The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-23
POST TRADERSHIpS.
Testimony of DR.. Bradford.
Marsh before the Judiciary COns-
mittee.

WASHINGTON, March 22.-The Clymer COM
mittee to-day examined DR.. Bradford, who
was an applicant for post traders6lp in 1871.
One Peck, treasury clerk then and now, told
witness that Hawkins Taylor was intimate
with the Secretary of War and could get him
appointed on his application and endorsements.
Taylor got the appointment for witness from
Secretary Belznap, and the witness promised
agreed to pay him $1,000 year as long IS be
retained him at the Post. AS soon as Bradford
had made all his arrangements man offered
him $25 600 for his appointment, which was
refused. Bradford found his appointment re.
voked on his return to Washington, and on
calling upon the Secretary of War with a
friend Gen. Belknap said he was running the
department to suit himself. Bradford's friend
said he understood that some persons could
have appointments made and revoked at their
pleasure. Gen. Belknap jumped up aud said:
ANY one is liar who says so and can whip
him.
Witness informed Belknap that lie had paid
Taylor. Belknsp answered d, Il know nothing
about it," He said he never received the
slightest intimation from the Secretary of War
that money would be acceptable TO him.
Caleb b. Marsh appeared before the Judci
airy Committee and testified: 1 am the same
witness who testified before the committee on
expenditures in the war department. In Mon
treal looked over the printed account of my
testimony. With one inconsiderable addition
it is correct The addition is that 1 returned
to the Secretary of War after l had gone to
New York with Mr.. Evans and requested the
Secretary TO make the appointment of Evans
as post trader. L came to Washington in ans
wer to note or request of Mrs Belknap, not
of the Secretary OF War. When 1 came here
called on her first not on him. She told me
she had prevailed on him to give me the ap-
pointment. She said had better 90 and see
him. did SC. l think produced the letters
of recommendation from Judge Bohnmann of
Cincinnati, and one possibly from Job Steven
SOD, but do not recOllect distinctly. [ cam
not state positively that filed any such letters.
Either Mrs. or Gen. Belknap told me at the
first interview that Mr.. Evans was in town
and that had better see him and ARA nge to
buy out his stock, &c,a otherwise my appoint
ment would ruin him. 1 called on Evans. He
was much frightened He proposed partner
ship, which declined. Either he or I pro-
posed bonus Of $4,000 year. think it
was he proposed the bonus l understood I
was to control the post. I agreed to take
the $4,000. Then went to Secretary Bel
KNAPP and asked him to appoint Evans in my
place. can't state what said to the Secre-
tary of War further than the interview had
taken place. don't remember about the in
terview specially or what transpired between
rs. can't say whether the written appoint
ment went through me to Evans or not
Evans made his first quarterly payment to
me month or so after our contract. The first
remittance made was to Mrs. Belkhap.
Chairman Hunton-The receipt of the ex-
press company is signed W. W. Belknap.
Witness, continuing (surprised and some
what dscoverted)- l am very much mis-
taken. My transaction was with her. L can't
explain it if the package went to Gen. Bel
KNAPP. The sum sent was $500. This was
halt the amount received from Evans. l sent
half the amount because was pleased to do so.
So far as know she was surprised at the pres
ent. After Evans went away don't know but
that only half expected to get the money my
self / did and 10 no T sho
have threatened to have Evans removed if he
did not pay up. presume l may have said to
Mrs b. that she might expect present when
she spoke OF getting me the appointment. I
sent only one payment to Mrs. B. She died
few months after. l can't say when the Sec
ond payment was made, except that it was
about three months after the first. l sent half
OF it to the Secretary of War. sent the re-
ceipts given by the express Office for the money
to be transmitted to Mr.. Belknap aud he re-
turned the same to me With his endorsement
TO- X } on the back These receipts are now
destroyed in al! cases. Sometimes the acknowl-
edgefnent would be made by telegraph, but
such papers | also destroyed. L have an inds.
tnct impression that Gen. Belkrap also asked
me to buy him government bond. do not
remember whether it was for $1,000 or $500. 1
am quite sure, however, that 1 once sent him
certificate of deposite OF the New York Ma.
tional Bank of Commerce do not think the
certificate was in blank, but that followed
1uo NS""i iollI ohu uaoO ~ pdJduio W 00utrdl
Belknap.
do not remember any correspondence with
Gen. B., except when Evans asked for some
favor at Fort Sill. In such cases would send
Evans letters to IKE Secretary of War with
note something like this: 81 forward a request
from Evans. Can you comply with it?''
Witness said That several years ago he saw
an article in the N. Y. Tribune saying that
owing to the payment of tribute by Evans to
Marsh, the former charged exorbtant prices
to the soldiers at Folt SILL 1t seemed to the
witness that there was something in the same
article about his contract with Evans. He
thought ne then mentioned the subject to Gen.
Belknap Gen. B. asked him whether he had
contract with Evans, and so far as witness
remembers he told him he had.
Witness said he had no pecunary relations
with Belknap or his family, other than those
to which he referred. Having been asked
whether it was Immediately after the publica-
ton in the Tribune that Gen. Belknap came to
New York, he replied that he did not know the
year of the publication. The reduction of the
royalty he derived from Evans from $4,000 to
$4,000 year was made without consultation
with Gen. B. Witness made some payments
to Belknap i'll person in New YorS, giving him
bank notes. He supposed that Belknap I'M
derstood where the money came from without
any. conversation on the subject. Witness
might have said 10 him, Here are $500, or
present of money"
Witness further testified that he felt that
senfing money to Belknap would disgrace the
latter it the Transaction was found out, but
could give no reason for sending it.