CAREER OF A CELEBRATED FORGER.

Inangahua Times, Issue 02, 7 October 1878, Page 2

CAREER OF A CELEBRATED FORGER.

The nrrivnl in Now York of Wm. E. (iJrny Iho for/jjoiv in chnrgo of Sorgoont Kcnloy, of tho Now York doteotivo force, has been for sovornl days ono of the principal sublets of conversation in Wall stroot. That was Gray's field oi operations, nnd fcnnlors nnd brokers woro his proy. Tho nott result of his swindling nnd forgorios was raoro (lion 300,000 dollars. Through tho influoncc of his folher, tho Kov Edward H, Gray (Chaplain of tho United Stntos Sonato from 1801 to 1867). ho obtninod n position in tho Fourth Auditor's Oflioo nt Washington, which ho filled ncoeptahlv and honoßlly for thrco years. In 1800 ho resinned nnd cnmfl to this city with strong letters of recommondntion from tho 3Jon Lnynfetto S. Fostor, then- acting Vice-President, nnd from several lending United States Senators nnd Congressmen. Ho was employed by A. W. •Dimmeok nnd Go until that firm suspended. Then Gmy stortod in 6wsine*s for, himself in Now street, In July, 1900, ha committed his first crime, mis* appropriating xouurities which had been entrusted' to him lor snlo, nnd nlso en» gtiging i" tho negotiation of stolen Government bonds,, for whioh new bonds \\n') been issued. Ho settled tho claims against him and tho matter was not exposed. In tho full of 1809 Gmy civ Ri>(?od Eugeno Finck, a reputable young broker to his business, roprosonting that ho hnd v oitpitnl of 50,000 dollars, nnd that ho was on intimnto terms with Charles Cnlondar, National Bank Ex* nminor, Gonenvl .Butlor, nnd Senators Morrill, Pomoroy, nnd Foster. Ho oponod nn ofllco at; No 41, Now Stroot, subsequently occupied by Woodhull and O lnfin. Gray uonn hwnme re hoavy borrower, nnd to multo Rood his ovor« drafts nt tho bank ho forgod nnl nltorod New York Bounty Fund Linn bonds nnd United States bondu. On Docembor 10, 1809, Gray overdraw hist account nl tho Bunk- of the Commonwoalch to tho amount of 80,00? dollars, leaving ns security throo State Bounty wurrants raisod from 1.000 tloU to 10,000 dols each. Wbon informod tho next duy by Mr Harbortfor, Mr Ellis and two cloto lives, employed by Jay Cook nnd Cr>, that theao wore forgeries, ho feigned great eurprise, snying that ho hnd obtained thorn in rogttlnr oouso of business from T. H. Pratt, n gentleman of monns boacding at; tho Bt Nioholns hotel. Upon promising to furnish gonuino bo-ada ho was nllowod to dopnrt. His otlior so* curitios mido good tho tho olnim o-f this hank. Tho next <Tny ho nogotiatod n lonn of 33.000 (?ollnr.i r oi> tin's sumo class of forged securities at tho Merchants' BUnk, with whioh lio purolnißod United States Securities from -Jay Oooko and Co. Thon bo fled from tho city. Investigation showed that he hnd swindled i\ , Inrgo numocr of personages to tl c oxtont of 800,000 dollars, leaving ns security raised Bounty Fund Bonds nnd stolen nnd cancelled United Statos Securities, tho proceeds of a robbory in Pino stroot about two yoars before. Ho went first; to London, having bonn nidod in his flight by a Mrs Isabella HosInns, of this city, with whom ho ,hnd boon int mate for a long time. Gray lived in sumptuous stylo in London under tho name of James Payno Morgan, nnd dined with tho Duko of Newonstlo and Buron Rothschild, by whom ho was regardod ns nn American millionaire. Ho showorod g'fts on friends in England with a lavish hand. Continuing his career as a swiudlor, he defraudod an English bunker out of 25,009 dollars on h forged tologram sUiiling that 30,000 dollars bad beon plncod to his croilit in this city. When Gmy fi"d from Now York bo went in

such hasto that ho l-<l't a balance of 10.0C 0 dollars in tho Bunk of Common- ; wonlth, 3,000 dollars in tho Moohnnins' Bunk, and ]0,000 dollars with \V. T. nnd Sons. It is estimnted thnt ho took I with with him about 250,000 dollars | result of his frndulcnt operations. Ho 1 at ono timo ordorod from this country 1 four hnndsomo blnolc horses nnd nn ole- ! iianfc not of harness which ho used in ' London.— Now York Herald.