Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-06
Mrs. Marsh Testffies Before the i'm
vestigating Committee.

WASHINGTON March "a.
MRS. G. 2. MARSH, who arrived this
morning, came into the room of the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the War De
partment to-day, accompanied by her hus-
band. She was sworn as witness, and
under the examination of Mr. Danford,
testified that she left Cincinnati in 1865,
where she had formerly resided, and has
lived in New York most of the time since
that year. She had known Mrs. Bowers,
(now Mrs. Belknap), since 1860, and had
been at the same hotel with her in Cincin-
natl for four years. Cincinnati was her
home, and she visited that city twice
year, staying there two or more weeks.
She met Mrs. Bowers in New York,
where Mrs. Bowers was her guest. Mrs.
Bowers was widow at the time the
witness commenced housekeeping in New
York, in the summer of 1871. She went
to Europe, in company with Mrs. Bowers,
the last of June, 1872, and knew Mr..
PendletOns name was on the list Of pas
sengers. The witness was asked whether
she had any conversation at any time,
with Mrs. Bowers, now Mrs. Belknap,
relative to her interest in the Kentucky
Central Railroad claim? The answer was:
Two or three weeks ago, at the Airing
ton Hotel" As that time the witness
asked Mrs. Belknap whether she had ever
received any money on account of the
claim. The witness told her she had
heard that she received $4,000 Mrs Bel
KNAPP REPLIED "The claim was for only
800 900, and how could [ receive S70,-
OO0?" During that conversation, Mrs.
Belknap was in state of excitement and
distress. Mrs. Belknap was friend of
hers, and the witness felt much interest
in her account. She had simply men
toned to Mrs. Belknap al idle rumor
as she would to her sister. She had
heard rumors for over year. She re-
lated to Gen. Kiddoo the conversation
between her and Mrs. BeIknap She did
not know of Mr.. Pendleton's paying
money to Mrs. Belknap on account of
the Kentucky Railroad claim, or
of making her presents. She never
heard the Secretary of War say any
thing about the contract between her hus-
band and Evans. On her cross examina-
ton by Mr.. Robbins, the witness said that
she understood Mrs. Bel1nap as denying
that she received anything, and meant to
convey that impression. In response to a
question by Mr.. Clymer, the witness said
that she saw him co. but once, and that
was three weeks ago. 1t was at the break
fast table at the Arlington Hotel; her hus-
band presented her to Mr.. Clymer. Their
short conversation had no reference to
coming before the committee.
Mr.. Marsh was recalled and testified to
the effect that Mr. Clymer had told him,
on the occasion of his former evidence,
that there was no danger to him (witness),
as he could not be sent to prison for any
thing he had said before the committee
Witness went to New York feeling easy,
but when, on Friday morning, he read
the remarks in the House, that the Secre-
tary Of War was not only liable to i'm
parchment but to criminal prosecution,
he thought he (witness) was in danger as
well, and hence his trip to Canada.
Mrs. Marsh, being Intercepted as to
why she went to Montreal, said that she
saw in morning paper that her husband
lad jumped off the train. She followed
the next morning, fearful that he had been
injured.