St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-03-10

Secretary told me that the present
trader at the post (John ;. Evaps) was
an applicant for disappointment. and
that / had better see him, he being in
the CITY. as it would not he fair to turn
him ont of office without some notice,
as he would lose largely oil his build
inrS. merchandise, &c, if the office was
taken from him. and that it would he
proper and Just for me to make some
arrangement with him for their pull
chase. if | wished to run the post my
self: | SAW Evans and found him
alarmed at the prospect of losing the
place. | remember that he said that Il
firm of Western post traders. who
claimed IL good deal of influence with
the Secretary of War. had promised to
have him appointed. but he found on
coming to Washington, this firm to be
entirely without influence. Mr.. Evans
first proposed Il partnership, which
declined. and then IL bonus of a certain
portion of the profits if | would allow
him to hold the position and continue
the business. We finally agreed upon
SI5. 600 per year. Mr.. Evans and my
self went to New York together, where
the contract was made and executed,
which is herewith submitted, paper
marked A During our "trip over,
however. Mr.. Evans SAW something i'll
tho Army and Navy journal which led
him t" think that some of the troops
were to be removed from the fort and
he had offered too large !; sum, and he
fore the contract was drawn il WAS re-
duced by agreement to Sl2,OOO, the
same being payable quarterly in adj
vance. When the first remittance came
to me. say probably in November, 1870,
| sent onehalf thereof t" Mrs Belkuap.
either. presume, 10y certificate of de
post or bank notes 10y express. Bciu"
in Washington ut ii funeral some weeks
after this, | had Il conversation with
Mrs Bowers to the following pnrport.
us far aS | can now rcmcmbcr, tut
must say that just here my memory is
exceedingly indi>tlnct. and ! ludgr, III
pant perhaps. from what followed aS tU
! the details of the conversation: ! went
up stairs III the nursery with Mrs Bow
erS. to see the baby said To her.
This child will have money coming t"
| it before Il great while; she said.
" cS the mother gave the child to me.
and told me that the money coming
/ from You she must take and keep tul
it :" | said. "AlI right" and il seems
t" me said that perhaps the father
ought to bc consulted say II Seem>
81. and Yet | can give II" reason tuI 1t.
for. H. far as | knew, the father knew
nothing of ANY money transactions he
tween the mother and myself HAY,
/ Il faint recollection of Il remark of Mis-
Bowers. that If | sent the money to tn,
father ii belonged To her. and that >h,
would get il anyway. | certainly had
some understanding then or >uh>r-
qurntlN. with her oI him. for when tn,
next pay mrnt cIrmr due. and MAS paid
sent the "mr-hIlf thereof To the Sec
rctHrN ut War. and have continued sub
>tautiallv from that dtN forward To the
pres, mt time I" do the same. About.
( should SAY. Il year and Il halt nr TIVE
Wears attcl the commencement OF these
paN mcnt> i reduced the amount 1,
SG.iOO per anmIIm: the Reason of TIN,
reduction was partly hcrII>r OF the
continued complaints on the part of Nj
Evans and his partner. and partly. =,
far H. | now remember. in com>rpucur,
of an article III the newspapers about
that time rrtiectin" ON the in Justice done
T." soldiers AT this fort. caused hl cN"rh
liant charges made necessary on tn,
part of the trader bv IcI>On of the. pay
mrnt of this bonus.
Mr. Marsh further testified that the
money with the exception of the fist
pay mcut Cmadr in November al DE
crmher. l-1O). and the last (ma,lr il
December. I-1J. WAS always sent iii.
rectlN To the Secretary OF War. some
times in the form of checks OF crItiti
Gates of deposit. sometimes in bank
notes forwarded 10y express. and some
lines il was paid to him in person IL
New York city. After he was sub
pEuard before the committee. ht went
to Washington and had 4 long confer
cnre with the Secretary and his wife.
she" said the witness. ''>uggc>lcd
that | could make Il statement which
would satisfy the committee and rNcul
pate the Secretary : she wanted me tu
represent that she and had business
transactions together tur m!amN Years.
and that all This money | had sent the
Secretary was money that she had from
time to time dcpnSltcd with me rs Il
kind OF banker. and that She had in
>tructcd me to send il tn the Secretary
t"r her he evening WAS devoted tu
Discussing tins matter: | told her I'll,
statement would not hold WatcI before
the committee. and even if it would
could not IIahr IT that | could not
prlJulc my self fuI ANY one. said. Il
think had better leave the country
the Secretary said would ruin him if
lett said. If =" before tho com
mittcr will surely ruin You. for will
tell the. truth