The New York herald., 1876-03-03
THE INVESTIGATION.
TRIGUR FOR CORRUPT GAIN-sALE OF A POST
TRADERsHIP.

cIRcuMsTANTIAL EXPOSURE OF BELKNAPs M
TRIouE FOR CORRUPT GAIN--sALE OF POST
TRADERsHIP
WASHINGTON March 2, 1874
Mr. Clymer, after submitting in the House the
imous report OF the committee read on the Beknap
affair the following testimony and accompanimcnts
Tuesday, Feb 80, 1870 The committee at half
past ten O'Clock A. NJ. Present Messrs Cymer, Black
burn and Robbins
Mr. Caleb p. Marsh one OF the witnesses ordered TO
bo subpenaed by the committed, being present,
duly sworn according to law.
Question by the Charman-Where do you reside?
A. reside at No. 80 West Fifty-seventh street, New
York have resided in New York about eight years
Question by the Chairman-were you ap-
pointed rendered an appointment, post trader
At Fort Sill l. T., the fall OF 1870, by the Secretary
OF war-if So under what circumstances was said ap-
pontment secured to your State also If you
commissioned by the Secretary as such post trader,
or II not who was 30 commissioned; and II any other
person than yourself was so commissioned give his
name the reason why he was commissioned; II any
agreement made between you and the appolntee
state it, produce it II in writing, and such agree
ment made with the knowledge Of the Secretary Of
War? and state the circumstances connected with the
making of that agreement, and all the transactions in
detail hereunder fully aud particularly you
specially investigated in regard to the several
actions, and so fully TO the necessity OF
peated lnterrogatories-
STATEMENT
A. In rcpy to your question would state that in
she OF 1870 myself and wife spent weeks
at Long Branch, and our to New York Mrs
Beknap and Mrs. Bowers by our invitation came for
visit to our house, Mrs Belknap was III during this
visit some three tour weeks; suppose in conse
quence Of Kindness to her she felt under
legation, for she asked me day in the of "a
conversation why did not apply for post leadership
the frontier; asked what they were and was told
that there many Of them, very lucrative Offices
or positions, in the gift OF the Secretary OF War; and
that II wanted she would ask the Secretary for
for me; upon my replying that thought such
offices belonged TO disabled soldiers and BESIDES that
was without political influence, she answered that
politicians got such places &c, &C. l do not
ber saying that II had valuable post Of that kind
that | would remember her, but do remember her
saying something like this :-''if prevail upon the
Secretary OF War award you a post you must be
careful to say nothing to him about presents man
once offered him $4,000 for leadership of this kind
and he told HIM that II he did not leave the Office he
would kick HIM down stalrs;" remembering do
this story, presume the anicccdenL statement to be
correct; Mrs. Beknap and Mrs Bowers returned TO
Washing gton and few weeks thereafter Mrs Bclknap
sent word 10 come over; did so; she then told
me that the post leadership at Fort Sill was vacant;
that II was q valuable post as she understood and
that she had either asked for II Tor me
or prevailed upon the Secretary OF War to agree to
give it 10 at all events called upon the Secretary
of War, and, near as can remember made applca-
for this post regular printed FORM the Socrc
tary said he would appoin, me If could bring proper
I.as-
either Mrs Belknap the Secretary told that the
present trader at the post John 5. Evans.
plicant for reappoinimcnt. and that had better
him. he being the city, it would be fair
him OF Office without notice, he would lose
largely his buildings, merchandise &C., If the Office
taken from him, and that 1t would be proper aud
Just to make arrangement with HIM for their
purchase II wished to run tho post myself; saw
Swans and found him alarmed at the prospect OF losing
the place; remember that he said that n nrm Of
Western post traders who claimed good deal of mnu-
with the Secretary OF War; had promised TO have
him appointed, but he found coming Washington,
this nrm TO be entirely without influence; Mr. Evans
first proposed a partnership, which declined;
and then bonus OF certain portion Of the profits II
would allow him to hold tho position continue the
business; we 1nslly agreed upon SIS, 900 per year;
Mr. Evans and myself went on TO New York together.
herewith submitted paper marked A. during trip
over however, Mr.. Evans something In the Army
and Navy Journal which led him TO think that some
oft troops were to be removed from the fort and
he had offered too large sum- and before the
was drawn u was reduced by agreement TO tl2 CO.,
the game being payable quarterly in advance.
FIRsr RgMrTAScK TO MRS. BELKSAr.
When the nrst remittance came 10 me-say probably
In November, lS70--1 sent onc-har thereof TO Mrs
Deknap either, presume, by certificate OF deposit or
bank notes by express; being In Washington at
funeral some weeks after this had cohversa-
ton with Mrs Bowers the following pur-
port far as can now remember, but
must say that just here my memory Is exceedingly
indistinct and | judge in pr, perhaps from
what followed as to the details Of the conversations
went up stairs in the nursery with Mrs Bowers 70 see
the baby said to her "This child will have money
coming to It before great while I" che said, ayes;
the mother gave the child to and told that tho
money coming from you she take and keep forit'
said, "An right and II seems TO Inc said that pcr-
maps the father ought to be consutcd say it seems
So aud yet give reason for H. for a. far as
knew the father knew nothing Of any money transac.
iions between the mother aud myself; have a faint
recollection Of a remark OF Mrs Bowcrs that II sent
tho money the father that II belonged to her and
that she would get 1t anyway,
TnR sEcRErARr
I certainly had some understanding then or subse
oucntly With her or hiln for when the nert nayment