Evening journal., 1890-10-14

eron called at the generals rooms, but
was unable TO open the door He then
went down and called on Mr.. James c..
Spragg, who rented the rooms TO him.
The two went back to the apartments and
had boy climb over the transom. The
door was opened and inside Gen. Belknap
was found dead.
He was lying on his back, with his right
hand clutched at his throat and. his left
hand extended out of bed, as II reaching to
catch some support One leg was ont OF
bed, showing evidently that he had strug-
gled TO get up. Heart disease vas the cause
Of his death. Medical aid was summoned.
but Of course was OF no avail. Mr.. Sprigg
Immediately teleeraphed the news to Mrs.
Belknap al the Victoria hotol, New York,
and also notified his son out west
A Sketch Of His Career.
Gen. William Worth Belknap was born
in Newburg, n. Y, on Sept. q, 1saa He
was graduated at Princeton In 1913 He
studied law and practiced at Keokuk, Ia,
where he settled In 1851. He entered the
political field and was elected 10 the legis-
lature as a Democrat in 1857
Gen. Belknap's father had been a brave
soldier in the war Of 1919 and in the Mexi-
can war. For his gallantry he gradually
rose from second lieutenant to briQadier
general When the civil war broke out his
son, William, entered the army as major
of the Fifteenth Iowa volunteers. He was
engaged in the campaign In the southwest
in 1863 and 1863 and fought 40 Shiloh,
Corinth and Vicksburg. He was promi-
nent in Gen. Sherman's Atlanta cam
paign and the march TO the sea, and was
made brigadier general July 80. 1864 He
was brevetted major general on March 13,
1866, just before the close Of the war
His impeachment.
After the war Gen. Belknap was ap-
pointed collector of internal revenue in
Iowa, and served from 1855 until Oct 49,
1869, when he was appointed secretary Of
war by President Grant He retained the
place through Grants second term up to
March 2, 1915, when, in consequence Of
charges OF official corruption, he resigned.
Belknap was impeached by the house Of
Representatives on March 2, 1915, for alleged
malfeasance while in Office. The commit
tee had previously discovered unquestion-
able evidence Of bribery and corruption
while Belknap was secretary Of war Bel
knap was present and heard the witnesses
testify against him before the committee
Of investigation prior to his having been
impeached.
He resigned his portfolio twenty minutes
after the report Of the committee had been
agreed upon. His resignation was imme-
diately accepted by the president The
house Of representatives subsequently, ap-
pointed its managers and laid before the
senate articles OF impeachment The ar
ticles had been prepared with great skill
and care and the minutest details We're
given in each specific case OF bribery and
corruption. Belknap appeared in person
and was represented by counsel at his trial
He did not attempt 70 deny the commits
sion of any Of the charges made against
him
Hepieaded that at and before the pas
sage OF the resolution for his Impeachment
be was not secretary OF war, and that
neither then nor at any time since had he
held any official place under the govern
ment OF the United States, and he denied
the jurisdiction OF the court.
The validity OF the resignation Of the &C
cnsed was questioned and delared not TO
have been made in good faith
The trial lasted thirty-seyen days, cover
ing the period Of 1870 from April IS to
July "a On Aug. 2. 1876 verdict OF ac-
quittal was rendered on the technical
ground OF want Of jurisdiction