New-York tribune., 1876-03-03
run REyELArIoNs OF THE WITNESS.

rsr BE kNAPs, MRS BOWERS AND MR. AAFsh
,rKr AT LONG BRANCH-THE PLAN PROPOSED
nv WoMAN-$20, 900 PAID TO THE SECRETARY
,,ps RELKNAP PLEADING WITH MARSH To
,vorp TxrOsURE-PAINFUL INCIDENTS
w.stuNOroN, March 2.--Mr. Clymer of Pennsyl-
-. after submitting in tho House the unanimous
'ra-t of The Committee, read the Belknap affair
A.. soIloving testimony and accompaniments:
~'.~s,v Feb 29 1s76.-The Committee met at 1880
present.: Messrs. Clymer, Blackburn. and Rob
DinG ,. -, A.. =,
.hcena,d by the Committee being present, was duly
sworD according to law.
one.tlou by the Chairman-Whcre do you residei A.
vssIde At No 80 West Fifty y-scyenthstr New-York;
h.v. resided in New-York about ei sht years
oas,,on nv the Chairman-Nere you not appointed
..ndsred an appolntmeD n posttrader at Fort sill.
Ydsn srritery in the Fan OF 1870 by the Secretary OF
r ~ 40 under what circumstances was said appoint
pent secured to you; state, ALSO IL you were cOmms-
,onaS by the Secretary such post-tIader, or II
nj who was 50 commissioned; and II any other
srson than yourself was commissioned give his
- tbs reason why be commissioned,
:, snx agreement was made between you and
thN aupolntcs state IT, produce 1t In writings and
was sneh agreement made with the knowledge Of the
seoreary Of Yr and state the circumstances connected
With the making or that agreement. and all the transac
detail hereunder fully and particularly il you
actions and 50 fully as the necessity OF repeated
Iuterrogatoriesi
Mr. MARsH's STATEMENT.
In reply 20 your question would state that IN the
Summer OF 1870 myself and wife spent some weeks at
Long Branch, and return to New-Yors Mrs.
BeIknap and Mrs Bower, by our invitation came Tor
visit TO cur house. Mrs. Beknap was i'll during this
Wait some three or four weeks and suppose IN conse
ouence Of our kindness her she felt under some obga
tou for she asked me day. In the course Of con
yesatlon why did not apply for post-tradershp Oh
the frontier. / asked what they were, and was told
that there we're many Of them, very lucrative offices,
10 the g Of tie Secretary of War; and that If wanted
one she would the Secretary for one for me- Upon
ny replying that thought such offices belonged TO dis
abed soldiers and besides that was without political
influence she answered that politicians got such places.
&c. 90 I do not remember saying that il had
valuable nos; Of that kind that would remember her,
but do remember her saying something ike this;
can pr vail upon the Secretary OF War 10 award you
post you must be careful 10 nothing to him about
presents for man offered him $4,000 for trader
ship OF this kind and be told him that il he did not leave
the Office he would kick nim down stairs" Remember
ing do this story presume the Gnteccdent state
ment 10 DO correct Mrs. Belknap aud Mrs. Bower
returned to Washington, and few weeks thereafter
Ms. BelknaP sent word to come over. did So she
then told that the pOs-tradrship at Fort sn was
vacant that 1t valuable post as she understood ana
upon the Secretary Of War to agree to give it to me at all
Iyens.
IOalled upon the Secretary OF War and cs
remember made application for this post regular
printed form The Secretary said be would appoint me
III could btng proper ndatOry letters and this
said ooud do Either Mrs Belknap or the Secretary
sod me that the present trader at the post John s.
Evans) was an applicant for reappOntment, and that
had better zee him. he being in the city, it would not
- fofio wit 81
be would lose largely his buildings, merchandise, &c,
the Office was taken from him, aud that 1t would be
proper and Just for TO make arrangement with
him for their purchase, 81 wished 10 the post
Ielf sew Evans aud found him alarmed at tho pros
peet Of losing the place remember that be said that
arm Of Western pOsraders, who claimed good deal OF
influence viii the Secretary Of War, had promised TO
have him appointed, but he found, on coming 10
Warrington ths firm to be entirely without influence.
Mr. Evans Ers proposed partnership, which declined,
Npd then bonus Of certain portion OF the profits II
would allow him to hold the position and continue the
business We finally agreed upon $4,000 per year. Mr..
Evans and myself went to NewYork together, where
the contract made aud executed which il herewith
submitted psper marked Al. During our "trip over,
however, Mr.. Evans saw something In The Army aud
Mary journal which led Inn 10 think that some Of the
troops 70 be removed from the fort and he had
offered too large sum, and before the contract
drawn 1t was reduced by agreement 10 $4,000, the
tame being payable quarterly in advance. When the
hrs remittance TO me- say probably In November
1870, sent One-haf thereof to Mrs Beknap either,
presume by certificate Of deposit bank-noes, by
press
Being in Washington at funeral some weeks after
ths hal conversation with Mrs Bowers TO the follow
hgpurpor:, as far as can remember, bat must
'sy that just here my memory is exceedingly ndisnct
and judge in part, perhaps from what followed as TO
the details o. she conversation. up in the
hohv I IN her
This child win have money coming to 1t before great
While." She said, Yes the other gave tho child to
me, and told that the money coming from you she
must take and keep for It," said, All right, and IT
seems 10 me-. said that, perhaps, the father ought
70 Dc consulted" 1 say, it seems SO, and yet can
give no coed reason for it, for, as far as l
Knew, tho father knew nothing OF any money transac-
tOns between the mother and myself l have a faint
recollection Of remark OF Mrs Bowers, that sent the
money 70 tho father, Il belonged to her, and that she
would get auy way certainly had understand
g then subsequently with her or him, for when the
seIt payment came due and paid sent the onehaf
taereof tho Secretary OF War. and have continued
substantially from that day forward TO the present time
do the About, should say year and half OF
tSo years after the beginning OF these payments,
reduced the smOunt to $4,000 per annum
ne reason o. this reduction was partly because
the combined complaints on the part Of Mr.
Evans aud his partner, and partly, 90 far as
10" remember, in consequence OF an article In
nc newspapers about that time, rejecting on the In
'osnee done TO soldiers this fort caused by eIorbita
ehases made necessary tho part Of the trader by
reason of the payment this bonus. To the best OF my
knowledge ard belief the above true statement OF all
tae facs In the case ana as complete remember
occurrences Of % many years ago
TnR PAYMENTS or SECRETARY DELKNAP.
Question by the ChaiIman-state how the payments
ese made TO the Secretary of War subsequent to the
funeral Of his then wife, which you attended II
washington In December, 1870 whether in cash, by
saeek draft certificates Of deposit bonds or by express
9th