The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-20
GRAY, PRATT& CO., BROKERS
a WASHINGTON POLITICIIN,s An.
VENTURES IN WALL STREET.

Gaining the Confidence OF the Street ma
Flooding IL win Altered sccuritics-A
Flight uhioi, was Piped by the Detective
Poiice-Arrcst and Committai.
In December last a full history Of the financial
opor atoms and disappearance OF the Arm Of WIN. r
Gray Co, ~ Broad street, was given to the pub.
lie in the columns of The SUN VIM T. Gray cana
TO this city in 1861. with letters from iniuont.i
once holders in Washington, which secured him hs
position of cashier In the Office OF Mcssrs. A. W.
Dimock a. Co.. ~ Pine street Wearing Of beips
a subordinate, nc branched out for himself, ana se
cured desk room At 20 New street lie soon won
the confidence OF the street. and secured the SER.
vices of conspicuous broker Of the Gold Board,
His operations were large, but carefully managed
and the bulls and bears marked him as a promising
operator.
Gaining prestige by his success, he took m on,
at &c New street. Soon afterward the report wa,
spread that he had lost heavily by the failure
OF Messrs. Moss & Co. OF Broad street, but that Il
would not seriously embarrass him, as in a few days
he would receive large sum nom his frends-al
least 100000. Soon after this he moved from "a
New street TO one OF the finest onces on Broad
street. and displayed the single OF W. r. Gray b
Co. The new lrm dealt largely with the best Arms
on the street, and enjoyed the confidence OF the
bankers generally but
AcHANoB cAuri
Messrs Jay Cooke q Co discovered among TIM
securities upon which they had made loans TO GRAY
Co, some bonds winch had been traised from
lower TO higher denominations. and on apprisins
the Young America" firm Of the TACT the d aer.
ence in value was made good, and the raised bonds
were redeemed. The explanation was made mil.
ingly with well-simulated surprise, and Mr. Gray
said that the bon ie had oeen tdepostcd with them
by one Of the best hrme on the street
On Friday, Dec. 10, the Bank OF the Common.
wealth detected n similar error among Of the
bonds deposited with that nstituion securities
for loans made, and wished them TO close their &C
count there
On Saturday. M usual. Mr. GRAY appeared in ths
street and negotiated largely. Some brokers said
shat be conveyed to a woman In q carriage, al an
early hour In the day. large parcel OF securities
but this may be merely n story without foundation
At oil events, during that day Mr.. Gray and his sup
posed partner. Thomas ". Pratt, deirauded II,
street to the amount OF nearly 100000. THIS sun
does not cover the stolen bonds the alterations
OF bonds and other securities which were disposed
OF or deposited a. securities. On that day the firm
disappeared.
The names and kinds OF securities are wihacld. h
order that Gray 4 PIntts conreres may be secured
by the authorities
PRirT's ARREST.
Since the disappearance OF Gray & Pratt. Clpt
NOV SuperintendenD Jourdan and Sergt (now Cap
tain) keso secured indictments against the fuEi
tyes under six counts, and got bench warrants from
Recorder Hackett for their arrest and thus armed
Tie detective police went to work. Pratt Il was
said. had fed to Mexico; but from the hour of his
disappearance the detectives had their eyes on him.
and his Ieturn TO The city was so well anticipated.
that on wednesday night, at about II o'clock Do.
tectives Woodbridge and McCord saunterei uD Sec
ond avenue, and at Thirteenth street nabbed him.
After some nttempt upon his part to deny his ideu.
titv. he nccompanied tho officers to the Police Gen.
tral Oflce. lie taken before the Court OF Gen.
era Sessions yesterday morning, aud committed for
trial without bail His partner, Gray, is yet Al
large.