New-York tribune., 1878-07-10
CAREER OF GRAY. THE FoRGER.

denied.
CAREER OF GRAY, THE FORGER.
MS EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS IN THIS cIrY-INci-
DENTS IN HIS IIFE ABRoAD-EscAPING EXTRA
p1rroS oscE-HIs SECOND ARREST ~ LONDON
The expected arrival in this city of William
r. Gray the forger In charge OF sergeant keay OF the
Ncwyork detective force has been for several days one
OF the principal subjects OF conversation In Wat lhat
vas GrAys field OF operations and bankers and brokers
were his prey his swindng and orgeries
was more than s3Ooo0O Through the influence OF his
father the Rev Edward H. Gray chaplain OF the Uniteo
States Senate from 1861 1869 he obtained position
An the Fourth Auditors Office at Washington. when ne
filed aecepably aud honestly for three years In lsoo
he resigned and this city with strong letters OF
recommendation from the Hon. Lafayette 5. Roster
then acting President. and from several leading
United states Senators and Congressmen lie was en-
pjoyed by A. W. Dimmock * Co. until that firm sus
pended Then Grsy started In business Tor hfuseh III
News In July 1869. he committed his first crime ms
appropriating securities which had been intrusted 10
him for SALE and also engaging In the negotiation OF
stolen bonds for which new bonds had been
issued He settled the claims against him ami the mat
Ter was not exposed.
In the Fall Of 1869 Gray engaged Eugene finck'
reputable young broker 70 do his business representing
that he had capital OF $50000 ani that he was on nt
mate terms with Charles Calender. National Bank
Examiner, General Butler and Senators Nor
ut No. "A New-st.. subsequently, occupied ny wood
hull and Clann. Gray soon became heavy borrower,
and o make good his overdraf at bank he forged and
altered NewYork Bounty Fund Loan bonds and United
States bonds on December 10, 1869. Gray overirew
his account at the Bank OF the Commonwealth 20 the
amount Of $4,000 leaving rs security three state
Bounty warrants raised from ~ 900 to $4,000 each
when Informed the next day by Mr.. Harbergcr, Mr.
Ellis and two detectives, employed by Jay
Cooke n Co., that these were forgeries ne
fegned great surprise saying that he had obtained them
fn regular course Of bufiness from I. III. Pratt
o gentleman Of means boarding ut the st. Nicholas
Hotel Upon promising IA furnish genuine bonds. he
vas allowed 20 depart U other securities made good
the claim of this bank The next day he negotiated
loan OF $4,000 IN this class OF forged securities
nj the Merchants Bank with which he purchased United
states securities from Jay Cooke Co. Then he He'd
from the city. Investigation showed that he had SWIM
died large nuubcr of persons TO the extent OF $780,
OO0 leaving security raised Bounty Fund bonds and
stolen AID cancelled Unite States securities. the pro-
ceeds O. q robbery IN Pine-st about two years
before He went first to London, having been aided In
HE fight by Mrs Isabella Haskins, OF this city, with
whom he had been intimate for long time.
