The New York herald., 1879-03-09
THE FORGED GRAIN DESPATCH.


KEENE OFFERS TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS RE-
WARD FOR THE DETECTION OF THE MAN WHO
SENT THE FORGED ORDER.
CHICAGO. ILL.,. March 8, 1872
The activity in wheat continues to-day. but the
movement is toward higher prices. Last nights
closing figures for the April option in which
most OF the transactions are made, was
92yxc April opened this morning the nine clock
call ut 93ac.. with little huctuation went up to
94.ac. reacted to 94c.. and with many small breaks
reacted to 95c but only TO decline by degrees until
IL settled at 94ac where remained steadily at
In about minutes early in the morning nearly
45O. 900 bushels changed hands, but Mr. Fisher. Mr.
Keene's broker, did not seem to be taking u
hand It Is stated that he quietly bought large
amount during yesterday afternoon.
Much distrust is manifested on Change a. to the
Of the proceedings of yesterday aud the usual
explanation is discredited ON all sides. The market
now has nearly recovered from the RAID put - ner
very steady. closing at 941s for April knfus hatcn
Co. this morning sent to Smith Lightner the fol-
lowing despatch:-
party who sent order signed Ksener to sell wheat
pie engaged break the and provision markets.
It is stated that Mr. Keene sent to the Same firm
order to buy 100000 bushels of wheat.
CLUMSY JOB AND IT'S REsULT-wHAr JAMES
n. KEENE SAYS.
There was considerable excitement in speculative
circles yesterday relative to the forgery of James r.
Keene's name to a despatch to J. K Fisher & Co..
Chicago grain brokers' directing them to sell
bushels of wheat his account which created a
PAM, on the Chicago Change and caused heavy
decline.
at his Office Broad street. yesterday, up to late
hon In the and returned his hotel
early in the evening. When the HERALD reporter
called he had Just finished his usual half hour of
evening gymnastic and was undergoing the
tonsoral attentions Of his valet He felt much dis
inclined to talk the subject of the forgery OF his
name to the Chicago telegram. In fact, the usual
serenity OF his temper rutied. but he welcomed
his caller politely.
.'Have you anything which you wish to say to the
public through the HERALD. Mr. Keene. about the
forgery of your name to that telegram was asked.
81 don't care to talk much about it. 1 have denied
myself to all reporters who have called and they
have very liberal in their attentions to me to-
day."
CIPHER.
Ibid you have cipher. and if so was it stolenr'
81 have two ciphers which use. because you know
telegraph offices leak. But the message sent to
Fisher l. Co. was an open despatch. clear case OF
the rascals sent out an open despatch 1t was
a half rate message OF the Atlantic and Pacific
mot the Union
dropped in the office ut Fulton ferry
about f-past six o'clock Thursday evening and
was delivered early Friday morning. lam astonished
that Fisher 4 Co. or any other set of business
having their senses could have sold that bulk OF
wheat on such message. simply signed .Keene
CONSPIRACY THAT FAILED OF ITS PURPOSE
Then it was conspiracy. was it. Mr. Keene ?"
''Of course it was. 1t was the job OF lot OF ras
Gals here. leagued with others in Chicago But
1t failed of its purpose. The loss to J. K.
Fisher Co. didn't exceed $lSo.ooo. and they
cred in learned or the forgery yesterday.
They have since been covering and the panic was
stopped. Here is despatch, received not long ago,
which that the price is advancing and within
one cent bushel OF the quotation when the market
broke. The fellows short OF wheat that put up this
job failed in their attempt"
THE oPEiiAToR's STORY.
The operator ut the Fulton ferry office Of the At
lantic and Pacific Telegraph Company is u young
man named Saie Courtney. She received the de-
spatch from q stranger Thursday evening and
forwarded it Immediately to the general Office for
transmission to Chicago She told her story yesterday
folows:-"About twenty-five minutes past six
O'Clock Thursday evening last the point of
closing the Office preparatory to going home. At this
which all messages are passed to me and without
saying word slipped in that message with two
twenty-five cent pieces as payment. Az the tariff
but forty cents passed out ten cents TO him and
looked at the despatch and saw that it had been
written u Western Union blank. That did not
any surprise, 1t had often occurred before.
Before sending the message up to the main Office
for repeating. as is the custom, looked out
OF the little aperture to the sender but
he had disappeared, and 1 am afraid it would
be impossible to identify him should
be called upon to do All that remember
corning his appearance is that he black slouch
hat and that he had dark colored beard. could
the upper part OF his face. the brm Of his
hat drawn closely down. This at the time did
not create any suspicion in my mind He might have
been thirty years old even older. You see could
not get good glimpse of him without STOPPING low
down and peerng through this small aperture Had
IL been earlier in the day my view from the inside
of the Office would have been then the
upper half OF the window is raised. Shortly before
afpUf he pf ce earl aridi
down when the stranger came. Had he spoken
might have been enabled to judge more OF the man
or speak intelligently Of him. He passed the mes
sage into tine oce got his change and then hurried
away. as supposed to catch boat 1t is not unu-
sual tor people to rush up to the window slap down
sion. and then rush away without saying word.
Consequently when this man did so thought moth
ing OF the circumstance.