Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-07
Ills Share In the Late GOld
( Speculation,
A Letter from James Fisk, Jr-
Charging COrbln with Origin
/ ating the Scheme. &
4 Few AlfidaVltS Touching the
Question OF Yeraeity.

4
, To the Editor of the Sun.-Dear Sir
There seems to be no longer any doubt
that Mr.. A. r. Corbin, brother-in-law o.
; President Grant, has stated to your re.
I porter that he did not associate with
such men as myself; that had not been
to his house since last summer; that he
had never communicated with me re-
specting gold operations, and that Mr..
Grant would not hold an interview with
any such man as myself.
"These statements make it necessary
for me to state that Mr., Corbin has cons
stantly associated with me; that l have
been in his house repeatedly since last
summer; that visited him in the very
afternoon of the day On which he made
these statements, and that he spent
more than one hour with me in the Erie
railway office on the afternoon of Satur-
day, September %, the day after the
gold panic. '.-
1t is further proper for me to say that
Mr.. Corbin has been party in interest
with Us, and others, whose names it is
not now necessary to mention, in the re-
cent gold speculation, and that he was
constantly communicating with me re-
sPectlng this gold speculation. In fact,
Mr.. Corbin was in this speculation long
before L was. 1t had been organized and
carried on by him and other gentlemen
for some weeks before l knew of its ex>
istence He is entitled TO almost the en-,
tire credit OF originating the grand scheme
for advancing the price of gold, and /
willingly disclaim, in his favor, the honor
SO kindly imputed to me by the press in
general, Of having devised this bold and
brilliant operation. 1t was the fruit of
Mr.. Corbin's own suggestive mind and
long before l knew anything of it, Mr..
COrbiA's representations concerning the
powerful influence which he could bring
to bear in favor of the speculation had
interested in his support other gentlemen
Of means and capacity and it is only
just to say that Mr.. Corbin's assurances
on this point were fully carried out up to
the Both Of September.
"As to the remaining point Of Mr..
Corbin's statement, it is sufficient to re-
fer to the Associated Press dispatch
from Washington this morning, by
which it will be seen that General Grant
speaks freely Of an interview which he
had with me on my boat last su miner
and which was exceedingly pleasant on
both sides.
Il enclose you few afilavits, which
will give you further information con-
/ corning this matter
81 remain your obsdient servant,
| JANIS FISK, JR
The following are the alilavits referred
to in the letter of Mr.. Fisk:
"Cty and county Of New York, IS.
| CHARLES Mcintosh. being duly sworn,
says | do hereby swear that met Mr..
Abel r COrbin, brother in law OF Presi-
| dent Grant, at the Erie railroad offices,
in the Grand Opera House, on Friday, |
September a, 1869, the same day on
which occurred the gold panic in Wall
street, in this city and that said A. R. |
Corbin displayed the most intense ex-
element and anxiety over the state of |
the gold market, and the operations of |
Mr.. James Fisk, Jr., and Mr. Jay Gould |
and he said to me he hoped they would |
come out all right, as he Mr. Corbin) |
was deeply interested also, that he i'm.
mediately afterward held an interview
with Mr.. C. w. Pollard, Messrs. Fisk &
GOuld's agent. CHARLES MCINTosH.
"SwOrn to on the 4th day of October,
1869, before me,
MORTIMER SMITH, Notary Public"
Estate of New York, city and county of
New York, IS.
Frederick w. BAnfield, being duly
sworn, says do hereby certify that
while was Just outside of Mr.. A. R.
COrbin's residence, at No. 81 West
Twentyrseventh street, this city, be-
tween the hours of l and O'Clock P. NJ,
of Thursday, September %, 1869, | saw
the gentleman, whom recognize as the
representative of the New York Sun,
enter said residence and come out; that
while he was within said residence was
waiting outside for Mr.. James Fisk, Jr.,
who had entered previous to said SUMS |
representative. Also, that | had been
there repeatedly with Messrs. Fisk and
Gould within the last three months.
"FRED'K W. BANFIELD
"Sworn to the 4th day of October,
before me. MORTIMER SMITH,
Notary Public Of New York"
Estate of New York, city and county Of
New York, SIS:
81 have frequently been the bearer Of
messages between Mr.. James Fisk, IT.,
and Mr.. Abel r Corbin, brother-in- law
of President Grant, at the residence Of
the latter, No. 81 West Twenty-seventh
street, in this city. Mr.. Corbin called
on me at the Erie building, corner of
Twenty~third steet and Eighth avenue,
on Thursday, the 23d day Of September,
1869, telling me that he came to see how
Messrs. Fisk & Gould were getting
along. He then asked me to give his
regards to both Fisk & Gould. He called
again on Friday, the following day, at
about noon; appeared to be greatly |
excited; said he feared We should lose a
great deal of money. The following
morning, Saturday, September %. Mr..
Fisk told me to take his carriage and
call upon Mr.. Corbin, and say to him
that he and Mr.. Gould would like to see
him (COrbiD) at their (Fisk &
Gould's) office. / called and saw
Mr.. Corbin He remarked, upon greet.
ing me, 'How does Mr.. Fisk bear his
losses? and added, 1T is terrible for us.
He then asked me to bring Mr.. Fisk up
to his house Immediately, as he was in
disposed, and did not feel able to 90 down
to his (Fisk's) Office. went after Mr.
Fisk, who returned with me to Mr. Cor,
bin residence, but shortly after came
out with Mr.. COrbin, who accompanied
him to Mr.. Fisk's Office, where he was
closeted with him and Mr.. Gould for
about two hours On Monday morning
following, Mr.. Fisk sent me again to Mr..
Corbin's house. Mr. COrbin told me that
he and his wife had just returned from
Washington, travelling two nights, and
that Immediately upon bis return he
had sent a message to Mr. Gould, at his
residence. lie was too Ill, be
said, to 90 down to the Office, and ur. Ell
me to 90 and bring Mr. Gould or Mr. Fisk
to his house. On the next day, Tuesday,
September IS, went again to see Mr..
Corbin, for Messrs. Fisk and Gould. He
(Mr. COrbin) said his wife was very i'll,
and requested me to make an appoints
ment for Mr.. Fisk The latter was so
much engaged that he could not 90 until
Thursday, September 80.
Q. w. POLLARD.
"Sworn to, the 4lh day of October,
1869, before me, MORTIMER Smith,
Notary Public"
81 do hereby certify that on the 18th day
Of September last, while i was seated 10