The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-04-05
A SWELL SWINDLER
IN LIMBO AT LONDON.

WILLIAM s. GRAY, WHO STOLE SIX HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM WALL STREET,
in 1869, rs ARRESTED IN LONDON.
The New York Herald OF Saturday says:
1t was announced yesterday that William
s. Gray, who defrauded operators on Wall
street, in 1863, of the sum of 5000, ,OeO, had
been arrested in London, and was awaiting
srequisition for extrsdition. Gray, since his
flight from this city, has lived in Europein
grand style. Some time ago, under the
name OF DIR. Colitzo, he undertook to work
grand land distributing scheme in London,
England. 1t is current upon Wall street that
the English detectives, when they fully
identified Gray, some time ago, wrote to
Detective Sampson, of this city, asking
what 1t was worth to cspsure and return
him. Sampson, it is said, carried the
letter of the police inquirer's to persons
who had been deirauded by Gray, and to
the officers OF the Stock Exchange. Hav-
ing procured expressions of the feelings
OF these persons be wrote to his English
confreres, and the result is the arrest of
Gray. The published account of this event
Is TO the effect that Detective Merkleiohn
met Gray In Pimlico, London, recognized
him from having photographs OF him in
bis possession, and arrested him, and that
Gray was examined
ATT THE BOW STREET POLICE COURT
and teen remanded until next Thursday.
Skt tch OF bis six hundred thousand dollar
forgeries: William E. Gray, alias James
Payne Morgan, is the son of the Rsv.
Ed ESrd 81. Gray, who was from 1861 to
1869 chaplain OF the New York Senate.
Through his fathers influence heobtaired
a position In the fourth auditors office in
Washington, I'D while there acted In an
honest manner. In 1866 be resigned his
position and came to this city with letters
of introduction from the Hon. Lafayette
S. Fo ter. then acting vice president, and
several United States senators. Shortly
after arriving In New York he obtained a
position in the banking house of A w,
Dimmock Il Co., No. 26 Pine street, and
here he won the esteem of his employers,
and he remained with them until
they suspended business, when he re-
solved TO commence business on his
own account. He was, however, without
means, and took desk room in New street
aud engaged himself as attorney for Mr.
j. ID. Sands, whose business in the gold
room he transacted. In July, 1862 he mis-
appropriated some of Mr.. Ssnds's funds
and likewise acted as sgent on the sale of
some stol, n government bonds. The st-
fair was. however, hushed up. In Sep
tember, 1869, he formed the acquaintance
OF Mr.. Eugene Fink, stock brOBer, who,
believing that Grsy's friends and ante
cedenis were very good, embarked in busi-
ness with him, Gray stated thst he soon
to receive $4,000 from an
aunt in Maine, and when be received
IL he would willingly enter into partner
ship. Mr.. Fink knew that Gray was
INTIMATE WITH MR.. CHARLES cALLENDER,
the national bank examiner, General But
Ter, Senators Morrill,, Pom. ory d Foster.
10 November Gray said 10 Mr.. Fink that
he had received the wished-for capital,
and busin ess was accordingly commenced
at No. A Broad street, in the off 70 which
was subsequently, occupied by Woodruff,
Claflin & Co. Gray used to operate largely
in the stock and mining boards, the firm
being W. G. Gray & Co. Shortly after
ward Gray told his partner that he had
formed a pool Tor operating in Quartz Hill
mining stock, and gave Firk orders to fill
tor the spool" About this time Gray
borrowed largely agaips. st ck cellstersls
on the IS reel." Thess c0llstsrals sutss-
quently turned out to be, to a
large extent, bounty bonds, altered from
81 900 to $40, 900, and stolen United States
securities. The "altering" was done, 1t is
alleged, by W. 81. Glover, of Boylston
Bank robbery noieritty. Gray used TO
keep his account with the Bank OF the
Common wealth. On December 10, 1869,
he overdrew his account, but LETT as secu-
rity three raised bonds representing $780,
600. The forgeries were detected by the
teller, Mr.. Ellie, who took them TO the
Manhattan Bank and showed them to Mr..
Har berger, who agreed that they were for
2eries. A message was sent to Gray to
come round to the Bank of the Common
wealth and explain matters, which he did.
II l. L.
Mr.. II. II. Pratt, OF the st. Nicholas Hotel.
He conducted himself with so much ease
that the bank officers were
DECEIVED AS TO HIS REAL CHARACTER.
He was accordingly allow edt depart. The
next morning he returned to his Office and
shortly afterward drove off in carriage
with lady. During the day his partner,
Fink, found that he had short time be-
fore negotiated $50 900 of forged bonds and
had purchased United States bonds OF jay
Cooke & Co. The excitement subsequent
TO Grsy's departure was intense, and It
was found that he had defrsuded the
"strett" out of about 100000. The
sheriff was placed 10 possession OF Gray's
Office and 100 shares OF Quartz Mining
= tock, worth 500, was found in 1t. Mrs.
Isabella Hsskins was found tn have been
in the carriage with Gray when he was
last seen. She was arrested, but sub
sequently released. In 1870 Gray visited
the United States but escaped arrest. 1t
leaked out some time after his flight that
his accomplice was one Thomas Ii. Pratt.
In November, 1871, Detective Thomas
Sampson, of the Stock Exchange, started
to capture Gray in London, but it Is be-
lieved that Gray was telegraphed to escape
to the continent, and Mr.. Sampson re-
turned to this city in February, 1872,
empty handed. At one time the London
detective Merklejohn had Gray traced 90
his lodging. near Russell square, but he
managed to give the officers the slip.
Gray was associated at on time, it is sa .,
with the Duke Of Newcastle and Baron
Rothschild, and was regarded as an Amsri-