Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The resignation OF Secretary Bel.
KNAPP 50 years ago caused a profound
sensation in view OF
6elKnap the scandalous circum-
Arr>,%a5 stances attending It. In
The Star Of March 6,
1875, !s told the story Of his arrest
for criminal prosecution pending con-
sideration by Congress Of the ques-
ton OF Impeachment. The power Of
impeachment was doubted inasn.uch
as the accused was no longer an
official Of the Government. The war
rant was issued under statute pro-
v;ding that any officer Of the United
States asking. accepting or receiving
money or any other value for any
action or decision upon matters pend
ing before him In his official capacity
should upon conviction be punished
by q fine Of not more than three
times the amount involved and by
imprisonment for not moro than three
years.
Rumors that Gen. Belknap planned
to leave the city to escape prosecu-
ton precipitated the issuance Of the
warrant 1t was taken by Maj.
Richards, superintendent Of police.
during the evening Of Sunday, March
5, to the Be;knap residence. Secret
service men had been placed in the
house under direction of Chief Wash
burne Of that force. After a few min
utes' conversation between Wash
burne and Richards Gen. Belknap was
sent for and came downstairs. Maj.
Richards told him that he had war
rant for his arrest, but that at the
request Of the District attorney he
would not serve II Immediately. In
the circumstances, however, he felt
It his duty to place an officer in the
house and others outside. The Star
account said:
Gen, Belknap appeared to be much
embarrassed and his appearance
shows that he has undergone great
very low tone that he would have
to accept the situation, when Maj.
Richards withdrew, but just as he
was leaving the room Gen. Belknap
called him back and asked. Did I IN.
derstand you to say that there was q
warrant for my arrest?" Maj. Rich
ards answered in the affirmative and
withdrew, leaving one officer in the
house and one In the front and
another in the rear on the outside
On Monday Gen. Belknap's counsel,
General Black, ex-Sena-
tor Matt Carpenter and Montgomery
Blair, notified District Attorney Wells
that their client would not be ready
On Wednesday Gen. Belknap, escorted
by Maj. Richards and Mr.. Carpenter.
entered the Police Court. Examina.
ton was waived and counsel asked
that the bond be placed at S25,OOc.
1t was not, however. until late in the
day that a bondsman satisfactory to
the court was found in the person
Of w. w. Rapley and Gen. Belknap
was released.
1.-THE opinion seems to be held IN
some quarters" says The Star Of
March 6. 1876. that the
POLITICAL Republican party will go
EH.n< down under the Belknap
ne0'' scandal. This might and
ought to be the case should the Re-
publican party indorse and defend
such fraudulent actions as this just
exposed. But If it promptly repu-
dates the individual wronsdoing Of
any of its officials and exerts itself
party viii be judged by its general
principles and convictions rather than
by the acts of the repudiated crimi-
nails. The last Republican Congress
rather distinguished itself as Con.
gress Of investigation into all cases
Of alleged fraud. and in the present
Congress the Republicans would seem
to have co-operated fully with the
Democrats on the same line. In the
case Of Belknap the Republican MEM
bers of the investigating committee
appear to have been quite as Jealous
as their colleagues Of the other party
in exposing the guilt Of the delin-
Quent, and II the latter escapes Jus
tice for want Of proof. through allow
ing the principal witness to leave the
country, it will not be the fault of the
Republican members Of that commit
tee.
"And the Republicans, Of course.
will not need to so very far back in
political history to show that other
parties have had their full share OF
fraudulent officials. The Wings had
their Galpins and Crawfords, and the
Democrats their Casses, Dick John
sons. Hary1ses. Bcyds. Baileys. Floyds.