The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-01
INVESTIGATION
More Rich Developments.
A Ring Agent Sent to st.
Louis.
Instructed to Destroy the
Evidence Against Bah
cock.

WASHINGTON; March 31-Mr. G. L.
Bell of Jackson, Miss, testified this
morning before Clymer's committee, that
he made application for post-trader-
ship at Fort Davis and came here in June
1872 to see Belknap sboutit. He had q
number of recommendations from army
officers, but Secretary Belknap told him
that if he had known he had come to
make such an application, he would not
have seen him. Witness replied it would
take him very little time to get out of bis
Office and he then got out. This
brusQue treatment made him
angry, but as be got to
the west front of the building young
man came running after him and re-
quested him to come back. When be re-
turned Belknap said, rather apologet-
ically, that he was greatly amazed over
the many applications for post trader
ships. Belknap then turned to him
(brusquely) and asked how much is
that position worth2 He replied that he
did rot know. Is it worth $1,000 year 7
he asked. He replied he supposed 1t
was worth that. Would you be willing
to pay that? Belknsp pursued. l would
not BE- willing to pay anything, he re-
sponded, and then he lett. Bell stated
that he did not believe the Secretary
meant to make him an offer
of the post for $1,000, but thought the
Secretary attempted to entrap him into
Offering bribe so as he might have some
reason to decline to appoint him. Wit
ness could not remember that he had said
to ANYBODY that Col. Goodfellow and
Mr.. Christy, the Secretarys chief clerks
were Belknap's go-betweens in post
leadership bargains.
The examination proceeded as follows:
Q-Whst business are you in now?
Al am on detective work, not at pres
ent under the government.
Q-You were detective and scout for
years in Texas. A-Yes, sir have also
been acting as special agent Of the In
ternal Revenue Department
-Q-Who appointed you? A-Mr.
Chandler.
Q-Hsve you rendered any recent ser
vice to that department? A-None since
the 10Th of February of this year.
Q-Are you personally acquainted
with Mr.. Chandler? Al SIN.
Odd be appoint you on his own mo-
ton, and If not, at whose solicitation!
A-The President OF the United states.
Q-Are you acquainted with him per-
sonally7 A-Yes, sir.
Q-How long have you known him
Al have served him at intervals since
1862.
Q-Had you his recommendation when
you went to the Secretary of War; A
I had.
Q-Had you General Reynolds A
I did not ask any, but tie Presidents
recommendation was of such character
that did not think Ineeded any other.
Q-Have you got that recommendation
of the President with your Al have
not.
Q-Csn you send for it7 Al do not
think l can reach it at present.
Q-Whst time was it dated7 A-The
latter part If December, 1875.
Q-I thought you said You had it with
you when you>went to the Secretary oi
War. Al had papers from the Pres.-
den, then, but they did not pertain to
tha. matter. They were general.
O-Then this recommendation you
speak of was 3 Recommendation to the
Secretary of the Interior to appoint you
as detective? Alt did not specify that
i, was a general recommendation TO give
nae an appointment. 1t was on card. L
think il run like this: "Hon. Z. Chsnd-
Ter. Secretary OF the Interiors recon-
mend to YOU the bearer, Mr.. ). c. Bell
for An appointment. He has rendered
valuable service during the war and
since" I know it covered one iull side OF
a card and q portion Of the other. l
handed it to the Secretary Of the lnte-
rior. went there 8 day or two after
ward TO get it, and he could not fnd it,
although he had very careful search
made.
O-On that recommendation the Sec.
re,sry of the Interior appointed you?
Al suppose he did. know the Pres
Ident and Mr.. Lucky both spoke to him
personally aoont appointing me. re-
teiyed the appointment dated January
9th.
The witness produced his appointment
a. first class clerk in the pension once.
He explained that there was no such
office as special agent under the Interior
Department, men acting as sseh oeing
clerks detailed for that duty.
O-Wha, was your salary? As ,3oo
. year and s. per diem and travelling eI-
nsn.es. sesregating about s2-5so year.
( entered the Office on the ith OF January
Iss, The lis. of cases Was sent TO me
st s.. Louis TO be worked up, but 1 never
worked them up. ,
7, the scross-e1aminatIon BY Dantord
r;,,sss said the reason he did not 60 %
,hs president aud tell him that Secretary
Bslknsp h, d proposed to him to pay Tor
the post traAership, Vas 'na' 'ne Secre-
,.>r of War weighed somewhat more
than he did, and be did not 'nink Ii
would do 70 attack him
By Mr.. Ciymer-Q-Under ins' ap
;n,n.nt were you interested IN the
S.bcncl case II ST. LOUIS? A-No, l
C-Were you sent out there 70 nke
mar, in il? A-No, sir; not under TIM
'p6MUnde: any: aPpo'nsmen'' A
NS o"were you never emplo yed in any
nection with that case! A
Not by the Government
O-By, whom thenI General
Bs6cocii A-tHesis.iinsIy) No can
NRx'h;, counsel, A-No, sin
o-By anybody scsiig iof nim
.Aeting for him they said l w
employ ed in November. A.,
o-Whai service were you 70 r:sas'
n,dsr that appointmenti AVtAnsf
unN ...r,n hia 4 littlA time % 70