The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-03-09
BELKNAP.

Details of His Official Malfeasance, as
Given to the Congressional Committee
by Caleb p. Marsh.
On Tuesday, Feb 80, 1876, the committee
met at 1870 q. m. Present, Messrs Clymer,
Blackburn and Robbins.
Caleb p Marsh one of the Witnesses Or
dered to be subpenaed by the committee,
being present, was duly sworn according to
law.
Question (by the Chairman Where do you
reside? Al reside at 80 West Fifty-seventh
street, New York. Have resided in New York
about eight years.
@. 10y the chairman Were you or not ap-
pointed or rendered an appointment as post
trader at Fort SILL Indian Territory, in the fall
of 1870, by the Secretary of War? If SO, under
what circumstances was said appointment Sc
cured to YOU :? State also if you were commits
stoned by the Secretary as such post-trader,
or If not, who was so commissioned, and If
any other person than yourself was so commits
stoned, give his name, and the reasons why he
was commissioned. If any agreement was
made between you and the appointee, state it,
or produce it, if In writing, and was such agree
raent made with the knowledge of the Secre-
tary of War, and state the circumstances con-
nected with the making of that agreement, and
all transactions in detail Hereunder, fully and
particularly as if you were specially interro-
gated In regard to the several transactions, and
so fully as TO save the necessity of repeated in
terrogatories.
THE REPLY,
In reply to your question | would state that
In the summer of 1870 myself and wife spent
three weeks at Long Branch, and on our return
TO New York Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bowers by
our invitation, came for visit to our house.
Mrs. Belknap was i'll during the visit some
three or four weeks, and suppose, in conse-
qaence of our kindness to her, she felt under
some obligation, for she asked me one day in
Che course of a conversation why did not APP
ply for a ost-tradership ON the frontier. I
asked what they were, and was told that many
of them were very lucrative offices or positions
re the gift of the Secretary of War, and that if
a wanted one she would ask the Secretary for
one. Upon my replying that thought such
Offices belonged to disabled soldiers, and be-
s sides that l was without political Influence, she
answered that politicians got such places, etc.,
etc. do not remember saying that if had q
valuable post of that kind that would remem-
Der her. but do remember her saying some
thing like 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 leadership of this
kind and he told him that if he did not leave
membering as / do this story presume the
-eatecedent statement to be correct. Mrs. Bel
} kEEap and Mrs. Bowers returned to Washington,
I and few weeks thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent
L aseyyyord to como over. did so. She told me
sire leadership at Fort Sill was vacant that
if was valuable post as she understood, .and
that she had either asked for it for me, or had
prevailed upon the Seer esary of War to agree to
give il to me. At all events called upon the
Secretary of War, aud as near as can remem-
Der made application for this position; regu-
lar printed form. The Secretary said he would
appointme if / could bring the proper letters
and recommendations and THE / said could do.
Either Mrs. Belknap or the Secretary told me
that the present trader at the post, John 3.
Evans was an applicant tor reappolntment,
and that had better see him be being IN the
ecitv, as it would not be fair to turn him out
ut office without some notice, az he would lose
largely on his buildings, merchandise, ETC.. IL
the office was taken from him, and that 1t would
be- proper and just Tor me 20 make some arrange
Kllent with him for their purchase if I wished 10
run the post my self l saw Evans, and found
him alarmed at the prospect OF iosing the place.
L remember that lie said that I'll III of West
ern post-traders who tlalmed good
deal Of influence with the Secretary OF War
promised to have him appointed but he found,
on coming to Washington, this firm to be en-
stirely without influence Evans first proposed
"a parnelship which declined, and then
bonus of a ceI tain portion Of the profits IT
would allow him g. bold the position and con-
Ntinue the business. We finally agreed upon
= &l5, 900 per year. Evans and my self ent ON to
New YCrk together where the contract WAS made
and executed, which is herewith submitted
Paper marked Al During our trip over, how
ever, Mr.. Evans saw something IN the A''nly
AID Macy Journal which led him to think that
some of the troops were to be removed from
the fort, and ne had offered too large sum,
and, before the contract was drawn, it was re-
duced by agreement to $4,000 the same being
payable quarterly in advance. When the first
; remittance came t. me, say, probably, in No
vember, 1870, sent one-half thereof to Mr..
Beibnap either, I presume, by certificate of
/. deposit or bank notes by express. Being in
Washington at funeral, some weeks after
y this, had conversation with Mrs. Bowers
!. TO the following purport, 50 far as can now re-
member, but must say that just here my memory
is exceedingly indistinct, and judge in part
perhaps from what followed as to details of the
conversation / went up stairs to the nursery