Gray lived Ia sumptuous style IN London under the
Of James Payne Morgan and dined with the Duke
OF Newcastle and Baron Rothschid, by whom he was re-
garded as an American millionaire. He showered gifts
on friends in England with lavish hand Continuing
his career as swnder he defrauded an English bank
or out OF S25 900 forged telegram stating that $780,
600 had been placed to his credit in this city
All trace OF Gray lost by the NewYork authorities
until 1871 when information received in this city
by Mr. schott representative OF the London firm OF Cha
teris a Co., that American calling himself James
Payne Morgan had swinded several Engshfrms, and II
was believed that he was William L. Gray, the forgcr
Gray had become acquainted with tho elder Chatters
who was fayorably impressed with him. After many
overtures Gray consented to form a partnership
.uhn f~th frrnf nh
$4,000 for the capital Of the firm. Gray depos-
tied the same amount in United States $40 bonds
with the understanding that these bonds were to be
deposited in the safe of Chaters Co. until his remit
tances arrived from America, when he promised to re-
place them with money He further stated that he had
purcbas sed these bonds a gift for friend After
few months the $4,000 put in the firm by the elder
Chatteris was exhausted and Gray's solicitation,
with Of regret a the nonaryal Of his remit
tsnces the elder Chaters furnished s250oO more to
eaye the reputation Of his as business man. when
this amount had been swallowed up also,
young Chatteris became suspicious, and accused
Gray OF misappropriation. quarrel ensued,
An which Gray drew revolver and threatened 10 kill
Chatteris He arrested for this act ny an 0fncer
who subsequently allowed HIM 10 escape Gray was
held Ia bonds 10 keep the peace. The Government
securities which he had deposited were then examined
ard ,he % nunHes ss n.,s. were those Of bonds which
had been stolen. Meanwhile Gray had escaped from
Mr. sehott gave this information to Detective
Sampson, who was stationed in Wall-st.. and
chairman OF the Law Committee OF the stock Exchange
After consulting with the Governing Committee, II was
ss,Ss % soIpIou SS sailed for LONDON in Sovem6er
1871. VITA the necessary extradltlon papers. lie
Timer plo"msbsry square aud that he called him
sell James Peabody Mergsn. claiming TO be a
genuine relative of the pEantnropst. Gray said he
was only Joking and ,ha, s real name Was James
by Detective sampson 20 sir Thomas Henry, chief
magisrae IN Bowst: VINO pfVnOunSes % ,r WsSn
they approached him, saylng that they had warrant
for his arrest the forger cooy reoponaeu S ou nie
mistaken IN. your man my name 1 Is l, Leopo'a so q
Meyer; James Payne Morgan whom you want, Is 81,
pe sa"sS1V NJ mistaken for iwns" The officers be-
Hevod the story. and allowed Gray TO enter the mouse
upon his promising 10 send Morgan ont Once inside,
GRAY closed and bolied the front door backened his
beard aud with burnt cork aud made his escape
through the rear entrance. Detective sampson being
Informed of the escape started pursuit, and had u
fruess search for the fugitive In Paris Brussels and
other Continental cities
A VARIETY or FRAUDULENT SCHEMES.
Tho forger subsequently visited The Hague, and car
red on successful swndling scheme there negotiating
silver mining stock aud worthless coal stock Of the Bas-
trop Coal Mining Company OF Texas. He also appeared
I'm Paris where he claimed to be Dr. Georgus Coletso,
ocust At the Hotel Richmond he was recognized by
Paris detective who had received his photograph from
Detective sampson. requisiiloh was made upon the
French Government but before he necessary lormates
were peted, foIger h& b. come suspicious and
ned. -.
Gray afterward returned 10 this country under ms
name of DR. Georgius Colletso bearing diploma as
graduate OF the College OF Surgeons In London, ana
having among his baggage numerous diplomas, degrees
and Recommendations, AL OF which forgeries Here
he the acquaintance OF the notorious Swindcr
Colonel william Etzcharles Mccarthy, OF Galy' ton,
Texas, and together they operated In the stock
OF che Bastrop Coal Mining Company OF Texas, the
Wichita Copper Company, Limited, and the Texas
Copper and Mining Company OF Weatherford on his
return TO LONDON, Gray presented to English
speculators maps aud charts OF great lead mines
IN Clay 0nd Archer Counties, Texas. He claimed that
these belonged 10 him and that they included IN
ne nd RufhprfOrd 2.2l6 com
pany OF English capitalists then formed and Gray
received $4,000 develop the mines Some Of the per
sOns interested In the scheme appointed committee 10
visit The and report upon their condition. Accom-
panied BY Gray an English expert left London
April 2, 1879, reaching Denis0n City, Texas,
May .. After a fruitess effort 70 discover
the properly. the expert returned 10 av,.s sessIo ~