Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-13
THE BELKNAP SCANDAL.
IHrestigating Conn sssiftee To-day.
Mr.. PendletOA's Examination Post.
p0ned.

LHrestisating Committee To-daD.
Mr.. PendletoA's Examination Post
p0ned
Hon. George E. Pendleton, president OF the
| Kentucky Central railroad, appeared before
| the House Committee on the Expenditures
| OF the War Department this morning, in an
| swer TO subpoena, to give testimony in re-
lation to the Belknap scandal. at least as
| far as his name has been connected with 1t.
On account of the non arrival of the audi
| tor Of the road from Cincinnati with the
books of the company, the examination of
Mr.. Pendleton was postponed until to-mor-
The action of the committee In postponing
! the examination of Mr.. Pendleton was based
| on the motion Of Mr.. Danford, a repu blican
the examination commenced until they had
an opportunity to look at the books of the
| company. 1t is understood that Mrs. Bel.
| KNAPP will be summoned to day to appear
before the committee to morrow.
LARGE BUNDLE OF PAPERS
connected with the claim OF the Kentucky
railroad. in which IL has been charged that
Mrs. Belknap received sum of money for
assisting In Its passage, was received by The
committee this morning from the quarter
| master generals Office and the Treasury de-
| partment. and during the day will be exam
| ined by the members of the committee.
Durfee and Peck's Trading Posts.
Alfred +. Terry, the first witness, testified
| that he was in the steamboat business on the
bOated for the firm of Durfee & Peck, who
| had the Indian trading posts at Forts Buford,
| Peck end at Standing Rock. Mr.. leighton
| seemed to be the manager of the post at
Fort Peck. saw Orville Grant once at Sioux
City. Know of no transaction between
| Orville Grant end Durfee Peck. Heard
| that be was connected with Leighton and
| Casselberry. Never have said to anybody
| that Belknap was connected with Orville
| Grant and disposed of trading posts for
| money. Had no knowledge of the matter,
Iva art inla Oh ri fta.f
| he had, in the st. Louis Times. Never had
more than three words with Orville Grant,
or knew OF him visiting any trading posts
for the purpose OF collecting money from the
| same. All he knew of the affairs at Fort
| Buiord was that Mr.. Leighton was the Sutler
! there. reporter interviewed witness in st.
Louis for the ST Louis Times, and ~ told
him L had nothing to tell" and then he
| went away and made up the whole article.
All witness told the reporter was that
Duriee Il Peck did not get an even show
| az Fort Sill. ana had to give up the business.
The officers would not deal with them, and
| always made their purchases of Evans &
Co, who bad a contract with Marsh; Durfee
| Peck were the traders at Fort Sully also,
| the contra ct being furnished by the former.
| ILey had no opposition there. Don't know
anything about the trading at Fort Rice,
| tho ugh he took load OF goods up there once
| and afterwards brought IL back. 1t was
| Bass ale. The place had changed hands be
| fore be got there; understood that Durfee &
| Peck were also interested at Fort Steven son.
| where Bonnafin is now the suffer; don't
| know how Bonnafin got them out: under
stood that they had TO quit, as they could
Tot sell their goods. Suppose il was the Sec
| retary OF War who cleared them out. Bon
main was stranger in that country; only
had a business connection with Durfee &
P6cR on account OF steam boating for them.
| Charged post traders and all Others the same
| for fTeighting their goods, but don't renlem-
| Der of making any discount for traders;
neither did he charge traders any additional
| prices.
By Mr.. Robbns.-What kind of gods did
| you carry 10 those posts?
A. All kinds OF goods, groceries, &c.
Z Did you carry any whisky?
A. Oh, yes; lots Oft.
@ Was IL straight or Crooked2
A. l guess IL was Straight, though I did not
examine 1t carefully. suppose it was.
The witness, in answer TO Mr.. Danfo,}
said he did lot tell the reporter of the =
Louis Times any thing on which he could
base such an interview, and that he puo
lished card in the st. Louis Republican, tbs
following day denying IT,
MIR. PECK WANTED.
tMr. c. X. Peck, of Durfee & Peck, who is
now In st. Louis, telegraphed to the com
mittee this morning If he was wantct Dy
them, Mr.. Clymer sent him a telegra IN
| telling him To come on Immediately
The committee then, at 1880, went into eX-
ecutive session, for toe purpose of consider
ing some new matters suggested by MI.
Bass.
They will examine other witnesses this ar
ternoon.
A Texan Post Traders Experience.
HOW HE FAILED TO COME DuwN WITH
$1,000 PER ANNUM AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO HIM.
A special TO the New York Times, dated
| ST. Louis, 18th says: A special dispatch from
San Antonio, Texas, states that the men
who have sold most of the post traderships
| In Texas are Gen. John NJ. Hedrick, OF OF
tumwa, Iowa, at present collector of inter
nal revenue in that state, throug Ugh his agent,
| A. Leighton, who was sent out to Texas in
| the spring of 1871. A claim agent, of Wash
". mentioned
nectiOn.
The following Is copy of a communica
ton sent by James Trainer, formerly post
| trader at Fort Concho, to Congressman Han
cock:
al came TO the state of Texas in the spring
of 1866 as sutler of the 4tb United States cav
| airy, in which capacity I served with great
satisfaction TO every officer OF the regiment
until the appointment of General Belknap,
soon after which / was advised that Fort
ConchO, where was doing business at that
time, had been given to General Hedrick, OF
Iowa, at present commissioner OF Internal
revenue of Iowa and Wisconsin. 1 imme
| diately proceeded TO Washington, where
was advised / could see General Heirick
and probably arrange to keep my position.
Upon an interview with him he proposed
| that should continue as sutler of the post
| by paying him sc 900 per year. 1 did not
| think the business would guarantee so large
| sum. and declined to treat with him.
Soon after my return to Texas, l was visited
| by Leighton, an agent representing Gen.
| Hedrick, who proposed to allow me TO re
main Dy paying MN Sl,1OO down ana the re-
| mainGer of the So, 900 per annum in quarterly
| payments. / having purchased land and
| expended some 81, 500 in building storehouses,
| besides having stock of goods on hand
| which would have been forced TO sacrif &c
had been compelled to vacate my position,
| submitted to the proposition under protest.
In q short time after this, w. I. Clark, then
| a member of Congress, commenced drawing
on me, which drafts / at first paid, but On
| allowing one to be returned to Washington
unpaid. found myself suddenly relieved by
one Josh. Loeb, who, am informed, paid a
| claim agent by the name of Wolf So 600 per
annum Tor the position. Upon his arrival,
| was compelled TO sell my houses and land
| costing me originally $4,000 for 1900, and
| my stock at a similar sacrifice. Thus / was
| compelled to compromise with my creditors
as best could, and left myself without a
| cent"
| MARYLAND LEGISLATURE-Int the sen
| ate on Saturday an unfavorable report was
| adopted against q bill to encourage f.nmi-