The true northerner., 1876-03-10

|
| and keep for it, l said "All right, and 1t
| seems TO me said, that perhaps the father
| ought 10 be consulted. L say it seems 30, and
yot can give no reason for It, Tor as Tar as
| knew tLs father knew nothing OF any money
| transactions between the mother and myself.
have faint recollection Of a remark OF Mrs.
Bowers that il sent the money to the father
that II belonged to her, and that she would get
il anyway. Icertsinly had some understanding
then or subsequently, with her or him, for when
the next payment came due and was paid sent
one-half thereof to tho Secretary OF War, and
have continued substantially from that day for
ward to the present time to do the Same. About,
| l should say. one and one-half to two years
after the commencement of these payments, |
reduced the amount to $4,000 per annum.
The reason of this reduction was partly be-
cause OF combined complaints on tho part OF
Evans and his partner, and partly, so far as
remember, in consequence OF an article in the
newspapers about that time rejecting OH the
injustice done to soldiers at this fort, caused
by excrbtant charges made necessary on the
part of the trader by reason of the payment of
| this bonus. To the best Of my knowledge and
belief, the above is a true statement Of all the
| facts in the case and AZ complete IA can re-
member the occurrences Of 80 many years ago.
HOW THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE.
! q. (by the Chairman State how the pay
ments were made to the Secretary of War sub
| sequent to the funeral of his then WIFE which
| you attended in Washington in December, 1870
| whether in cash, by check, draft certificate of
| deposit OF bonds, or by express, or otherwise.
| A.-The money was sent according to instruc-
! tions of the Secretary of War, sometimes In
bank notes by the Adams Express-I think on
| one or more occasions by certificate OF deposits
on the National Bank of America. i'll New York.
| Sometimes 1 have paid him in New York in per-
son. Except the first payment in the fall of
| 1870 and the last in December, 1874 all were to
| be made to the Secretary in the modes i have
| stated. unless, perhaps on one or two occasions
at his instance, bought Government bond
! with the moneys in my hands arising from the
contract with Evans, which / either lost or
handed to him.
SUMS PAID BELKNAP
Q. (by Mr.. Blackburn Can you state the
sum in the aggregate received by you under the
contract with Evans, and what portion
| thereof you have paid to the Secretary of War,
| including the first and last payments, which you
| have stated were not paid to him? Al have
no memorandum whatever on which to make
answer. 1t is very simple calculation. The
first payment TO me by Evans was made in the
fall of 1870 at the rate of Sl2, 900 year. He
paid at that rate about year and half or two
years, and siuce then at the rate of $4,000 a
year. 1t would aggregate about $40 600, one
half OF which have disposed OF as above stated.
THE VOUCHERS.
Q. (by the Chairman Did you receive let
ters from the Secretary of War acknowledge
ing receipts of sums forwarded TO him in tn Q
manner you have stated, or did he acknowledge
the receipt of tho same in any way? A
Usually when l sent money by express l would
send the receipt Of the company. which he
would either return marked 30 X" or other
wise acknowledge the receipt of the same.
Sometimes paid him in person in New York,
whom no receipt was necessary. | have not
preserved any receipts or letters. When sent
by express l always deposited the money per-
sonally and took receipt for 1t.
TALKS WITH BELKNAP.
Q. (by the Chairman Have you at any time
had any conversation with the Secretary OF War
regarding the post leadership at Fort Sill, OF
have you corre5ponded with him regarding
same A. oh. frequently. / have forwarded
requests to the Secretary made to me by Evans,
wishing privileges about the fort, such ns to
sell liquors, etc. / don't remember what ac-
tion was taken upon them. They were not re-
turned TO me as FAR as / know Evans CORE
sponded regarding affairs at Fort Sill through
me with the Secretary of War l never heard
of any other way.
Q. (by the Chairman)-Wa the contract be-
tween you and Evans ever the subject OF con-
versation between you and the Secretary of
War! Alt never was-but / am not
pCsitive-yet 1t seems to me it was
when an article i'll the newspapers re-
garding affairs at Fort Sill probably in 1872
about the time the reduction was made in the
payments from $l2, 600 to $4,000, appeared.
The next time i saw the Secretary of War he
asked me il l had contract with Evans. |
told him l had l never showed it to him or
any one else until produced it here.
RUN DOWN.
Q. (by the Chairman)-After receiving by
telegraph the subpoena from the Sergeant-at-
Arms to appear before this committee, which
was on Monday, the 21st'of this month, did you
come to Washington, and, if 30, lad you an in
terview with the Secretary OF War, and
when and where? Al came to WASH
month. went to the house of the Secretary
OF War, staid Wednesday night and re.
turned on Thursday morning. / showed him
the telegraphic subpoena and asked him what it
meant. He said he supposed it was TO state
before the Committee what l knew about our
transactions together. said did not like to
appear, because l thought my testimony would
be damaging 10 or would impcate him or give
him trouble. He said he thought not, and adj
vised me to stay and meet tho Committee. Du-
ring that evening my conversation was chiefly
with his wife, he being present part Of the
time, and understanding the general tenor OF
our conversation. Sue suggested that / could
make u statement which would satisfy the Com
nit ee and exculpate the Secretary. She wanted
me to go before the Committee and represent
that sue and 1 had business transactions to-
gether for many years, and that all this money
L had sont the Secretary was money that she
had from time to time deposited with me as
kind Of banker, and that she had instructed
me to send 1t to the Secretary for her.
dined there and spent the evening, and stayed
all night, retiring about IL o'clock. The even
ing was devoted to discussing this matter.
told her the statement would not hold water
before the committee, and even if it would, l
could not make it. At the same time l was 30
wrought up, and had such al anxiety, she press
ing and pressing me about it. and having slept
little since the receipt of the subpoena, and
sympathiZing with their condition, did not
give them positive answer that night. l went
TO bed at IL o'clock, and do not suppose / slept
wink. They said they would breakfast about
o'clock l came down at 10, and met the
Secretary alone. told HIM / thought i had
better leave and get out Of the country for l
would not perjure myself for any one that !
could afford to have my throat cut, but not to
pcrjure myself. He said ne did not
wish me TO DO that that we could
fix it up some other way. / said, Il
think had better leave the country" The |
Secretary said l would ruin him IL | left. !
said, "If go before the committee / will ruin
you for l will toll the truth" lie was greatly !
excited when l came down stairs to leave he |
followed and asked me into the parlor, and |
SAID: Il want TO make a last appeal to you to |
stay longer" He said If 1 went he would be |
ruined. SAID would ruin him if went be- |
fore tho committee, and L left and took the |
express for New York. On reaching home L |
consulted my attorney, asking him il the COM
mttee could reach me by subpoena il left the |
country. 1 stated the case to him q Dir. Bart