The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-03-07
THE BELKNlP SCANDAL.

VI As fuller details leach uB new an
' most revolting Developments ar
, brought TO light 1t now appears thn
! the present Mrs. Belknap, the one VIII
| seconded the ex Secretary in his attemp
to shield himself behind an accusation
{ of dishonor against his dead wife, add
ing, in the language II the committee
. "cowardice to crime" ID no other thal
| the Mrs. Bower, who ot the time Sc
cured for Caleb p. Marsh the Fort Sill
post-tradership, and a sister Of the for
ner Mrs. Belhnap. I'VE believe all com
ments to be unnecessary. lr $500 .F
i With Schenck in trouble, Delano
Richardson, Mccullough. and nearly al
the familiar spirits Of the White Hous'
either i'm suspicion or morally convicted
OF high crimes and misdemeahors In Of
flee, it docs verify seem as II retributivt
Justice was now about to strike not only
the brazen- faced and impident indorsel
OF the notorious Sheridan's banditti dis
patches, but also many of his now his
toric GAN Of u.s." not excluding thai
steadfast friend of rings and ringsters
and champion gift-taker OF these United
States. Gen. u. $. Grant. hna ne
That Belknap is guilty not only OF the
charges preferred against him, but OF
many others, no one doubts, md II needs
no prophet to predict that, now tho ball
has been set In motion. revelations will
be made from all quarters. But that
President Grant had cognizance Of
these, Irregularities is, or rather was,
| more difficult to establish The state
ment Of Capt. Geo. Z. Robbins, captain
Of tho 10th United States Cavalry,
stationed at Fort Sill from 1868
10 1872, cashiered for knowing too much,
positively charges the President with q
guilty knowledge OF these frauds dating
back at least two years. We clip from
the Cincinnati Commercial the following
extract Of Capt. Robbinaon's statement
Q.ABeing familiar with these particu-
lars, did YOU make any effort TO have
them investigated AL More than a
year ago visited Washington and made
charges against Belknap, employing as
counsel John J. Key, Of that city, and
subsequently, General Hinkle, also Of
Washington, which latter was largely
instrumental in bringing the matter to
an issue. These charges were presented
to the Military .Committee.
Q.-What was tho result A. The re-
suit was that was cashiered.
q. Did President Grant know OF these
charges against Belktiap? A.LLPresi-
dent Grant has known Of these charges
for years, he knew as much nearly two
years ago as he knows to-day.
@. When did you make an effort to
renew the charges Some two
months ago. 1 renewed the charges,
employing the same COUNSEL, was
backed by all the officers OF the fort, and
furnished a list Of witnesses for tho com
mittee, and aided as far Us possible In
colleuting the evidence by which he was
convicted. e.a 8sg IHa Htitr,t
Q.rWhat list of Witnesses did you
give the committees? Al gave them
the names OF Brevet Major General B.
II. ariNtson, OF the Tenth United 1tates
Cavalry, and OF every officer Of that
regiment; also, of Gen. W.. B. Hazen,
commanding the Sixth Infantry, and all
the officers Of that regiment. Both OF
these commands were stationed at Fort
sill. and the officers were fully nc
ql,ainted with the frauds being prac-
ticed. gt.y... ...4 4y.,t.4..
Odd you submit any documentary
evidence? Al transmitted all the
I had on the subject,
and my letters to the President and
others. ,....,, ,..4.eay 4H
Q.LCan you Indicate more definitely
the profits OF the post to Evans e Go. :? |
A.-The profits on everything were
very great, equal to fully five hundred
per cent. 1t was extorted from the |
pockets of the officers OF the United |
States to enrich Mr.. Belknap.
O.-What knowledge have YOU OF this? |
Al knew OF this officially, having |
been O, member ofthe Post Council of |
u part OF the duties Of
which was to see that the post trader
ioes not make an overchafge for sup
plies. When asked why the charges
we're SO exorbitant, we were told it was
because. they were Obliged to do so, be-
knap $1,000 year for the privilege.
Q.-Was any action taken on this at
tho timer A.--The post commander,
,n being told this insisted upon Evans
Go. making affidavit to the fact that
his was done, and the affidavit was for
warded to Secretary Belknap at Wash
bRtOn. tb .73HnIH al{l ElH .uH8Hatr
4 Q.--Was any reply received ?adA.-
None, and thus the guilt Of Belknap
vas fully established in The minds OF afl
he officers ut the post. l''lp l'ht
HQ.--For how long a time has the
Of these frauds been in such
! shape that they must have become
known to President Grant 2, A.-They
we're fully developed In 1868, and since
hat time have been notorious. rftt
Q--How about your own trial? Al
vas warned against meddling in these
charges, and as soon as / did SO charges
we're preferred against me. While the
was sitting, I was told
hat Bclknap had said, n" BY Cd, II
hat court don't convict Capt. Robinson,
will" o.s.,.. ..f,.. ,..
y Q.What !. letters and when did you
write to President Grant? Al wrote
PRESIDENT Grant three letters first
'arlyi In 1873, the second in 1874, and
he last in 1876. In, these letters re-
lewed the charges against Belknap,
md submitted all the evidence, and
lames of witnesses. tHI Il
Q.--What1r reply did you get? A.-I(
lone whatever. ,l9 rI.a r4.fhD.. ..-T-,
Q.--Do you think your letters reached
he President? Al have good reasons (
or believing that they did. I have now (;
ucceeded in convicting Belknap, and /
hall ask and expect to be restored to {
ny rank in the army. En-. .,.,.t. 7,
Here we have q fair sample OF the
Mcidl lCillQ Of the Republican partv OF