The New York herald., 1876-03-09

served they will form splendid contrast in ''rng''
literature TO the gushing and sangy enusions OF
Joyce. From the "John J. Evans & Co." TO the
&C p Marsh these letters fairly breathed taint OF
tyranny 'You will you will do that"
tho style OF the language II tho instruction OF
to the verest menal. One OF these letters comes to
my mind now. In this Marsh sent orders to the
transmission OF the tribute Speaking OF a check for
$500 which he retained the house II drawn
on--Chck Co.-had failed he said :-"Hereaiter you
Will send exchange on ST. Louis" &c. Referring 10
up that s., 800" He warned them against running be-
hind, ''ese there will be trouble before you" There
of the language OF the coconspirator in these
letters, but The diolation OF member OF powerful
combination 10 his victims outside.
BELKSAP AND THE TRADERS
REPoRTER--You mean TO say, then, that Evans h Co
sustained no direct relation to the Belknapsr
lNFoRMANT--None whatever. Evans * Co. knew nei-
ther the Secretary his wife IN the matter. They
knew the law gave the Secretary the control of the
leadership, but they learned that harshs word was
law and they never went beyond him. In his arbitrary
power the Fort Sill trading post Marsh, to all in
tents and purposes stood in the Secretary's shoes
As 10 the disposition OF the money, which am told
amounted in these six years TO nearly $4,000 Marsh
only condescended to say to Evans Co that II was
used for tho iurherance of the interests OF the rcpubl
can party They received hint that any of il
went to Bcknap his wife The manner IN which
conscientious Caleb managed this affair would have
done credit to the shrewdness OF Joyce well matured
and p-uned OF his supernutes. At any rate II was in
dcatye Of inscriptions craft, which sufficient TO
have Spared Beknap from exposure II Marsh had
wanted 10. The suddenness with which this whole
thing has come light in all its maturity shows how
we'll the secrets have been kept. Marshs transactions
with the Belknaps were known only to them and him
self and they were successfully carried on Tor six
years. And yet with grievance, this Major
Armes comes to the front and tells Congressional
| Committee that certain Caleb P. Marsh tell
strange things and on invitation Marsh does tell with
vengeance.
! RgPoRrsR-You say that Evans & Co. mover had any,
thing to do with Mrs. General Belknap Wouldn't
this part Of Marsh's statement seem to assume the
Mrcn Rail- fhA n
that the present trader at the post John Evans,
! was applicant for reappointment and that had
fair to turn him out of office without notice,
he would lose largely on the buildings, merchandise
&c. II the Office was taken from him. aud that II would
| be proper and just for me to make
| SOME ARRANGEMENT
with him for their purchase If wished to the post
/ myself saw Evans, and found him alarmed at tho
] prospect of losing the place. l remember that
/ he said that nrm Of Western post traders who
claimed good deal of influence with the Secretary OF
| War wished have him appointed He found on
coming Washington this firm be entirely without
influence. Evans first proposed partnership. which
dcclnod and then bonus Of certain portion OF the
profits, If would allow him to hold the position and
from this that the Secretary Mrs Beknap had
seen Evans and paved the way tor harshS
possibly If Marsh's statement TO be taken tho
! exposure OF the whole plot But happen to know tho
contrary. Evans came to Washington and found that
under the Of Congress passed in 1870 BeKnap had
made Marsh master of the situation Evans was
! alarmed, and he had good reason TO be. Nearly his
I
his partner, Invested in the trading post at Fort
SILL where he had been doing business for time.
ioewhero Imes %sH aboas l0 or $40 600 worth
! think, and there they were, at that time
400 miles from the railroad. Unless
some arrangement could be fixed mp to save their
II to them. In the evidence you quoted
above Marsh says Beknap or Mrs. Beknap suggested
10 him compromise with Evans II is possible they
did, but it suggestion which came first hand
from them. Marsh met Evans and his ability for that
kind OF work at manifested in tho manner in
which he forced Evans up to the highest notch in his
contract pay ROYALTY for the trade of The post
Marsh made II $l5, 600 year at frst but came down
finally to $12 900 Evans went back 10 tho post, and
in of this silent partner In his profits was
forced TO
INCREASE HIS PRICE LIST
He carried the load about eighteen months when on
the hand trader authorized by the Interior De-
pdrment opened his store Just of the narrow military
reservation and the other complaints at the prices
charged at Evans store began TO reach Washington.
The result visit OF one OF the partners TO New
York where he had several interviews with Marsh.
The latter held out against any reduction in the
ROYALTY pleading the necessity oil the party The rep
rescntatye for Evans Il Co finally lad down tho alter
native OF 'reduce well quit the post" and Marsh
acceded to So 600 year. but as before the terms had
been cash quarterly invariably in advance, so they
continued with tho exception that the payments were
made sem-annualy.
REroRrKR-Apparcntly Evans & Co had little to do
with Belknap directly.
! ISPoRmASr-No il was all through Marsh. when
in 1872 one OF the firm went Marsh the lat
told him that he and the Secretary had been talk
ing over the contract into between Evans and
Marsh and II deemed best to annuI the contract.
Well, it ostensiby abrogated but under the new
arrangement the payment OF tribute went on Just the
same; and Marsh just as exacting and peremptory
about the time and manner OF payments as before
REPoRTER-Wnere is Evansf
INFoRMANT-He Is at Fort Sill He VIII be hero
In few days, and will probably go 10 Washington
The conversation turned upon the letters from
Marsh; and the prediction was made that the post
traders would be able TO lay before the Senate, or
wherever the investigation might 60 some interest
ing documentary evidence.