Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-14
BOGUS.


L Clever SSVln0leEAs
New YORK, Dec. ia bogus firm under
the title of w. H. H. Stewart & Sons, To-
Gated in Bridgeport, Conn, has, duringthe
past six weeks, successfully swindled q
| large number of merchants at the West
and Pennsylvania, by soliciting and reeeiV-
ing consignments Of produce, which have
been shipped to unknown places. An in
vestigation by a Pennsylvania merchant
discovered the swindle, and over $4,000
worth of -four, butter, etc, were found at
the steamboat freight depot in Bridgeport.
No trace of the swindlers has been obtained.
| They used the names of many well-known
| New York and other merchants as refe<-
ences, besides referring to an Empire Ma
tional Bank of this city, no such bank ex-
listing.
Extensive Forging, Stealing or
EERaISIng."
NEW YORK, Dec. 13.-There have been
rumors since Saturday on Wall street of IT.
regularities of certain securities hypotheca-
ted with prominent brokers which, it is sup
posed, have been either forged or stolen.
It appears bonds of 81, 900 each have been
directly altered to SO, 900, and with other
certificates of registered government stocks
supposed 10 have been stolen, have been
used as collateral security to secure about
$500, 600 The firm said to be implicated
is w. L. Gray & Co., who have been doing
business for the last month at A Duane
street. The firm consists of Mr.. Gray and
c. C. Pratt.
Son of n United states Chaplain.
Gray was formerly of Washington, and
is the son of the Chaplain of the United
States Senate. Pratt is reported to be the
person who purchased the 81, 900 bonds
which were subsequently altered to &c.
600, A few months ago Jay Cooke d Co.,
purchased some bonds which they subse-
quently learned had been stolen year
ago from Z. J. Woolsey. The bonds were
traced back to Gray, who redeemed them
AMI the matter was allowed to rest.
Over S25O,OOO.
The alterations in bounty, loan, stock
and registered government bonds as far as
discovered, exceed $780, 600, and it is
likely the frauds are 10 a still greater ex-
tent, as new cases are being constantly
reported. Some of the altered certificates
were exceedingly well executed, and others
very poorly done On Friday the Bank Of
Commonwealth discovered they had three
altered bounty and loan certificates, and
Immediately sent for Mr.. Gray when the
bank was made good.
The officers, however, considered ittheir
duty to notify the Manhattan Company and
officers of the company and Gray we're
brought face to face. Gray stated that he
bought the bounty loan certificates through
a man named Pratt. He believed the par
ty altering them was Blackwell, and also
that he had detective on his track. The
conference between the officers of the Man
haitian Company and the Bank of Common
wealth and Gray lasted until 6 p. NJ. Fri
day. No steps were taken to arrest Gray,
as he protested his innocence and threw
the whole thing on Blackwell.
On Saturday Gray again made his ap-
pearance on the street and borrowed some
additional amounts of money and more
altered certificates, including $50, 900 from
the Mechanics Bank Many parties on
the street had suffered by the operations of
Gray q Co, in amounts ranging from
$50, 600 TO sos, 900.
4 reward of s., 900 has been offered for
the apprehension of Gray and Pratt and
the other members of the firm who have
been missing since Saturday.