Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-07

THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
Members of the House Committee Re.
fuse to Testify Before the
Grand Jury, and Why.
Other Features Of the Case

OSAASA VotuA % VA t44C SoSCs
General Belknap was not brought into the
Police Court to day as was expected. The
police officers are still on duty at his house.
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
in the case of the ex Secretary, which it was
expected would be presented in the House
to-day from the Judiciary Com mittee, are
sixteen in number. and specify the amounts
they were re ,eived by General Belknap. The
general charge Is, OF course. bribery.
WITNESSES WANTED BY THE GRAND JURY
The grand jury, composed Of John Van
Riswick Qoreman), Edward Temple, John
W. Young, w. d. keenan,, John T. Reynolds,
S. T. Davis, Charles ii. Finkling, w. G. Cos
tin, Robert b: Tenney, Daniel 8: Hardness,
Campbell, Charles III. Shaffer, Joseph ii.
Blundon, Charles II. Jones, Andrew Archer.
Edward Chaplin, p. M, Chaplin, Peter Page,
w. b. Wylie, William Ballantyne and VIM
X. Riley, after an absence of about two hours
In their rooms yesterday had the following
summoned to appear before them as witness
seS In the BelkDap case: Hons. j. b. s. Black
burn, w. NJ. Robbins, l.. X. Bass, Hester
Clymer, j. Proctor Knott, and G. M. Adams,
esq, Clerk of the House.
Proceedings I'm the Criminal Court
To-Day.
This morning in the Criminal Court, Judge
Macarthur, Messrs. Clymer, Robinson and
Blackburn, who were yesterday sum moned
toappear before the grand jury to testify in
the case Of ex- Secretary of War Belknap, ap-
peared In response TO the summon Mr..
Blackburn. on the opening of the court, an
Committee of the House of Represent atiyes
on Expenditures in the War department
and had been summoned to appear before the
srand jury as they supposed to testify on
them, and they desired TO enter
PROTEST
against being required to testify on such
The court replied that he was not aware
that they had been summoned, nor of the
subject on which they were expected to tes
Mr.. Robinson remarked that it would be a
great detriment TO the country IL they were
compelled to go before the grand jury and
and that witnesses they were now endeay or.
ing to secure, would by this action become
intimidated and fail to attend.
Mp. Clymer concurred in what his COL
leagues had said.
The court remarked that he would con-
slider the case, and If they are required to
appear before the grand jury they would be
sent for.
These gentlemen retired, and the grand
jury proceeded TO examine other witnesses
on the same case. viz: Hon. Geo. M. Adams,
and William Tomlinson, Mrs. Belkuap's
brother,
Mr.. Adams was in the grand jury room
about twenty minutes. Mr.. Tomllnson was
not examined, but was directed to come
again tomorrow.
A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
AT about quarter past two Mr.. Clymer,
In the House, detailed his appearance before
the District Criminal Court and his refusal
20 answer. He was vigorously attacked by
Me-. Blaine, who charged that the gentleman
was oostructing the course OF justice in de-
n n ni y-n ha ~ nrrI, tai,
have alread been reported to the House and
are public property. Quite sensation was
created by this, and Mr.. Blaine was trapped
down" by Speaker Kerr.
REMOVAL OF POST TRADER EVANS.
A telegram went from The War depart
ment yesterday TO Lieutenant General Sher
idan, as follows: "The President directs you
to notify Evans, post trader at Fort Sill,
that his appointment is revoked. He will
be permitted to remain and sell goods at
prices fixed by council OF administration
until the appointment OF his successor. The
President desires You to direct a council Of
administration TO meet and recommend TO
the Secretary of War, through military
channels, suitable person for trader. Letter
by mail"
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION
would have been offered In the House yes
terday, had Mr.. Page, Of CAL, obtained the
Whereas, this House has good reason to be-
lieve that the provisions OF sections 5 ,450 and
5.i51 OF the Revised Statutes have been vio-
thereof is now in possession OF the House
Committee on Expenditures In the War De.
partment; therefore be IL
RESOLVED, That said committee be, and is
hereby, instructed to report TO this House d {
Its earliest convenience whether any or all
the paI ties believed to be guilty OF the violG-
steps have been taken by said committee to
secure the detention or prevent the escape Of
any or all of said parties, either as witness
or for the purpose Of prosecution, or whet 1t
ua IN
law officers OF the government, and If Sc,
whether such notice was given In time to
prevent the escape OF such parties from the
jurisdiction of the United States, ar d
whether any such parties have so escape q !,
or whether there has been any negligence on
the part OF any one having a knowledge II
the facts.
The Case OF OrviIle Grant.
A WITNESS CAPTURED.
A telegram from st. Louis March say 8:
A young man named j. A. Brown was ar
g ted here Saturday night on advices. from
Washington to hold him as a witness till
called for by the committee on investiga-
ton OF the War department. BE was put in
cala6oose under misapprehension OF the
yesterday, and will hold himself ready to
answer a summons from the committee. 1t
a app that BroTn was clerk few years
q Co., at Cheyenne agency, IN Indian terri
tory, and knows a good deal about the BUSH
ness. He says Evans & Smith paid 5000
annually for the Cheyenne agency, and
Evans & Co. $4,000 for Fort Sill. He cor
roborated the reports regarding Orville
Grants connection with Belknap, and SAYS
Evans & Smith obtained the Cheyenne agen-
cy from Grant; that Grant represented Bel
KNAPP in the disposition of sutlerships, and
when he could not get his price for them he
would took them with goods and run bust
ness himself. He kept himself thoroughly
posted regarding the business done at the
various posts, and no trader could deceive
him by Misrepresentation. He always knew,
therefore, the exact value OF each post, and
made suffers come to his terms. Brown
says he knows several persons who could
give valuable Information regarding post
traderships, and would be willing to do so
but for fear OF being prosecuted themselves.
DENIAL OF Charles AFFECTING oRVILLE
GRANT.
A reporter has interviewed ]. r. Cassel-
berry and A. l.. BOnnaf0n, of Philadelphia,
who are charged in a special dispatch pub
lished In q New York paper with having in
1873 secured two military ira Ting agencies in
Dakota territory through the influence Of
M. Orvtlle Grant, to whom, the dispatch
alleges. they have since paid and are now
paying 50 per cent on all sales made 1t their
, " for, AoxJn |, ho ~. 49,.