The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-03

evening she suggested that / could make
a statement which would satisfy the COM
mittee and exculpate the secretary; she
wanted me to go before the committee
and represent that she aud had business
transactions together for many years and
that all this money l had sent the secre-
tary was money that she had from time to
time deposited with me as kind of
banker, and that she instructed me to
send it to the secretary for her; /
told her the statement would not hold
water before the committee and even if it
would | could not make it; the next morn
ing | met the secretary alone and told him
| thought | hxd better leave and get out
of the country for [ would not periure
myself for any one; that I could afford to
haye my throat cut, but not to perjure
myself; he said he 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 | would
ruin him if left: said, IF I go before
the committee | will ruin you, for | will
tell the TRUTH" he was greatly excited;
when [ came down stairs to leave he
followed and asked me into the parlor and
said, Il want to make last appeal to you
to stay longer" he said if [ went he would
be ruined; said Il would ruin him if
went. before..t the committee and | left and
took the express for New York; on reach
ing home consulted my attorney, asking
him if the committee could reach me by a
subpoena if left the country; l stated
the case to him; went home and found
there dispatch from DIR. Tomlinson,
brother -in-law of the secretary; its purport
was not to leave, that he had good news;
that he was coming over; | determined
not be governed by it but
was going; l thought they
only wished to fix up some new story, but
that | could not be party to it; my trunk
was being packed to leave about midnight,
February "a. When DR.. Tomlinson ar
rived at my house he said, Il have seen
Joe Blackburn; he is cousin of mine,
who said he thought you (Marsh) would
write letter something like the one which
he (Tomlinson) wanted; that there would
| be no further investigation, and that if
there was they would ask no questions
| that would be difficult for me to answer
and that Mr.. Blackburn said he thought
that if the committee still wanted to ex
anime me they would appoint sub com
mittee and come over to New FORK to dc
so; DR.. Tomlinson said he would return to
Washington; he prepared two formula
kilograms which would understand; one
was II hope your wife is WE'LL was to be
interpreted to leave the country; the other
was Il hope your wife is BETTER" which
meant come to Washington; we then
parted; last Sunday received dispatch
from Dr. Tomlinson, Il hope your wife is
better" and | went to Washington; he
sent second dispatch. Come without
fail, " aud | came here yesterday morning
about s O'Clock; Dr. Tomllnson called anC
wanted to write another letter of the same
purport as that of Thursday night; he sale
Blackburn said | had better; | did so;
met the committee yesterday; Tomlinsor
met me while | was going to the room and
said, Il want you to remember there was
40 arrangement with you and the secretary
of war, and that the money that you have
always paid to Gen. Belknap was for Mrs
Belknap and by her directions; I told hin
| was going before the committee to tel
the whole story.