occasions at
his instance I bought a government
bond with the moneys in hand arising
from the contract with Evans, which
| either sent or handed TO him.
QuestHn by MI. Blaclburn-Can
you state the sum in aggregate receiv-