The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-03-10
"IS II THE TRUESTORY.,

Dom Piatt, the last man in Washing
ton to palliate in any way the offense of
memberOf President Grants Cabinet,
tells what he says is the true story of
Mr.. Belknap's fall. 1t is that the second
Mrs. Belknap was mainly to blame He
says that she, while yet "a widow, used
her sisters influence to get the appoint
ment for Marsh, accepted the money,
and then, when she married the Secre-
tary, made him believe that the money
which she received from Marsh year
after year came from the policy on her
first husbands life, which Marsh had in
vested so protitably that it yielded each
year handsome income. Piatt's ver-
sion of this is borne out by the fact that
Belknap met Marsh openly on all occa-
slons, received the money, endorsed the
draft, and in no possible way showed
that he understood that there was any
thing about it to be concealed. When
the charges We're made against Belknap,
he insisted that Marsh should go before
the Committee and tell all he knew.
Mr=. Belknap was about this time motto
ed to be in terrible distress, her de
meanor being wholly different from that
of her husband, who was comparatively
calm and confident. At the same time
Marsh and Mrs. Belkhap were holding
distressful interviews apart from the
Secretary, but in his own house, and
Mrs. Belknap went before the Commit
tee and protested that she alone was to
blame. that her husband knew nothing
about it,
1t was Only when Mr. Belknap came
before the com mittee ard heard Marsll's
fae Iat ha
understood and realized the horrible
truth" He sat for moment like man
just awaking from dream, then, with
the remark that he could make no de-
fense of himself upon his ..wife's disbon-
or, he broke down utterly and admitted
that the charges We're true. Marsh was
careful not to meet the Secretary again
after leaving the committee room. He
fed to Canada and was far ON his way
to New York before the story of Mr..
Belkuap's trouble had been made known
to the president. Secretary Chandler,
to whom Mr.. Belknap is reported to
have poured out, on Thursday morning,
in the first agonies of his remorse, a full
confession of his crime, now fiatly de
MES the whole story. and confirms pre-
cisely the statement of the President.
that Belknap's account though broken
and indefinite, gave the impression that
his wife had done wrong which invoIy
ed him, that lie could make no defense
except at the COS: of her honor which he
would not consent to do, and he asked |
the President to accept his resignation |
on that ground.
We give this account because it is the |
latest one, because it comes from a man |
who, though an enemy of the Admins |
tration, knew Mr. Belknap and his fam
lily we'll, and finally, because it squares |
perfectly. so SO far as it goes, with the /
known facts. Readers of the Leader |
will assent to the statement that this
paper has not from the beginning of this
lamentable affair sought to interpose a
word of excrse or palliation for the |
crime OF which the late Secretary of
of War has been thought guilty. We do
not intend to do so now to the extent of
a hairs breadth beyond what is demand
ed by the facts He shall have in these
columns no aid in sneakiDg behind the
skirts of q woman from the consequen-
ces OF whatever criminali;y may belong
to him. But though diSgraced and
prisoner he is still entitled to exact jus
tice. The case j. in all its aspects an
one. The business re
lations between Marsh and Mrs. Bel
KNAPP, aud the extent to which they car
ried on their guilty conspiracy under the
cloak of the insurance policy invest
ment, needs to be determined with pre-
else accuracy hefore before the verdict
can be be made up. 1t was all very well
for Mr.. Belknap to say in the presence
of the committee, when Marsh's astound
ing story was read TO him, that he would
take all the responsibility, but the world
will not accept this sacrifice. if ii be un-
" it'll lust. 1t was what any chivalrio man
an ijoIized wife would be likely to say
under the circumstances. But it is the
simple truth that Justice wants. Mr..
has able counsel, and his case
will be thoroughly tried. Before con
lemning iiinI utterly it may be we'll to
near the defense that lie has not yet
made or permitted to be made in his
behalf There is not and has not been
lie slightest disposition to shield the
,Er,ng Secretary. Congress and the Ad-
are both laboring TO bring
iin to Immediate trial. What the pub
ic will wish to understand further is
whether be knowingly accepted bribes.
,r was the weak victim of conspiracy
between a shameless villain and beguil-
ng ambitious, unprincipled woman.