The New York herald., 1876-03-05
MARSH'S IMMUNITY.

The fight TO Montreal of Caleb Marsh the wit
ness whose testimony uncovered the corrupt trans
actions the disgraced Secretary of War; the sub
jec good deal of talk yesterday From the account
published in yesterdays HERALD 1t would appear that
tho departing witness feared pursuit, and 1t was
naturally asked whether he could be pursued as a
criminal to be presented for indictment by the Grand
Jury. To ascertain the status of Marsh's case tho
writer called on Mr.. Samuel g. Courtney,
ex United States District Attorney Mr.. Court
ney said II was now needless 10 pursue
any inquiries to the of his offence OF
the Graud Jury could ndic him. but that would be OF
nttle conseuuence as there is statute on the books
which fully shields him from the consequences OF his
acts IN connection with the dsgraceful transaction
posed by his evidence This statute passed in 1850
1861 and il accords ample protection TO any person.
even when participating IN inc onences regarding
which he testhes, who comes forward MS a witness
behalf Of the government and puts the authorities in
possession of the facts.
This Mr. Marsh has done, so II properly advised by
his counsel he had occasion 10 depart hurricdly.
He is said to be rather peculiar In his notions OF
prIety and II advised correctly in regard TO the
matter, may have chosen 10 absent himself OF his own
youon This however, does account for his hasty
and nervous action hence is not at ali unlikely that
he believed himself in danger of attracting, as he
tainy merted the displeasurc OF the legal authorities
GENERAL SLOCUM ON BELKNAP.
General H. W. slocum, who is now President of the
Brooklyn Board OF City Works, in conversation with
reporter yesterday concerning the Beknap exposures
sand :-.whIle ON the trip with General Sherman last
summer went from post to post and was there told
by regular army officers that the positions beng
sold and they had to suffer for IT. They would speak
more freely to me than they would TO General Sher-
man, knowing that l was democrat and opposed TO
the administration These officers complained that
since a change had been made In the manner OF ap-
pointing post traders the commanding ohicers OF the
posts had lost all control over the traders what
should be sold and what prices charged The old sys-
TEN used be have the post trader appointed by
what was called council of administration, which con-
sisted the three officers highest in rank This
Gil not only appointed the post trader but they took
his invoices and arranged the prices that he should
charge for goods he sold the basis of the invoice ne
presented to them The trader subject the or
dcrs of the commanding officer OF the post In every
thing, Just a soldier was "
who responsible Tor the abolition OF that sys-
TEN and the establishment OF the new one"
"Wny Belknap himself was. He got the law passed.
Well these officers complained that after the old sys-
ten was done away with and the appointment OF the
post given the Secretary OF War that the post
trader only became entirely independent 10 the
prices he should charge but what he should SELL
and at more than post told by officers that
entire strangers had in there and taken trader
ships and raised the price of goods sometimes two,
three and tour hundred per cent There being
othor place where the officers and soldiers could buy
little supplies they wcro completely at the mercy of
the trader II was the general belief among the officers
that appointments we're corruptly made
The General said he told by officers that they
could furnish him with witnesses to prove just what
has now come out The Information referred TO
Fort Sill and other posts. He said "l liked lIeknap.
/ know him personally, and like HIM. | don't
chuckle over his fall think II is great misfortune
Between you and me, think Grant has done more
than Bclknap But II members OF Congress are not
smart enough to ind out that such things going
they III Tor their places You can what this
mendous effect IN Europe and greatly inJurc the good
name OF our Republic. IL is very sad affair