Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-14
INTERVIEW WITH MRS. BELKNAP
uenfaI OF the Many Sensational
RfO,faa Anoaf = H~r Husbands
and Her own vindfon lon 90 Gene,
- N-n u

Correspondents New York Herald.l
WASHINGTON. March 10, 1876.
Rumor has asserted here that Mrs.
Belknap has made threats against the
peace Of the Republican party; that she
declares there are facts in her possession
which would ruin the government and
show some high men to be the basest on
earth, With much more Of the same sort.
A lady who visited Mrs. Belknap to night
furnishes the following account of her
visit:
A rosy-cheeked English girl opened
the door. | had penciled q message up
on the card l sent, and l l heard up stairs.
a hasty conference in low tones. Then
Mrs. Belknap came down, greeting me in
her own charming wsy-a way no one
can resist. She was plainly dressed in
a heavy black silk; a simple knot Of
cherry ribbon fastened the ruche at her
throat; the sat, dark hair vas simply
parted, and q DAINTY little cap OF French
muslin, with cherry ribbons, covered her
head. Not q bit Of ~jewelry was visible.
We talked in low tones, as one would
talk in the presence OF death.
said: "Mrs. Belknap, you must know
that there are terrible rumors sfloat, and
| am very anxious to help you if ! can.
II is said that you are furious because
those so much o. guilty are striving
to build upon your ruin, and the papers
are full of statements ~purporting to
come from you"
"They are utterly false" she replied,
slowly and sadly. "It is very hard to
kssp still, very hard to know hcw / am
slandered, aud to be told that l must
seal my lips. But | must obey General
Belknap's counsel, and | have said moth
ing to any one"
ibid you know Mrs. Williams, the
wife Of the late Attorney General, was
in town, and that. exulting in your sor-
row, she is telling the most infamous
stories2"
81 did not know that she was here,
but she may say what abe likes. / only
wish that every woman on earth, who
knows anything Of me or my life, would
come forward and tell all that she
knows. | hope Mrs. Williams will say
everything that she chooses. Ny life
has not been one Of concealment."
ibid you give any authority for the
story published by the Graphic2"
What story7 | have not seen a news
paper. l know nothing Of what has been
said. have given no authority for any
statement whatever"
l repeated the Grsphie's assertion
that she had employed Mt. Marsh to in
vest the amount Of Mr.. Bowers life
policy, and that, without any agreement
whatever, he had voluntarily presented
her with half the amount received from
Evans.
1T is false entirely. | have said no
such thing. l must not say anything,
however, about these money matters"
did you see Mrs. Marsh at the Ar.
~lington2 Was there anything then said
about your receiving $4,000 from Mr..
Pendleton2"
mot one word. l never had a sous
from Mr.. Pendleton for any help in any
matter. OF course, / heard Of the Ken
lucky Central railroad, just as any lady
in Washington hears Of any claim which
excites general attention. Mr.. Pendle-
ton was interested in it. and because he
happened to be q friend Of mine people
mahciously connected his success with
my position, but | never had n cent,
ner my husband either. The General
only asks that all his affairs may be fully
investigated, He hopes that they will
summon from every post all the wit
nesses possible; that they will examine
Ill the papers and records Of the Va
Department. He has come out Of this q
poor man; he has not anything. Every
penny we have belongs to me, and when
this is done we shall have precious little.
How we are to live or what we are to do
| can not think"
Some one has spread the report that
you declare it is in your power to ruin
the government; that you have said that
the President, Mrs Grant, General Bah
cock, Secretary and Mrs. Robson form
a ring whose transactions are infamous,
aud that il they dare proceed against
General Belknap you will publish affairs
which will send others to the peniten
tiary."
The sad eyes opened widely, and q bit
Of CLEAN flashed into them, but Mrs
Belknap answered with quiet emphasis:
81 know nothing of General or Mrs
Grant but what is to their credit. /
never have known anything wrong about
him. BE has always been perfectly hon
orable."
did you 20 to see Mrs. Blackburn,
carrying your baby. and beg for mercy2'
"Neverl NeVeri Mrs. Blackburn
have known all my life, and when she
came here 1 called upon her frequently
| sent my carriage for her use, aud
gave a dinner to her sister, Mrs. Bran,
lette."
Have you seen her since the action
Of the committed
Yes; she came to see me as q friend
| told her the topic Of our misfortune
must not be discussed at all. / am say
log more to you 10 night than | have
said to any one. Mrs. Blackburn wished
me to see her husband, but l answered
No; our husbands lives are widely
severed forever"
Said /: 1T is contemplate and COW
ardly that public opinion has laid ell tn,
blame at your door because you are {
woman. There are many who give yoI
their pity; msuy who earnestly wisl
that the stain may somehow be removed
Thank you. 1t will all come RICH
some day, though the waiting seem
long. Vengeance is In better hand
than ours. / am sure my husband vii
not be so severely blamed when all il
known. For myself / do not care 8,
much"
Have your friends visited you al all7'
Yes, many Of them come, but / mad
it a condition Of our interview that thi
subject must not be preached. Some o
them are afraid TO come"
Just then abe was called from tn
room for q moment, and l sat looking a
her portrait, taken only a year ago.
picture 90 fair that ore might douht i