Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-09
Intended Escape Of the Disg.aced Sec
rotary Of War Frustrated-His Ar
rest by the Police. G
Bad Morals Of HashingtOn-What Gen.
erals M'COOk and JEFF. G. Davis
Know About the Sale Of
Sutlerships.
Belknap's Line of Defense-The Cow
ardly Old Story Over Again-The
Woman Gave to Me, and 1 Did -.
Eat-A Big Steal-Etc.
INTENDED ESCAPE FRUSTRATED

WASHINGTON, Marcl -Inere is
every reason to believe that General
Belknap had intended last night ID es-
cape and flee to Bermuda. That he has
not done 80 is solely due to the determi-
nation of the President that Mr.. Bel
KNAPP shall not escape, but shall answer
for his crime in the courts OF law. The
secret service officers last night heard
| from an unquestionable authority, and
best knuwn to themselves, that General
| Belknsp contemplated escaping to Ber-
muds Vigilant, faithful guards were,
after speedy consultation with the ad-
| ministration authorities, placed about
! General Belknsp's house. It was close
| ly guarded in front and rear. The Off
| GERS informed United States District
| Attorney Wells, this morning, at one
| O'Clock, of the course they had taken.
| Mr.. Wells told them to exert thems slves
| to the utmost to prevent escape. The
officers told Mr.. Wells that they did not
know hew Belknap could be held if
he attempted to escape, as there was no
| process; but it was decided 20 maintain
! q watch until a process could be obtained
The force was so numerous IS to attract
the attention of the inmates of
the Belknap house. About ten o'clock
Mrs. Belkc o. came TO the door and
| ca led the officer in charge into the
house. She said she knew the house was
watched, and that she preferred he
should watch inside. The officer replied
that he was watching the house, and
that he had orders to do so from high
authority. He accepted her invitation
and took a seat in the hall. He had not
remained there long, when Mrs. Bel
KNAPP returned and told him that the
house was still watched; that there
were number of men in the rear, and
that she would prefer he would leave the
house. The officer then took his PCS
ton outside. The house was closely
guarded during the night. The officers
reported the situation to Mr., Wells in
the morning. They afterwari went be.
forea magistrate, and one,A J. Howell,
made complaint upon information
and belief, based upon the evidence
taken by the house committee,
that MIR. Relknap had received bride
Upon this information a warrant was
issued. In the meantime commune
cation was received from the attorney
general directing the officers not to per.
nit Mr.. Belknap to escape. The letter
containing this order was in very en-
phatic language, and directed the of
to arrest him if he attempted to leave.
Up to this time the officers were net alb
solutely certain that Mr.. Belknap was
in the house. None of them had seen
him. They had learned during the
night from a negro that he was there
and asleep, but the officers were instruct
ed TO assure themselves of this. Armed
with the letter of the attorney general
and the magistrates warrant Of deten-
ton, to be used if needed, one of them
rang the bell and asked for Mr.. Belknap.
The latter at first declined to see him
upon receiving his card. General Bel
kDap was then informed that he was
under surveillance, by order of the at
tOrney-general of the United States, and
that the officer in charge OF the watch
not wishing unduly to annoy him, de-
sired to see him. Upon receiving this
definite intelligence General BeIknap
came down in tears. He was very greatly
changed. The officer who saw him saws
he is perfect wreck. General Belknap
stated that he was conscious of being
watched, and that men were about the
house all night, and said he had no in.
tentlOn OF escaping, and could not if he
had. Two officers were then placed in
the house, one each at the front and
rear entrances. General Belknap apol.
ogized for having put the officer out in
the night, stating that Mrs. Belknap |
had been somewhat excited. Soon az |
ter this the secret service officer waited |
upon the encouragement. He ap-
proved of what had been done, and ar
engagements were made to relieve the |
secret service officers and to place the |
local police in charge of the house. Ma.
jor Richards, chief Of police, soon wait
ed on General Belknap end informed |
him that he had orders to relieve the Sc |
cret service officers, and TO charge his |
men to see that he General Belknap1 |
did not escape. The local police are |
now in charge. a -a.-
~ BAD MORALS. -
The Belknsp scandal affords q fine
scope for the facile pen of George Alfred
Townsend, Writing to the Graphic the
King Bohemian says: "This lacy fMra.
was one of the most beautiful
women produced even by Kentucky.
But she had voluptuous tastes; loved
dress, Paris, an easy carriage, and the
life OF court lady, and the secretary
lost his thrift, bis business habits and
his restraint, and often looked half-fud-
died In bis, Ctiice. He belonged TO a
Il, !
Jim Wilson, Frank Palmer, ct al set q
poor example to the poor secretary of
war, and he is worse than nobody now.
The moral Of this is, to the wives of
poor cabinet ministers: Wash your own
iishes, like old Mrs. Frank P. Blair.
To cabinet ministers: Go to market,
ike John Marshall, and walk off your
at.n $500
WHAT GENERAL M'CooK SAYS.
IT. Louis Globe-Democrat Interview.l
II i
''Do you mean to say that the frauds
ileged were known to your"
eyes, to me and to every officer who
las had garrison duty to perform in the
vest, for several years past. 1t is not q
natter of wonderment to me, nor do I
hink it will be to them, that this wide
pread corruption should have been ex-
Iosed."
"But, in your opinion, does the cor
upton extend beyond the post-trsder.
hip at Fort Sill, which is alleged to I
ave been marketed awayw ..r {
"1here are one hundred and ninety. \
we posts yet to hear from, and Test as {
ured the returns have not begun to
ONE in yet. Dropping the question of ]
on in this game of barter and trade I
nat hes been going on? Does any one q
that this fort affords the only I
Orrupt exception, and that rule OF G
onest management as to tIaderships I
reyailed elsewhere? Why she uld Fort i
i'll have been alone chosen for trans. 8
ction of the character alleged. when /
ther posts May be as readily mAnipu- I
ted by those at the head OF the war n
apsrtment?n h
"Theee are all grave questions, no t
Oubt, but, general, let me Understand q
% you believe that the doubtful trans b
,tiOns shown to have: been engaged in /,
7 the secretary Of war, extend to posts
her than Fort Sill?'' =
''Do / believe so? Yes do. Nay, l .
ink might with propriety cay that I
now 50. Now that this investigation q
IS been commenced by congress, if o
ere is really DEERE to sift matters to. n
e very bottom, let them send for the .
'st-tradsrs in sll quarters, and there u
i'll be such revelations Of corruption as u
III dwarf the case already revealed G.
to nothingness. This is but the en-. u
ring wedge, which, il given the force u
will Iend the entire system OF "
st-trading as now conducted" .... p
= 1