The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-18
JAY GOULD AND PAC1FIC MAIL.
The Object Of the so-calIed Commission-HOw
MIR, HnrriOtt was Subpwnaed.

The Object Of the so-called COmmisstnn-HOW
Mr.. Harriott was subpenaed.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
dodge of Gould to get hold Of testimony which
might DO used by the Pacific Mail Company as
the basis Of suits against different wealthy
parties in Wall street, and which was exposed In
THE SuN OF yesterday, occasions 10 little COM
ment in financial circles. Had 1t not come TO
light that the so-called commission possessed
no authority to call and examine witnesses 1t is
likely that wall street would have been treated
In short time to huge sensation in
Pacific Mail. The stock would have been adj
vanced In price by immense " wasbings," and
the Tribune. in flaming head lines, and in power
ful news and editorial articles, have chronicled
the probabilities Of the immediate restoration
OF four or five millions Of dollars TO the depleted
Golfers of the steamship company. The stock
would have been shown to be worth seventy
five upon the books" the near payment OF
eight per cent dividends have been appropriate
~ forcshadowed, and in tho general enthusiasm
Gould would have tried to sell out his i'm mense
load Of paper trash.
Besides this, he would nave obtained control
Of desired information regarding the stock
manipuations OF the Panama Railroad drec-
tors; their accounts in the Offices OF different
brokers would have come into his possession
II would have been easy to ascertain where their
loans were obtained, and, by subsequent in
trigue, banks and moneyed corporations might
have been induced to call these, and thereby
subject his enemies to an immense amount Of
Inconvenience, and perhaps to considerable ac-
tual loss. Had this game OF Gould's been car
ried through to the end successfully. and no
suspicion Of the genuineness Of the commission
been raised, IL Is possible that the entire course
Of stock movements In Wall street would have
been changed, and that his Union Pacific llqui-
dalton, which now II imminent. and that OF
Pacific Mail, which is going on, might have been
ayerted.
Tiott, Of Harriott Noyes, to bring his books
and papers before the commission. where their
contents could In short time have become
pubic property by the copying OF the numerous
reporters and stenographers. The scheme
adroitly planned "a follows; subpoena requir-
ing MIR. Harrott's immediate attendance was
served upon him. at about ii o'clock In the
morning, while his lawyer was absent, having
gone to Brooklyn to attend case in court OF
Mr. Harriott accordingly teegraphed TO hls
counsel OF the service of the subpoena, and As II
required his attendance forthwith, rep9ircd to
the room In the Drexel Building occupied by
the so-called commission. He found the room
tenanted by counsel for the steamship COMPANY.
reporters, and the Commissioner. Everything
seemed to mean business. and to be a
fSnSty o ,be rnnr oackea eo. 'n ne
steamship company had been examined pre-
viously at length, and the results published
complete, and MIR. Harriott, IN response to the
questions put to MIN. replied TO the best Of his
ability without waiting for the arrival Of his
counsel. The questions which he was called
upon to answer however, after a short time
were of a nature which required some reference
to his books and papers, aud here the attempt
20 get his answers to the queries failed. He in
sisted that he could not reply unless he were
allowed some time to examine the records Of his
ONCE.
Compulsion was threatened. but as II was i'm
possl ble for him to 20 on. he was allowed until
the following morning to refresh his memory,
and he left, promising TO bring his books.
His lawyer returned from Brooklyn in the
afternoon, and upon learning what had been
done IN his absence, advised more caution, and
decided to raise objections to the production OF
the books and papers before the commission.
In the morning Mr.. Ilarriott appeared attended
by his counsel. and objected to the production
OF MS books ana papers. A strong enoft was
made by the opposing counsel to force him to
bring them, and recourse to the process OF the
courts was threatened.
In the arguments, however, Mr. Harriott's
counsel owing to some observation OF the OPP
OF the Commissioner, and suggested that before
he would consent TO have his client bring bis
books and papers there or answer any moro
questions, he wished to see the document Of
Commissioner Wight, which gave him right TO
summon Mr. Harriott there and oblige him 10
expose the transactions Of his customers.
Then Wight answered that he would satisfy
him Of his authority at some other time. Mr..
Harriott's counsel urged him TO show his papers
ut once. Mr.. Wight said that they were in "a
drawer at the other side OF the table, and tn
II would inconycnit nee. the gentlemen sitting
there to open It aud get them out.
Mr.. Harriott's counsel suggested that the In
convenience to his client in bringing him away
from his business had not been considered, and
he demanded that the Commissioners authority
be produced at once, or he would 60 away with
Mr.. Harrott. Then the authority was taken
| from the drawer and found to be simply notice
| from lawyer In Minneapolis 20 Mr.. Wight,
asking him In his capacity as notary public to
| take statements Of different parties In New
York In regard to matters which would be sub
| mitted by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company s
LAWYERS here.
1t flashed across the lawyers mind that Mr..
Harrott and the other witnesses had been made
| the victims Of most outrageous sell; that
their time had been taken up aud their iniorma-
| ton eNturted In extremely questionable man
| Eer, and hc demanded that his clients testi-
monv already given be stricken out. OF course
| this was done, aud without delay the " commits
sion" ad journed sine dc.
IL was said IN our accounts Of the closing pro-
ceedings Of this most remarkable commits ION,
that Theodore JohnsOns testimony, the Secre-
tary Of Pacific Mail. would be sealed upsecurely
| ana transmitted To Minnesota, there to be used
| IN the suit OF the steamship COMPANY against
| WIN. :. King.
since this plot Of Gould's came to li-ht a
great deal of Indignation haS been expressed by
| victims u this fraudulent nquisition and Their
friends, and his financial position is SIN
further complicated. Reputable capitalists re-
fuse to have anything to do with Paclic iiatl,
ana general dlstrust in its financial &C. .ditloa
and failure prevails, which can only be cleared
away or sim further confirmed by "A thorough
legislative investigation. SriRABOUT.