The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-15
THE WALL STREET SENSATION.
Incidents in the Career of the Bond
Forgers The Victims and the
Swindlers-Result of Wash
ington Education-Gray
Cowhided by a Wo-
man-Amount of
the Forgeries.

and forgery, was confined to no particular quar-
ter. In the Stock, Gold, and Government Rooms
numerous contradictory rumors prevailed The
gossip assumed many interesting phases.
STANDING OF THE VICTIMS.
Careful and patient investigation of the re-
spective transactions revealed the fact that the
firms who made the loans to Gray and Pratt, or
had business transactions with them, were of
leading and respectable reputation.
THE NICE YOUNG MEN.
But it was said that both Gray and Pratt, al
though young men, were secretly daring opera
tors, and possessed suavity of manners and
determination of purpose, combined with stu
dious cautiousness, that admirably fitted them
to be adroit criminals. Gray was, except by
few, considered an exemplary person. His let
ters from General Butler Senators Foster Nor
+ rill, and others, and his known relationship to
the Rev. E. II. Gray, were always conspicuously
brought forward as blind to conceal his true
character and purposes, and effect the conf
dence among moneyed men which he SO success
fully gained.
GRAY CORRUPTED IN WASHINGTON.
There seems to be no doubt of the fact that he
framed his first evil plans and associations while
in Washington, and holding position in the
Treasury Department. There, too he made
Pratts acquaintance with whom an understand
ing seems to have been at once formed.
THE WORKING PARTNER.
Pratt was about 25 years of age. BE was five
feet six inches high, and generally dressed
Hashily. He was not man who would inspire
Xbersonal confidence, and he does not seem to
Ehave been the one who undertook to do so, but
e. left that work to Gray AS the alterations of the
denomiu alton of State bonds are all in Pratt's
handwriting, it is assumed that he did the me-
chanical part of the work.
CONFIDENCE swINDLE.
While Gray was in Sands office Mr.. William
II. Chapman, merchant on South street, had
an account with Mr.. Sands. Gray saw Chap
man at Sands office, and scraped acquaintance
with him, securing his confidence He could
work on Change, and make money for Chap
man by using $6500 of $40 bonds, which Chap
man had, in a proposed pool. Pratt came in as
an accessory. Then the bonds were grabbed by
Gray and Pratt They kept the illusion up for a
time, and worked Sands into the transaction.
AS last one day Chapman met Sands and in
luired of him.
How does my account stand with you? l
have about $500 to my credit in 5-20s."
"Oh no, you have not" said Sands.
''ButI have" said Chapman.
"You have not" said Sands.
An investigation followed, when it was found
that Gray and Pratt had ''confidenced" Chap
man, stated above.
''What did you do with the bonds?" inquired
both Mr.. Sands and Mr.. Chapman, when the
triminal transaction came to light.
II sold them" said Gray, in the calmest possi-
Bile manner.
ITO whom?"
"A part of them to Fisk & Hatch" he re-
Piled.
Legal proceedings followed, and Chapman got
back part of his property.
GRAY cowHIDED BY A WOMAN.
Subsequently, on his return to New York, and
while he and Gray were doing their secret
work, Gray was cowhided by woman. 1t then
came out that while he was in Mr.. Sands office
be had been corresponding with woman who
was the wife of a railroad conductor. One
morning the mail carrier entered the office as
usual, and deposited several letters on desk.
Scarcely had the carrier gone out when the con =
a,,ta and uant n
where the letters were, and snatching up one
bearing a superscription in females hand
writing said, excitedly, ''This letter is from my
wife" The clerk of the Office inquired, "Who is
II addressed to p and the conductor replied
&'ro Gray" The conductor fed from the room
pecipitately, carrying the letter with nm
When Gray arrived, he was told what had oc-
Cured. He simply remarked:-
she was not the most virtuous, and found out
where she was living and wrote to her." He
then burst into hollow laugh at the conduc-
tors irritabilty. The next phase of the matter
was developed at Mr.. Eastmond's Office. A
woman drove up in carriage and hastily
Ahghted, and ascending flight of stairs,
reached room in which Gray was sitting,
writing, with his back to the door: She sat
Rdown beside him, and calmly drew from under
n outer garment cowhide.
y ''Whats that for? 2" exclaimed Gray, attempt
ing to rise.
7To cowhide you, said the woman
mot attempt to prevent her from doing so, but
throughout preserved the utmost equanimity of
temper and when she was going out of the door
even turned towards her and deliberately bowed.
He said but little to his friends on the subject
when they asked him for an explanation. 1t
came out, however, that he had been met by the
woman's husband, and made an explanation to
him which incensed the woman; hence the COW
hiding. Mr.. Eastmond subsequently sent a
clerk to find out where Pratt lived and found he
had quarters in a clearinghouse at No. 332
Sixth avenue.
AGAIN AFLoAT.
Y Soon after that Mr.. Eastmond determined in
khis own mind that both Gray aud Pratt were
vicious men, and he therefore got rid of them
without any ceremony.
AN INDEPENDENT BASE OF OPERATIONS.
They then went down on Broad street and
secured the spacious offices formerly occupied
by H. G. Stebbins & Co., and which were yes
terday partially closed and still under the care
Of two Deputy Sheritfs. The premises were
visited during the day by numerous persons who
Il were the victims of Gray d Co.'s (Pratts) ope'
rations. None of them made any excited re-
marks. They were shown the big safe ana the
handsome black walnut furniture, and the Brus
sells and velvet carpets, which would eventually
be sold for their benefit, which they regarded al
small consolation. Gray q Pratt leased thu
premises from 8. G. Stebbins until next spring
a at the rate OF $500.
FIXING UP THEIR OFFICE.
They paid $4,000 for the furniture they put in
The object was to please the eyes of their vic
Tins by a show of magnificent material wealth
The creditors or victims were all on the qLt utU
during the whole day.
THE FoRGERIEs.
Charles H. Van Brunt, the agent in New Yorl
of the State Controller, was busy yesterday ex
amining the altered State bonds. 1t was foun'
that the forReries had been committed with grea
tI.ot tsnAn AnaA an nnA mi Tn