The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-01
The Story Of an Intended Queer ''0pe-
ration by Stock Dealers.
ARE THERE THUGS IN WALL STREET
Where . Gag Was to Have Been Put and
"Call. Silenced.
A BULL" IN PERIL FROM TWO BEARS"

stand and the Developments made from time 10 time
only give an imperfect glimpse OF the inner life among
tho operators. That act always ION the square"
there is not believed and very often facts to light
THAI prove conclusively that the common cry A
fair in war; and that II is the boundcn duty OF
each and every stocks get the better OF his
nsishbor, whether by fair means or foul, following
doubtless the instruction OF the Quaker to his son -
make money honestly II thee can. but make money,
anyway" The ways OF the SPECTATOR, however, who
legitimate brokerage business to back him up In
hts stock transactions seem TO be beset with more than
the ordinary peril for not only Is he subjected to Inc
peculiar transactions fluctuations OF the market as
prices affected by ordinary causes, but he has also
10 combat supposng he is what is known as leader,
the combinations that are continually being
formed TO bring about different state OF conditions
than he has predicated his operations upon In fact,
every mans hand against him and his against every
man, far stock dealings are concerned Tho
risks which any Of the prominent spectators have to
contend WITH appears arc not only financial but are
often Of bodily and physical nature; in fact II would
from the details Of the story given below that any
man who Is recognized as controlling power or
manipulation on Wall street will need to be protected BY
body guard Of detectives, not only to prevent his Sc
cret for his operations from becoming KNOWN
but also TO protect his personal liberty. Indeed
in such position scarcely be considered AS
in safety In visiting tho house OF supposed friend
unless accompanied thereto by an acquaintance who
will wait for him until he reappears on tho sidewalk
From inquiries made OF many Of the cognosceHti In
Wall street Is learned that Il Is the current BELIEF
among them tiMt either q wonderfully good joke or
very serious outrage intended 10 be played upon
Mr.. Jay Gould some twelve months or more ago. but
that from unforeseen circumstances the plot not
iulnlled 1t, however appears, II the circumstances
related surrounding the the true ones that
something
MORE THAN PRACTICAL JOKE
this instance intended Tho principal parties to
she affair naturally extremely rcticent some OF
them even going so far as to deny any knowledge Of
the transaction whatever although they have TO many
personal friends made, Il Is alleged, complete con-
iession Of the facts in connection with the plan
Those who profess to know something" about 1t
and the matter has been for some days common topic
Of discussion among tho brokers Of Wall street-stac
that during December, 1874, and January 1875,
Jay Could in connection with the ''scalskin"
operator, and another gentleman who did
not believe IN the rsc OF any 'shecrs'' Of
which he was Short we're interested in bcarng' the
market on Union Pacific stock. and that in February,
Could feeling that the time had arrived for opposite
movement gave notice 10 his two operators that he
Intended close his .spear'' account and begin to
"bulr the Market Mt the same tnc advising them to
take the tack THIS, II is said they refused TO
Ing With the gentlemen referred to at the house Of
the first indicated for the purpose OF consultation
when, however, he found both OF them acting IN OPP
position himself the street, he dscontn his
waits These parties finding that Mr.. Gould was the
stronger and had conrvcd TO run the market his way,
became somewhat alarmed, finding that they were us
day succeeded day. losing large sums OF money. II is
alleged that they hereupon conceived the idea OF KID
keeping him confined Tor several days by this means
they hoped to Affect the market and so recoup their
losses The plan SO lar as can DO ascerainea, sara
friend OF 1.-THE sealskin OPERATOR and tho other
party that these gentlemen would be glad TO see him
the house OF the former certain evening for the
purpose OF consultation The gentleman who con-
veyed the message TO Mr. Gould is said TO be well
known gold broker, and he u Is alleged carried out
his duty 50 we'll 5 induce Mr.. Gould TO make the
visit The story then goes that at the time Mr. Goud
was 10 visit the house IN question had already been
arranged that on his arrival and while he should DO
sitting his chair in conversation with his opponents.
man, who had been hired for the occasion, should
Gao AND BIND HIx
For some reason however, the plan was not carried
the FULL although from all accounts the ins,ru
ments Tor the OF the plot were all on hand
II IS further said that the reason for the noniulmcnt
OF the plan that Of the parties, the time
approached when the signal for the Thug To appear
should be given seemed to cvince by the expression
Of hts eye, an intention to go even beyond The pre-
scroed hints arranged the original plan. In fact
sand there was evident intention on hs part 10
carrymattcrs 10 the last extremity Tic other party then,
lis alleged concluded not 10 carry the arrangement
out. but rather 10 wait Developments The consc
II.
peace through stable through which he had entered,
In order that his movements might not be SEEN Thus
he went away from ms opponsn,s totally unaware o.
had notlned him that his presence ut the house in
question was desired was ', Is SAID waiting 10 The
the plan out This gentleman afterward was
summoned 10 the presence Of Mr.. Gould. aud, t
is said made full and complete confession
oil the whole plot, while he at the time
pressed great conrition for the part he had taken in
The matter. He was NJ the timo IN antagonsm 10 Mr.
OF the lattcr's partisans- II Is even said
that, At the time when the plot was communicated TO
him by one OF the principals hc endcavored TO dis
suadc them from carrying IL out on The ground that
although thcy might so lar succeed as TO
GOULD AWAY
for several days, yet, inssmuch they could not
afford TO kill him. the whole affair must come out and
would provo very expensive experiment, notwith-
standing that they might make considerable money bv
means OF 10 Al first.
nee made a complete confession 70 Mr.. Gould, with
lew TO proptialc him. claiming that II was he that
nvcd his lie. He even, il is said, went TAR 70
present TO Mr. Gould the cord and cork which were TO
N Goaa o shDa
acles TO several friends, while ut the same tme no
commented upon tho facts Of the case out
hped above Some OF his friends state that
although he now desires TO seem inclined TO
LOOK upon the whole AFFAIR AZ JOKE, he really
looks back on u as matter OF SERIOUSNESS The man
who was hired 70 perform the actual gaggng and bind
Ing said known and can II necessary, be found
Another singular Tact connection with the story is
,hc assertion that sometime operator in margins was
made acquainted with the proposed Kidnapping and
Shat he made proposition to carry the matter through
" q successful ending Tor the sum OF $4,000
Tho cord exhibited by Mr. Gould is said 10 be Of
white cotton, about quarter OF inch diameter
The cork " Of circular form, about two inches In d.
Aneteg.
INTERVIEW WITH JAY GOULD.
HERALD reporter visited Mr. Gould yesterday alter.
noon his residence, in Fifth avenue, when The
following conversation occurred
.sNr. Gould, l have called to talk with you about
sensation current in Wall street. IN which you form
prominent psrty
s'WhAt 10 itt''
ssYou have doubt heard that there Is . story In
circulation the effect that thare plot
Some twelve thirteen months Ago 20 capture you and
hold you prisoner in order TO affect the Market
sWhat have you heardf What do people sayf"
sswhy. they say la substance that evening In
February 1875. you invited TO certain residence
~ here, and entered the premises by the stable
rhat the plan 70 seize and gag and keep you
IN custody for time and 50 manipulate the market In
polseo