New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-20
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE SCHEMES OF A FORGER.
W. E. GRAYS ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY.
HOW THE UNITED GLOBE ELECTRIC LIGHT CON-

| CORNELIUS VANDERBILT AND SENATOR JONES
| AS CAPITAL.
The standing of the United Globe Electric Light
Company" of No. 297 Fifth-ave was still further
inquired into yesterday by TRIBuNE reporter. II
was found that the Mr.. Gray referred 10 in The
TRIBUNE OF Sunday the organizer Of the corpora
tion is the tor;er, w. Z. Gray. who caused sen.
sation in Wall Streetin 1868 by raising aud passing
! forged bonds to the amount of S300O00. and who
is at present out bail, having succeeded in Sc.
curing a new trial upon the ground of newly dis
covered evidence after he had been sentenced TO the
State Prison for ten years
The scheme in which Gray is now engaged was
apparently planned before he had reached this
try after being extradted from England Police Cap
tain Keay, who brought him over, said yesterday
that Grays subject of conversation while cross.
ing the was electric lights After being re-
leased on bail be Immediately set TO work to carry
out his plans. Being man of education refined
| tastes and good manners, he was well aware that
appearances were everything toward success. SO his
first step was to suitable apartments. This ne
did at No. 207 Ffth-ave., where he rented the en-
tire second floor fitted the up nicely and had
his name engraved upon plate over private
bell pull Then he proceeded to set his net to catch
his victims presenting TO them the following plan:
Affirming that he owned one or two patents IN
electric lights, he proposed to form company to
buy up all other patents TO consolidate conflicting
interests and in this way to control the electric
lights for the world" II made little difference how
much capital was needed, he said, because it was
all to be represented by stock, (which would be
issued to the United States Electric Light Company,
the Maxim, the Edison, the Brush, and any other
companies that might be bought up."
TAKING MEMS NAMES IN VAIN.
This was bis scheme But how to get prominent
i II -
Looking around Gray fixed upon Cornelius Wander.
bilt, the eldest of William n. Vanderblt.
Without approaching Mr. Vanderbilt upon the SUBJ
ject Gray used his name. He next convinced Isaac
X. Roberts the son of the late Marshall 0. ROberts
that Mr.. Vanderbilt had consented 10 be the presi.
was Mr. Roberts tust this a fact that he told
TRIBUNE reporter recently that Mr. Vanderbilt, the
eldest son of William III. Vanderbilt. was the presi-
dent of the company, and had been for three months.
MIR. Vanderbilt had denied to the reporter that such
was the ease only fifteen minutes before. Through
Grays glihness of tongue Mr. Roberts became inter-
ested and began TO work TO induce other
men TO come into the scheme. II was decided
that Senator Jones, of Nevada, would be an
influential director. So Mr.. Roberts remembering
that he had been schOolmate of Senator Jones's
father-in-!aw, Collector Sullivan, Of the Port of
San Francisco, wrote glowing accounts of the plan
to NJ. Sullivan, telling him that 1t was chance
seldom offered and that the stockholders all could
get rloh without risking dollar Mr. Sullivan,
knowing of course who Mr. Roberts was, began To
lniiuenCe his son-ln-law. But the Senator was
obdurste lie refused to go INTO the.scheme saying
that ne Was entirely mining man aud had enough
While this was going on in California, Gray wa;
not idle here. Through the wife of prominent
everything possible for him during his trial. GRAY
was introduced TO Assistant United States District
Attorney Alfred K. Conkling Mr. Conkhng was
easily won over The scheme practical, he
thought, and as he was to be the attorney he
thought be could that everything was conducted
| properly About the time that Mr.. ConkIng began
| IN Nyory tO scheme .IOlee
| came East. The failure to secure the Senator's
name on the Pacific Coast did not discourage
| Gray. He urged Mr.. Conkling TO call upon the
| Senator. Mr. Conkling did so, and atterward made
| second visit, at which time he introduced Gray.
The forger brought all his powers of conversation
| to bear. 20 show how easily the scheme could be
| made successful He talked as If he had immense
wealth and had power to do what he undertook, no
| matter what difficulties might be encountered. lie
offered TO place his box at the opera at the disposal
| of Senator Jones's wife ard family when they eame
| to the city.
day said : Gray such an intelligent man,
aud 50 gentleInaulike in manner and dress, that as
he had been int oduced TO me by Mr. Conklng, list
ened to him quite willingly After he had explained
] his scheme, it seemed 10 me that it practical
| BILE, and that money could be made IL control OF
| the various patents could be secured. Mr. Gray
serted that he had influence TO do this Then re-
| membered what my father-in- law had said to me IN
san Francisco, and also that the OF Marshall y.
Roberts wa interested in it. was assured that Sr.
| Vanderbilt was the president; so upon consdera-
| tion / said that would become director, and
| This was what GRAY wanted. He now had the
naIues of Sen tor Jones and Isaac X. Roberts, aud
he had appropriated the name of Cornelius Wander
| bilt The rest comparatively easy. Charles A.
Pratt a salesman IN the employ OF Austin. Nichols
| Il Co., was made secretary. DR.. William b. Rice,
| of bath Maine was named as another trustee,
| while Edmund l.. Morse was added to make up a
| full board. TO render the scheme still more re-
spectacle, the papers were drawn up ny 9y the senior
spDken spii 'H' of by Cray as the, attorneys
for the h,Ts Spang ony poce to ws resser the ra9
fers Of stock so the services of Mr.. Roberts were
again called in. He was introduced TO the president
| of the Farmers Loan and Trust Company 10y tho
executor of his father estate. The president con-
sented to allow his company to act This was an-
other point gained and II IN made r t1e scheme as
Then the following notice appeared IN 1he DdtS
Ee,isteT of November z, 1881:
TIRE UNITED GLOBE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY.
tbe aTg United Globe Electric Light company hereby give
nony will he held the office OF sewel Pierce, No 2oe
broadway in the City of New York, on the lotn day ot
November lss at ~ osOcs hypu & Sr tnS pappose o .,
to $4,000 0oO that thereafter the
800 each. IoaS I5'hs u fox.s ANohNnAAi'
Dated october 20, 1881. CHARLES A PRATT.
Itis needless to say that the meeting not
hold hut the capital was increased, however,
to So, ,OOO, 900, aud so printed in tho circulars
IDENTIFYING THE FoRGER
The Identification of Gray the forger was
brought about in the following way TRIBUNE
renorter was directed TO look into the history OK
tho new company As different facts were obtained
srsricion arose that everything was not all right.
In.a,,;evvs were obtained with Gray, and one thing
led % into another until FL that remalned RH was ts
00.i 0Otaiii RcaIv the detective who brought him
Gap,"IEn zap, England. were obtained and Gray as no
ame from his house yesterday afternoon, was iden-
..nrfar IA OI
Srnited Globe Electric Light Company, and by Cap
tain Kealy as Gray the torger.
Alfred 4. Conlling United States Assistant-Dis-
tr;ct Attorney was called upon tor an explanation
"a to his connection with the company. Mr. Conk-
Ing was somewhat agitated when informed that tho
sto3v wond be published. He said " Mr. Gray was
oeo-y =. hA Inutual lndY irlend. Ha