The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-09

knowledge of the Secretary of War and
state the circumstances connected with
the making of that agreement and all
transactions in detail hereunder fully
and particularly as if you were specially
interrogated in regard to the several
transactions, and so fully as to save the
necessity ofrepeated interrogatories.
STATEMENT OF MARSH.
In reply to your question weuld state
that, in the summer of 1870, myself and
wife spent some weeks at Long Branch,
and on our return to New York, Mrs,
Belknap and Mrs. Bower, by our invita-
ton came for visit to our house. Mrs,
Belknap was i'll during this visit some
three or four weeks, and | suppose in CON
sequence of our kindness to her, she felt
under some obligations, for she asked me
one day. in the course Of conversation;
why did not apply for post leadership
on the frontier. asked what they were,
and was told that many of them were
very lucrative offices or positions, and
were the gift of the Secretary of War,
and that if l wanted one she would ask
the Secretary for one Upon my replying
that thought such offices belonged to
the disabled soldiers, and besides that, !
was without political influence. She an
swered that politicians got such places
etc, ETC. do not n member saying that
if had a valuable post Of that kind that
would remember her, but do remem-
Der of her sayingsomething like this: IF
can prevail upon the Secretary of War
to award you a post, you must be careful
to say nothing to him about presents, for
a man once offered him $4,000 for
traders post ofthis kind, and he told him
that if he did not leave the office he
would kick him down stairs. Remem-
bering, as do, this story, l presume the
antecedent statement to be correct.
Mrs Belknap and Mrs. Bower returned
to Washington and few weeks thtreaf-
ter, Mrs. Belkpap sent me word to come
over, did so, She then told me that the
post.tradership of Fort Sill was vacant; ;
that it was valuable post as she under
stood and that she had either asked for
it for it for me or had prevailed on the
Secretary of War to agree to give it to me.
Atal events, l called upon the Secretary
of War, as nearas | can remember, made
application for this position in regular
printed form. The Secretary said he
would appoint me if could bring prop
er letters of recommendation and this |
said could do. Either Mrs. Belknap or
the Secretary told me that the present
trader of the post, John S. Evans, was
an applicant for disappointment, and
that had better see him, he being in the
city, as it would not be fair TO turn him
out of office without some notice, as he
would lose largely on his buildings, mer-
chandise, ETC., if the Office was taken
from him, and that it would be proper
and just for me to make some arrange.
ments with him for their purchase If |
wished to run the post myself | saw
Evans, and found him alarmed at the
prospect of losing his place. l remember
that he said that firm of western post
traders, who claimed a good deal Of in
huence with the Secretary of War, prom
ised have to him appointed, but he found
on coming to Washington, this firm to
be entirely without influence.
Evans first proposed a partnership
which declined, and then bonus of
certain portion Of profits if | would allow
him to hold the position and continue the
business. We finally agreed on fifteen
thousand dollars per ear. Evans and
myself went on to New York together
where the contract was made and exc
cuted which is herewith submitted. Pa
per marked A.
During our trip over, how ever, Mr..
Evans saw something in the Army and
Navy Journal which led him to think
that some Of the troops would be re-
moved from the fort and he had offered
too large a sum, and before the contract
was drawn it was reduced by agreement
to $4,000, the same being payable quar-
terly in advance When the first remit
tance came to me say probably in Nov,
1870, sent one-half thereto to Mrs. Bel
KNAPP, either, presume by certificate of
deposit or bank notes by express.
Being in Washinton at a funeral some
weeks after this, l had conversation
with Mrs. Bower, to the following pur-
porr, as | can now remember, but must
say that just here, my memory is exceed
ingly indistinct, and Ijudge in part, per-
haps from what followed as to the de-
tails of the conversation. | went up stairs
in the nursery with Mrs. Bowers to see
the baby. / said to her, this child will
have money coming to it before a great
while. She said yes, The mother gave
the child to me and told me that the
money coming from you she must take
and keep for it. | said all right, and it
seems to me | said that perhaps the faith
er ought to be consulted. | say it seems
so, and vet can give no reason for it, as
faras | knew the father knew nothing of
any mony transactions between the
mother and myself. | have faint rec
election of remark of Mrs. Bower that
if l sent the money to the father that it
belonged to her, and that she would get
it any way. | certainly had some un-
derstanding then or subsequently with
her or him, for when the next payment
came due and was paid sent one-half
thereof to the Secretary Of War, and have
continued substantially from that day
forward to the present time to do the
same. About, should say, one and half
to two years after the commencement oil
these payments, l reduced the amount
to $4,000 per annum. The reason OF this
reduction was partly because OF com
DlH6u COlu upldlnlb Oll JlIo p"iO VA A1'"iH
and his partner, and partly so far as |
now remember, in consequence OF an artl'
Gle in the newspapers about that time,
rejecting on the injustice done to soldiers
atthe Fort, caused by exhorbitant charges
made necessary on the part of the trader
by reason of the payment of this bonus.
To the best of my knowledge and belief,
the above is true statement of all the
facts in the case and as complete as |
can remember the occurrences Of so
many years ago.
Questions by the Chairman-State how
payments were made to the Secretary Of
War subsequent to the funeral of his
then wife, which you attended in Wash
ington in December, 1870, whether in
cash, by check, draft certificate of de-
post, bonds, or by express or otherwise.
A.-The money was sent according to
A., -. t,,,nttono ,,f Tho Ganratort af Wur