Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-10
AN ASTOUNDING REVELATION.
Confession and Resignation OF
Secretary Belkmap.

TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR |
FOR SELLING POST TRADERsHIPS-HIS
WIFE MAKES THE BARGAIN-HE CASH
IERs OFFICERS WHO REPORT HIM-THE
SECRET KNOWN A LONG TIME-HE
CoSFEssEs, AND GRANT RECEIVES HIS
RESIGNATION WITH REaRET-IMPEACII
MENT,
&C., &C., sc.
A startling revelation Of corruption in
high office in Washington came to light on
Friday last, followed by the resignation of
Secretary Of War, Belknap-tlle guilty
man. 1t appears that an ex-officer of the
army, named 1t. Robinson, now real
estate agent in Washington, told Southerl
member of Congress, in "a conversation
about renting house, that if he had an
opportunity before the committee investi
eating the War Department., that lie could
show immense frauds. His statements
were of such startling character that the
chairman of the committee, being inform
ed of them, consulted several prominent
men before acting ON them. When he was
called on Robinson pointed out g. P.
Marsh, Of New York, as the man who
could tell all about it. After some trouble
Marsh was gotten hold of, and told his
story. The story of Belknap's crime, as
developed in Marsh S testimony, dates back
to 1870. In reply to the question OF the
chairman OF the investigating committee,
Mr. Marsh said: At Long Branch in that
year, Mrs. Belknap asked him why he did
not apply for a post leadership on the
fro tier He asked What they We're, and
was told; also that they were very lucra-
tive positions, and upon replying that he
thought such offices belonged to disabled
soldiers, Mrs. Belknap said such places
were given to politicians, &C., &c. Did
not remember saying that if he had a
valuable post Of that kind he would re-
member her, but did remember her saying
something 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
$50, 900 for leadership of this kind, and
he told him that if he did not leave the
office he would kick him down STAIRS"
MRS. BELKNAP AND MRS. BOWER
returned to Washington, and few weeks
thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent him word to
come over. He did so. She then told him
the post.tradership at Fort Sill was vacant,
that it was a valuable post, she understood,
and that she had either asked for it for
him, or prevailed upon the Secretary of
War to give it to him. At all events he
called upon the Secretary of War, and, as
near as he could remember, made applica-
ton for the post on regular printed form.
The Secretary said he would appoint him
if he could bring recommendatory letters.
Either the Secretary OF Mrs. Belknap told
him that the present trader at the post,
John s. Evans, was the applicant for re-
appoint ment, and that he had better see
him, he being in the city, as it would not
be fair to turn him out of office without
some notice, as he would lose largely on
his buildings, merchandise, etc., if the Of
flee was taken from him, and that it would
be proper and just for him CMarsh) to make
some arrangement for the purchase if he
wished to run the post himself. He made
an arrangement with Evans, allowing him
to retain the position for d bonus Of ST.
600, and upon the first quarterly remittance
coming SO him sent half thereof to Mrs.
Belknap.
Mr.. Marsh then gave an account of
scene with Mrs. Bower, Mrs. Belanap's
sister) and the understanding with her in
the following language:
Upon The first remittance coming to me,
say probably in November, 1870, [ sent half
thereof to Mrs. Belllnap, either, presume,
Wy Col oIHCdIo VI ucPOolo VI pdtA HoteS. NY
express. Being in Washington at a fu-
neral some weeks after this, had d
CONVERSATION WITH MRS. BOWER
to the following purport as far as I can
now remember, but must say that just here
my memory is very indistinct, and | judge
in part, perhaps, from what followed as TO
the details of the conversation. l was up,
stairs in the nursery with Mrs Bower to
sae the baby. I-said to her, This child
will have money coming to it before q
great while" She said, Eyes; the mother
gave the child to me and told me the money
coming from you she must take and keep
for it, said ''ali right, :" and it seems to
me, said, that perhaps the father ought
to be consulted. Say it seems so, and yet
| can give no reason for it, for, as far as l
know, the father knew nothing of any
money transactions between the mother
and myself. | have faint recollection of
a remark of Mrs. Bower thai If [ sent
money to the father that it belonged to her,
and that she would have it any way.
certainly had some understanding then OF
subsequently with her OF him, for when
the next payment came due and was paid,
[ sent half thereof 10 the Secretary of
War, aud have continued substantially
from that day forward to the present time
to do the same.
Question by Chairman: State how the
payments were made to the Secretary Of
War subsequent to the funeral Of his (then)
wife, which you attended in Washington,
in December, 1870, whether in cash, by
check, draft, certificate OF deposit bonds;
or by express or otherwise?
Answer: The money was send according
to the instructions OF the Secretary OF War.
Sometimes in bank notes by Adams Ex-
press. [ think on one OF mure occasions,
by certificate of deposit ON the National
Bank Of America. in New York. Some
times | have paid him in New York
IN PERSON.
Except the fl! st payment in the fall of
1870 and the last in December, 1872, all
were made to the Secretary in the way l..
have stated. Unless, perhaps, upon one
CT two occasions at his instance, l bought
a government bond with the moneys in my
hands arising from the contract with
Evans, which. either sent q handed him.
Relative to his interview With secretaty
Belknap on the 23d of February, MI !
Marsh says: 81 came to Washing; On on |
Wednesday, the 23d Of this month. went
TO the house of the Secretary of War, staid |
Wednesday night and returned Thursday |
morning. I showed him the Geographic |
subpoena, and asked him what it meant. |
He said he supposed it Was 20 state before |
the committee what | knew about our |
transactions together. 1 said 1 did not |
like to appear because I thought my testi- |
mony would be damaging to or would i'm
plicate him or give him trouble. lie said !
heithought not, and advised meto stay and |
meet the committee. During that evening
my conversation was chiefly with his wife,
he being present part of the time and IN
derstandiug the general tenor Of our con-
versataon. She suggested that 1 could
make statement which would satisfy the
committee and exeuipate tLe Secretary.
She wanted me to go before the committee /
and represent that
SHE AND HAD BUSINESS
transactions together tor many years, and [
that all this money I had sent the Secre-
taru 1uar mnnau tha. she had from TINS To