Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-13
Mrs Relkuan interviewed.


has made threats against the peace of the Re-
publican party; that >he declares there are
facts in her possession which would ruin the
Government and show some high men to be
the basest on earth. with much more OF the
same sort A lady who visited Mrs. Beknap
Saturday night furnishes the following account
of her visit:
A rosy checked Eoglish girl opened the
door | had pencied message upon tue
card sent, and heard up stairs hasty con-
ference in low tones. Theu Mrs. Beknap came
down, greeting me 10 her own charming way
"a way that 20 one can resist. She was plain
" dressed 10 heavy black silk simple knot
OF cherry ribbon fastened the ruohe at her
throat; the soft, dark hair was simply parted,
and DAINTY little cap of French muslin, with
cherry ribbons, covered her head. Not bit OF
level Try was visible We talked 10 low tones,
as one would talk 10 the presence of DEATH,
said: Mrs. Belknap, you must know that
| there are terrible rumors afoat, and am very
anxious to help you if | can. 1t is said that
you are furious because those 80 much more
guilty are striving to build upon your ruin, and
the papers are full of statements purportlDg to
come from you.
They are utterly false, she replied slowly
and sadly. 1T is very hard to keep still, very
hard to know how | am slandered and to be
told that | must seal my lips But must obey
General Belkuap's counsel, aud | have said
nothing to any one. %
Did you know Mrs. Williams. the wife of
the late Attorney General, Was 10 town, and
| that, exuting in your sorrow, she Is telling the
| most Infamous Storlesi
| Il did not know that she was here, but she
may say what she likes l only wish that every
woman 90 earth who knows anythlog OF me or
my life would come forward and tell all that she
Knows hope Mrs Williams will tell every
| thing she chooses. My life has not been one
of cnncealment.'
did you not give authority for the story
| published by the Graphlc?'
"What story? have not seen newspaper.
l know nothing OF what has been said. l have
gveo DO authority for any statement what
| ever
Irepeated the Graphics assertion that she
had employed Mr.. Marsh to invest the amount
of Mr.. Bowers life policy, and that, without
any agreement whatever, be had voluntarily
presented her with half the amount received
from Evans.
at is false entirely. l have said 20 such
thing. | must not say anything, however, about
| these money matters.
Ibid you see Mrs. Marsh at the Arlington
Was there anything then said about your re-
ceiving $40, 900 from Mr. Peudeton?
mot one word. never had a sou from MIR.
Peudleton for any help in any matter. vi
course heard Of the K"otucky Central hail
road, just as auy lady 10 Washington hears of
any claim which excites general attention. Mr..
Pendleton was Interested IL 1t, and because be
4 I l. L.. 80, In
ciously connected his success with my position,
| but | never had one cent nor my husband
either. The General only asks that all bis al
fairs may be fully investigated. He hopes that
they will summon from every post all the wit
nesses possible; that they will examine all the
papers and records OF the War Department..
H.: has come out of this poor man; he has
DOT anything; every penny We have belongs to
me, aud when this is done We shall have pre-
cious little How We are to live or what ne are
| to do cannot think.
| Some one has spread the report that you
declare it is in your power to ruin the Govern
| meut: that you have said that the President,
| Mrs. Grant, Gen. Babcock, Secretary and Mrs.
| Robson from ring whose transactions are in.
famous, and that if they dare proceed against
Gen. Belknap you will publish affairs which
will send others TO the Penitentiary.
The sad eyes opened widely and bit OF
CLEAN flashed into them, but Mrs. Belknap
| answered with quiet emphasis
Il know nothing Of General or Mrs. Grant
but what is to their credit. I never have
known anything wrong about him. De has
always been perfectly honorable.
did you 90 to see Mrs. Blackburn. carrying
your baby, and beg for mercy =
Never Never Mrs. Blackburn | have
nj oh
called upon her frequently. sent my carriage
for her use and gave dinner to her and her
sister, Mrs. Bramlctte. y
Have you seen her since the action OF the
committee p
Eyes. she came to see me as friend told
her the topic Of our misfortunes must not be
discussed 1T all. I am saying more to you to-
night than I have said to any one Mrs. Black
burn wished me to see her husband, but | an
sWered, No. Our husbands lives are widely
| severed forever
Said |, 1T is contemplate and cowardly that
public opinion has laid all the blame at your
door because you are woman. There are
many who give you their pity; many who earn
estly wish That the stain may somehow be re-
moved"
Thank you. 1t will all come right some day,
though the waiting seems long. Vengeance is in
| better hands than ours l am sure my husband
will not be so severely blamed when all is
known. For myself do not care so much "
"Aave your friends visited you at sll7
"Yes, many of them COME" but make it
condition of our interview that this subject
must not be preached. Some OF them are afraid
| to come"
Jus then size was called from the room for
moment, and sat looking at her portrait, taken
only q year ago-a picture so fair that one
might doubt if its original existed-at the piano
where the baby was always throned, and then,
as she catered l rose to take my leave, but she
WAS anxious the General should hear my story
about the President so she called him and re.
pested it.
"Do you hear that p she asked; u have told
Mrs. - that we never knew anything shout
President Grant that was not good. Is not that
trueT
1T is, most certainly" said the General
There; wanted my husband to say th.t to
you. Please be sure that it is printed. The re-
port is an awful alsshood"
This closed our interview.-Wash. Cores
pondence ". r Herald
This attempt to shield the President is too
weak, and only goes to prove that Gen. Bel.