Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
William e. Gray, s.Prfncc q For
gefSess
STRANGE CAREER Gr A FORMER TREASURY CLEKK-
HE Is AT IENGru ARE kINcRn con rpI.I

STRANGE CAREER OF FORMER TREASURY CLERK.
HE is AT LENGTH ARRANGED FOR TRIAL.
Wall street bankers and brokers, generally
prefer naturally sharp In the matter OF being
swiuoied, have rarely, according to all accounts
oeen more successfully victimized than by
William E. Gray, catalogued in the list OF crimi-
Nearly years S0journ by Gray In the CITY
Prison had almost caused the frequently pub
llshed records OF his brief but brilliant career I'm
recollection. His host OF unfortunate dunes
however, no doubt still cherish painful mem,
cries OF his audacfous criminal exploits, and.
the remembrance OF him has been publicly ne,
yiyed by his arrangement for trial yesterday In
the Court or Oyer and Terminer, before Judge
Barrett. Among the multitudinous indictments
found against him he is low being tried on only
one. This indictment charges that on the 10th
OF December. 1869, he obtained $50 600 from the
MechaDics Bank Of this city upon a deposit as
three $4,000, bounty loan certificates OF the
state OF New York, but the numbers OF which
s nao oeen changed and the amounts raised from
si,Wo 10 Slo.ooO each. GrayS defence is that
one ponds were given to him ia the ordinary
course OF business by wealthy gentleman
n n;nn f In. G. Platt, who was then stop
PHg at Ihe 81 Nicholas Hotel, that he had no
knowledge that they had been raised and that
ne olo not raise them. AS he was brought into
the court room he wore the same air of Seeming
careless Indifference that has charanferi1ed hiss
appearance In court In earlier procedures IN
tAe case. he was neatly dres sed In a b;ack
sDid
Die and stin supports the same light brow
mustache and goatee. A seat was given him
by his counsel, ex-Judge Fullerton and Frank
A. Duptgnac. and during the empapellinp Of RIO
jury ard examination OF witnesses ne fire.
quently whispered suggestions to them. The
prosecution IS conducted by District ATTORNEY
rheips; aioed by MI: Charles A. Winfield, WAC
represents the Attorney General The pro
ceeolngs yesterday were very brief, owing to
the sudden illness OF Judge Fullerton COMPEL
ing an early adjournment. The only witness
III nCll3 arn 81.
chan1cs' Bank, who detailed the circumstances
OF the loan OF $4,000 on the proffered State
bounty loan certificates, and Mr.. william Red
ding, State bond loan agent, who testified to
the raising Of the certificates In the manner
stated: II Is probable that the trial Will last
several days ...Meantime. as an augury OF the In
day was crowded.
AS already fDtlmated, the career OF Gray has
been frequently written, and, full OF the Spirit
or wild and romantic adventure as it is. 1t is un-
IS well known, he is the son OF Rev. Edward H.
Gray, formerly chaplain OF the United State,
senate. Through his fathers influence he OBJ
the Fourth Auditors Department. I'm Wasbinr-
ton. Thing OF the dull routine OF a govern.
ment department clerk he came at length to
his ambition took higher hight and he soon
opened brokers' Office OF his own. under the
n1m name OF William E. Gray & Co. Armed
with the highest credentials he rapidly won
proved, into the pockets as well, OF Wall street
brokers' and bankers. His plan of operations
was 10 borrow money on call loans, deDoSting
as collateral either United States registered
nve-tWentieS OF 1867 or bounty loan certificates
o1the State OF New York, the former turning
out TO DE either stolen or cayeated bonds and
The latter raised certificates. Having effected
all the loans he could or dared to he then sud-
denly disappeared. and the places that knew
him knew him no more. After his disappear
ance 1t was computed that he had made away
IA
known; how he fiourished as q millionaire
ubder the various names OF III. P. Smith, James
Payne Morgan aud James Peabody Morgan he
claiming under the last name to be the nephew
OF George Peabody, the great banker: how the
detectives got on his track In London: how he
ted the English capital and went to Texas: how
In the Lone Star State he figured under the
name OF DR.. Collate; how he went back to Lon
con and multiplied victims into buying stock In
the "Wichita Copper Mining Company" how
he was finally arrested in habeas corpus pro-
the papers, discharged; how the subject OF his
extradition was discussed In the British Parlia-
ment and how he was finally. again arrested
IN London, and on the 18th OF July last brought
10 this city and lodged In the Tombs where he
mas been kept ever since. Driving four-in-
handS, living with actresses and the miscellan-
eous eScapades OF fast and rich young man fill
up the fntersticeS OF the narration as furnished
by his captors OF which the above Is but q brief
thirty, is said to be most respectfully con-
nected and to have married daughter of Bale.
the compOSer.-(N. Y. Herald, 3d.
A despatch from New York, last night, says
that Gray was convicted yesterday; sentence
deferred.