The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1876-03-18
nsw Long Grant Mas Known 1t.
From the y. Y. SUM-

the tAets - tns rHssaasas'
From the n. Y. SUM-
Baltimore, March 2,-The first
action taken looking to an investi-
CATION and conviction Of Belknap
was by Capt. George I. Robinson
now residing in Baltimore, who
for a period Of six years was sta
toned at Fort Sill. Between this
gentleman aud Belknap very Bit
ter feeling has existed and now
exists, growing out Of tho fact
that his attempt to publicly pro-
claim Belknap's guilt resulted in
Robinson's being tried before a
military commission and cashier
cd. Hc-is a civil engineer by pro-
fession, and is at present employed
by the Columbia Iron works. Last
evening u representative Of The
SUN called upon Capt. Robinson,
who made the following statement.
l entered upon my duties as Cap
tain of the Tenth United States
Cavalry at Fort Sill in 1868, and
remained until 1872. .Iwasinstru-
mental in having the investigation
made. Although my name has not
yet appeared in connection with
the matter, l knew personally that
Dclknap received as a bribe the
sum Of $4,000 annually for three
years payable monthly in advance
by DR.. Marsh, Of New York and
j. s. Evans and J. J. Fisher, the
post traders at Fort Sill. The post
was the most valuable in the Uni
ted States. When the above firm
took possession as post traders they
were heavily in debt and had a
small stock of goods. When left
the fort their stock was worth from
$50, 900 to 100, 900, and they were all
wealthy and out Of debt. Mr..
Evans was the first 70 apply and
procured a petition signed by the
officers Of the Tenth United States
Cavalry and Sixth United States
Infantry stationed at the fort, ad-
dressed TO. the Secretary Of War,
asking his appointment us post
trader. Mr.. Belknap read this pc
tition and told Evans that he would
US soon have petition Of SO many
wagon masters as.'the officers OF
that post. lie then told Mr.. Evans
that he had already appointed as
post trader for Fort Sill, DIR.
Marsh of New York. lie added
that he thought Marsh did not
wish to 60 out tolndian Territory
and told Evans that IL he went 10
New York he could sec him
(Alarsh) there, and might nuke an
arrangement with him. Mr. Evans
went TO New York and found
Marsh. lie also found Interested
in the matter the firm Of Durfee
h Co., and Dent Il Co., { Mr.. Dent
Is a brother-in-law Of President
Grant, and others. DIR. Marsh put
the post up at auction and it was
bid Off to Evans Il Co., the terms
being that Bclknap was to be paid
$4,000 a year for three years, and
$4,000 per year afIcrward. The
business was conducted under the
name of j. s. Evans & Co., the
firm paid the bribe to Marsh, by
whom il was nftcrward turned
over to Belknap. More than q
year ago visited Washington and
made charges against Bclknap
employing as counsel John J. Key
of that city, aud subsequently, Gen
IIcnklc also Of Washington, which
latter was largely instrumental in
bringing the matter to an issue
These charges were presented t.
tho Military Committee, and tht
result was | was cuslliered
Grant has known Of these charges
for years. lie knew as much nearly
two years ago az he knows to day
Some two months ago | renewed
the charges, employing the Same
counsel. Twas backed by all tn,
officers OF the fort, and furnished
a list of witnesses for the commit
tee, and aided as far as possible
In collecting the evidence by whicl
he was convicted. gave then
the names of Drcvct Major-Gcn
Il. II. Gricrson Of The Tenth United