The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-19
"ERIE." ("
A Singular Amdavit by james Fisk, In
Reply to Daniel Drew-Peculiar AS
serttOns and Counter Statements.

A singular Amdavtt by james Fisk, In
Reply TO Daniel Peculiar AS
serttOns and Counter Statements.
The following affidavit was made yesterday in
New York in the Erie litigation, and is pre-
sumed TO be q reply 10 the affidavit of Daniel
Drew:-
SUPREME ECoURF,-August Belmont and another
us. 1he Erie Rdiito0y Company and ohers.-
cay and County Of Ne,o York sS.-James Fisk,
Jr., being duly sworn, deposes and says that on
Sunday morning, November Is, lS6S MIR. Daniel
Drew Unexpectedly called upon me; he said that
he had come to make a clean breast of IL, and
throw himself upon our mercy; that he was
short of Erie stock $4,000 shares; told him that
L knew that, and that was not halt OF it. and
that he was short in addition 10000 calls; he
complained bitterly OF his position; he then
entered into an explanation as to certain pro-
ceedipgs that he said were being got up by
parties who were to attack us In the courts; he
said that he had been In the enemy's camb,
and all that he cared about was to look
out Tor numuer one, and II We were willing TO
help bin he would make a clean breast OF II. |
told him that his disposition and his nature
were so vacillating that should not trust him
unless he made clean breast OF 1t to begin
with; he finally, after much hesitation, said he
would tell me; that Work, Schell, Lane and
Thompson we're embarked IN a scheme with
him; he refused to tell me in whose name the
proceedings were to be instituted; upon inqutr-
ing closely of him whether the case was taken
up On its merits or mere stock operation, he
admitted 10 me that 1t was to relieve those VINO
were short of the stock; presented the idea to
h M as to what the others would do and he said
that he could take the rngleaders with him il
they were also provided for, and he would
break up the whole scheme; he begged and
entreated that should 60 and bring Mr.. Gould,
saving that he that If he could see Nc
Gould he could benefit his position, and
would tell US who were to be the plaintiffs in the
suit; tried to convince him this was one of
his old tricks, and that he was the last man
who should whine al any position he had put
himself in with regard to Erie. Finally / con-
sented 10 go and get Mr.. Gould to see Mr.. Dire ",
but such portion of the conversation AS beard
was OF the same nature that Mr.. Drew held
with me, and also he urged many arguments
upon Mr.. Gould and myself to induce US to help
BIN with regard TO the stock; he stated to us
that 1t was within our power to protect our
selves, and urged us TO issue more convertible
bonds, saying no one could know anything
myself myself declined N' to accede 0OtS to. AT Al
tbs tbs time tim he It'd nrougs. us that ths
name of August Belmont; that he was present
at a meeting they held last night, aud heard
the papers read; we told him over and
over again that we could not help him; he
would not leave US, but insisted on rem ainng,
and Mr.. Gould and myself finally, unable to get
rid OF him in any other way, told him that we
would meet him again at 10 o'clock that evening;
we then parted; subsequently, ABOUT ii O'Clock,
we found Mr.. Drew waiting for us; at that time
Mr.. Gould was not present, and told Mr.. Drew
nothing could be done; he said, "rhensit you
put this stock up am ruined man." he harped
upon the fact that he was willing to pay large
amount of money for the use OF 80 900 or 40,000
shares of stock for fifteen days, aud offered me
as high as three per cent, which would amount
to nearly 500 900 Tor the use OF 1t for 10 days;
finding he could not induce me to accede to his
wishes, he took another tack, saying there was
a conspiracy against us, and they would ruin
US if they could, and that they would
have the stock down at all hazards; and that
ii would not agree to anything with him be
would give his affidavit to the other side, having
before this stated he would not give his affidavit
If l came to his rescue; he said, "You know du-
ring the whole of all our other fights l objected
to ever giving my affidavit, but swear 1 will
do you all the harm / can do if you do not help
me in this time OF my great need:" he also SAID.
"You can loan me the stock" and repeating II
will give you three per cent. for it; you have the
power to issue more convertible bonds, and
will buy the bonds from you il you are caught,
or will buy the bonds of you with the under
standing that / shall not pay for them unless
you are caught;n positively and unequivocally
declined his proposition, as l had on each occa-
sion. After talking in this strain for more than
an hour, adhering to my decision that nothing
could be done, he, at about one O'Clock Monday
morning, said, 81 will bid you good nightn and
went away. JAMES FISK, in.
The New York Tribune says editorially:-
The new Erie war shows that some OF the
parties, including Daniel Drew, who were inside
the ring in former issues OF stock, are now
outside the ring, and endeavoring 10 prevent
the repetition of a strategy which they were
bold enough in practising when it Injured to
their benefit. An issue of $5,OOO,0O0 OF stoc<
to Daniel Drew seems righteous in Drew's
eyes. further issue of S2S, ,OOO 900 of
new stock to Gould, Fisk q Co. seems
an unholy thing to Drew. The
whole game Is one of the Sins" against the
outs, or of all the officers to cheat the stock
holders, and the big fish TO swallow the little
ones. The stock holders who have been swindled
by these over-issues OF stock ought to have a
right of action against those members of the
Legislature who voted to authorize them. and
the officers who have sent out the oyer-issues
should be liable to the holders OF the original
stock for ali the loss they have suffered in con-
sequence.
The war having afforded some of our judges
another opportunity to disgrace themselves,
they Of course, grasp at the infamy as II it were
a nlelinctinn