The sun., 1873-05-03
MIR. HiRKSEss's $500.
The Brilliant Speculation that wa. Proposed
by an Operator In steamship Sub-idies-
syracuse Trndc-nau's Venture.

The Brilliant Speculation that was Proposed
by an Operator In steamship Sub-idies-
A syracuse Trndc-nan's Venture.
Mr. Rodger T. llurkncss, n salt merchant
Of syracuse, visited this city for the 1rst time
last Wednesday. While on the he formed
the acquaintance Of Mr.. John c. valmer, who
said that he was the agent Of line Of steam
ships plying between New YORK and Liverpool,
and had many opportunities for making money.
There was one thing necessary, however, TO
complete success, and that was TO secure a part
ner. some gentleman in whom he could place
confidence a man who, In case OF great emer-
gency. could be left with the management ~ q
business interest involving thousands of dollars,
while he tNalmerl should he In Europe attend
ing to the Affairs of his steamship company.
MICH CONTRACT.
The principal features Of the plan proposed
for the consideration Of Mr.. Hardness was the
shipping q dry goods and other salaDle articles
on his tNalmerJ line, from Liverpool to New
YORK, and by an arrangement which he had with
freight charges ~ their port Of destination.
Nalmer explained that the proprietors of the
line wore induced to made this rather exlraordi-
nary business arrangement In consequence OF
the great influence he had with certain persons
ia Washington through whom he expected to
obtain subsidy for carrying the European mails
At any rate, whatever might be the result Of hie
neeOtiations at the capital he was certain ~
name, mar free Of Il charge between Liserpcoi and
New York. This contract he was willing TO
guarantee would hold good at least year.
This business proposal, although coming from
an utter stranger, seemed sufficiently plausible
70 Mr.. Harkness to be worthy Of investigation.
Consequently lie determined to look into 10, and
on reaching New York made an engagement
with Nalmer ~ meet him tho next morning AZ
The Merchants Exchange. They met according
Ia appoint mcnt, and at the sugeestion uf N'L-
met Visited several e the steamship Ihcrs. They
/ know the officers Of the vessels they Waited so
Intimately IA he seemed q ir not clear. but u L.
certain they recocnlled him "A an acquaintance
ana Guated hin cuurtcOusly
BUYING SHARES.
| Next he took his friend TO several n the
| Offices whore ddvrrti-ements for the salc of
! q k't- FOR the steamship lines were displayed,
! and introduced him 90 the prupnetor@. NImer
/ w.s careful To point out his particular line ~
/ steamers. but suggest, AZ precautionary
measure that they should say little possi-
/ bic about their busincss white near the vessels,
/ Tor lrar mat some mcddlesome person might
! get hold 4 the secret Il their enterprise.
| When they parted for the night they did so
! with the understanding that they were 10 meet
/ tie next day a a make some nn / arrangement
for decisive business action. The place arranged
! for the meeting was 81 Park row, where Vulmrr
| said he h,d an Office. Punctual 20 the appointed
| M, and found Nlmor waiting for him In the
stairway leading up TO the Offices AT ~ Park row.
| lie gave rs u reusun for not being Ia hIs oliice
| whicl Mr. HTkncss afterwnrd Gsccrtainel had
! no eNiatence-that the servant had neglected to
! nuild = IRE. He sqsseeted that thcy, would find
| u moro cominrtah.e =; the Astor House, and
! thlther the unsuspiciou- Harkness went. After
! ltue preliminary conversation, Naluer TrtI-
] posed - sell To HaIkncss ten shares at 81 100
each ia the Interu 'eanic Trade and Navigation
/ Company, whose purchase would make him an
/ equal partner with NaJmer Ia the enterprise
/ they bad spent 50 much tlmo in investigating
Anl discussing.
THE soUL or HoSoR.
So thoroughly had Huknc-s become entan-
/ gl"d In almcrs web thai he considered the
/ Proposition a very favorable one, and thanked
| bis friend Tor the generous and disinterested
/ spirit he had manifeei Il IN hia behalf. There
7 Wits one slight drawback, however, and thu was
/ lee had not the required amount Of money with
/ him. In fact, he had only t2,~Up he could com
/ maHd imrcdlHtolv Nalmer Was the soul oi
! honor amt maguanimity. lie could not think
/ ~ allowing So tr,hing a consideration a. "A few
} thousand dullars To stand between him and his
friend when their mutual interests were SO
closely connected. He therefore proposed t0
! accept the $50 as a first payment On the $l0,OOt
/ IA stock, ard taxi Mr llarknesss note for the
remaining 500, payable At that gentleman
] convenience. This WAS indeed KIDD, thought
the conhdiug Harkness, and he AT once paid oVei
the S2Sn, with tho understanding that he was
t. receive the full amount OF stock upon hi'
drawing HE notes, payable In Ave, six. and sever
month IA from date, for the money due.
NAlucr did not stop TO count the money, but
putting the roll into his pocket said he would
step out and get some blank notes which woulC
s1vc lis friend the trouble of writing. Valmei
! G4i step out, and hasn't rlnCe been seen.