The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-12
Fort. Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE,

Mr.. Thurman moved the Senate as court OF
impeachment take a recess for half an hour in
order that some time might be devoted to the /
consideration of legislative business.
Mr.. Carpenter said he understood the Com
mttee on Appropriations had several matters
to bring before the Senate. He was sick him
self and not able to be here today. The wit
ness, Evans had not arrived and he asked the
Senate sitting as court of impeachment ad-
journ till tomorrow.
Mr.. Conkling moved an amendment SO the
court adjourn till II o'clock tomorrow. Reject
ed.
Motion for recess also rejected.
Caleb H. Marsh was recalled and in reply to
Manager Mcmahon said the Secretary Of War
was at his house in New York to dinner, but
could not say when it was. On one occasion
Mr.. Reid, Gen. Mcdowell and Belknap were
there together.
Cross-examnation by Carpenter
Q-You stated yesterday that at some time
Mrs. Belknap and Mrs Bowers were at your
house?
Ayes sir
Q-Had you prior to that time made any
application or thought of procuring trader
ship?
Witness answered he was in Washington
sometime in August, 1870. He thought that
was the first time he saw Belknap. There was
some talk of appointing him post-trader then.
There never was any agreement thar should
pay Mr.. Belknap money or valuabes In con-
sideration of my appointment as post-trader at
Fort Sill. Witness further testified that there
was no agreement between him and Belknap
to the effect that Belknap- should be paid for
appointing Evans post-trader at Fort Sill. So
far as know the onlyiinduce ment for my ap-
pointment was the kindness which L had shown
to Mr.. and Mrs. Belknap at my house. There
was no consideration apart from that friendly
feeling Do not remember of any occasion
when Evans q 90. made payment to him of
$500 by check of Northup & Chick. Re-
membered of returning check to Evans, but
did not remember the amount of it, sent the
Secretary one-half of the various sums of mon
ey received by me from Evans simply because
felt like doing it. 1t gave me pleasure to do
| so. sent him the money as a present always
gratutously cannot tell whether Gen. Belknap
knew in advance of these remittances or how
| large the present was to be that was to be sent
him. Had a conversation with the present
| Mrs. Beknap in regard to sending money to
Gen. Belknap prior to sending the first money;
| that was before sent any money to him. l
| had sent remittance to her. never to the best
| of myIrecolection did Gen. Belknap personally
or through any person or by letter ever enqnire
| sign him reason for it, Had a conversation
| with Mrs. Bowers (the present Mrs. Belknap)
| on the night of the funeral of the late Mrs.
| Belknap. Mrs. Bowers asked witness to go
| up stairs with her to see Mrs. Belknap's baby.
| Witness when looking at the baby said to Mrs.
| Bowers as near as he could remember "This
| child will have money coming to it after a
while" Mrs. Bowers replied, ''Yes. my sister
| gave me the child and told melthere was mon
ey coming to it from you and must take it and
| keep it for her"
| Witness was not sure as to the rest of the
| conversation, but he replied, IAN right, though
| the father ought to be consulted Mrs. Bow
| ers replied that if the money was sent to Gen.
| Belknap she would get it TOR the child. Wit
| ness had some understanding that night or
| subsequently by which he sent the money to
| Gen. Belknap. 1t might be presumed it was
| sent for the child.
The witness continued sending it after the
child's death, and it might be presumed then
| it was for the benefit Of Gen. Belknap; con-
| tinued sending the money after the mothers
| death because L felt like continuing it to the
| mothers representative child. Presumed that
| Gen. Belknap knew from whom the money
| received by him was sent because he had ap-
| pointed Evans to this post at my request. 1
| had no other business transactions with Bel
KNAPP whatever except sending this money. l
| sometimes had forwarded to him the request
of Evans sent to me for certain privileges
wanted around the fort. Witness could not
give details. 1t was kind of general knowl-
| edge arising from their general relations. Wit.
ness stated that he did not think he had stated
that he had an understanding with Mrs. Bel
KNAPP. Witness further testified the first mon
| ey was sent to Mrs. Belknap deceased, and that
| it was sent without any arrangement with any
person. When paid Gen. Belknap the mon
| ey in person did not have any conversation
with him as from whom the money came or in
| three years saw Gen. Belknap two or three
| times year, but had no recollection of money
having been referred to in any conversation
between them.
Hon. Hester Clymer, chairman of the House
committee on expenditures in the War De-
partment testified that Caleb P. Marsh gave
evidence before the committee of which he was
chairman. Witness produced the original tes-
timOny of Marsh and before a vote was taken
| on admitting the testimony Clymer was inter
rnO9tpd and tngtIfIl1 n q ~ IN
Secretary of War on the 29th of February re-
| questing his presence before the committee;
that the Secretary of War did appear in res
ponse to the invitation and the testimony of
Marsh was read to him and he replied, Some
of the statements therein L know to be true
and some l know to be false, and others 1
know nothing about" Gen. Belknap then
asked time to employ counsel and the commit
tee took recess till 3 O'Clock p. m. to enable
him to do so. He subsequently appeared with
Judge Blair as his counsel and produced his
letter of resignation as Secretary of War; The
letter of resignation and the reply of the Presi-
dent accepting the same were read.
| Witness resuming testified he wrote to the
President to learn the hour that the resgna-
| ton was accepted and was informed it was
about 1920 o'clock on the morning of March
End
After discussion the offer of the managers
to submit the testimony of Marsh taken before
the House committee was allowed, yeas a.
nays %. Testimony as given before that COM
mittee was then given at length by Clymer
Mcmahon then announced that the managers
were through with the exception of two wit
nesses. Evans and Fisher, and he thought it
probable that one of them would be sufficient.
Defence wanted to examine Evans and if there
was no objection the prosecution would now
close, with the understanding they should have
the right to examine Evans when put on the
stand by defence.
A telegram from J. j. Fisher partner Of
Evans, dated 81. Louis July 10. was read, an
nouncing that Evans had left Fort Sill for
Washington, that he (Fsher) would be here
tomorrow.
The Senate sitting as court of impeachment
adjourned till IL o'clock tomorrow, and legis-
tive business was resumed.
Mr.. Allison from the committee on appropri-
ations reported with amendments the river and
harbor appropriation bill. Placed on the calen-
der.
Mr.. Thurman from the judiciary committee
announced that the Senate disagree to the
amendments of 1.-THE House to the bill to amend
the bankrupt act and asked for committee of
conference. 1t was so ordered and the chair
appointed as members of the committee Thur
man, Wright and Edmunds.
I