The sun., 1881-01-30

His Cell Transfsrned tate = Parier-In he
Tombs Instead OF in sing Sing.

mis Cell T-an.ssr-.ea tate rarier-In rAs |
Touhs Instead OF in sing Sing. |
Haven't you lost sight Of William L. |
Gray. whose immense forgeries made so much |
noise In the world. few years ago ?" asked an |
official OF the Court OF General Sessions OF a |
Sun reporter. Yes? Well, I suppose that |
most persons have There are few persons
that haven't. however. and they are very much
interested in having everybody else forget him.
Gray" the official continued. is in the City |
Prison, and enjoys moro privileges. probably.
than any other prisoner ever confined there.
excepting, possibly. Edward s. Stokes. He has
been thore. too, longer. believe. than any other
prisoner over was after conviction and SEN
tence. The records OF the Court OF Oyor and
Tbrmner show that Gray was put on trial be-
fore Justice Barrett. on tho 22d OF May, 1879.
under one OF several indictments for for
gerry pending against him The Indictment
that District Attorney Benjamin X. Phelps
and Mr.. Charles II. Winfield. the repro
sentative OF tho Attorney General. chose
to try him upon. set forth that he forged q cer-
tiilcate OF Indebtedness issued by tho State of
Now York to provide for the payment OF bounty
10 volunteer soldiers in tho civil war from this
State. for 10000, and bearing interest at per
cent. The trial lasted for two days. and Gray
was convicted Of forgery in tho frat degree.
Justice Barrett sontenced him to State prison
for ten years, and he was taken back to his coll
in the City Prison. Justice Donohue granted n
writ OF error and stay OF proceedings. pend
ing an appeal to tho General Torn OF tho SUI
premo Court. on the Goth OF May But decl-
sion of this court was not obtained until the
10Th OF May last. Notice OF appeal was given.
but. though tho Court OF Appeals has held SOW
eral sessions tho appeal has not been put upon
tho calendar.
"All the while Gray has been comfortably
lodged in tho City Prison. His cell is we'll tur-
nished. and he has many privileges. 1t Is un-
dorstood that he has been retained so long In
the City Prison with view to preparing the
way for his release from any punishment for
his offences through q pardon from the Gov
ernor. 1t is said that this pardon is now daily
looked for. or course. II the pardon Is granted
no announcement will be made Of the fact that
Gray hns never spent minute within the walls
oil state prison. and Gray and his rich and
powerful friends can congratulate themselves
upon this TACT and cite ii as evidence that Gray
was unjustly convicted. Assured by this re-
Mobilization Of his reputation, Gray will then be
asylum after the discovery OF his forGeries. and
resume the career OF splendid extravaganza
the Prince Of Wales and his set and which was
INTERRUPTED n1 only by his arrest and extradition
| Wall street was startled some years ago by
| the discovery that bounty bonds OF this Stnte
and other securities. which had been largely
dealt in by leading houses. were clover forgeries.
| Gray, who is the only son OF an ex:chaplain OF
the Houss Of Representatives in Washington.
| now the pastor Of San Francisco church, WIS
| found to be implicated in these forgerics. His
| share OF the profits is believed to have amount
ed to several hundred thousand dollars. Before
| he could be arrested he fed to England. Tho
| injured brokers. hearing that he WAS living in
| fine ,styo there rs the intimate companion OF
| tho Prince OF Wales and the young nobemen
| who train with tho Prince. who believed him to
| be n remarkably well bred young American OF
In
Detective Sampson OF tho Stock Exchange TO mr.
rest him under suit Of extradition; Detective
| Sampson surprised Gray among his elegant
associates AMI, with tho assistance Of some Eng
| lsh policemen. arrested him. But Gray gave
Detective SGmpson the slip , and tho detective
In 1873 Detective, now Captain, kealy went to
England for Gray; Rolying upon what he be-
lieved to bo the failure Of the eNtradition treaty
| 10 cover his own case. Gray attempted no con-
cealment. and Detective ,Kealy arrested him.
Gray secured counsel. and resisted the writ Of
| cNtradltion for months. The matter was sub
| Jsct of diplomatic negotiations between tho
Governments OF Great Britain and the United
States. AMI Gray was surrendered to Detective
keaiy. He was brought TO this city and lodged
IN the City Prison; He was not put on trial
until May OF the following year
A reporter for The Sun asked Warden Finn
whether Gray had not been retained in the City
The Warden replied that Gray had. and that
no could not remember any prisoner who had
tho pr ison on the l4th Of July 1873. Mr. Finn
added that he had, personally no objection to
The turnkey OF the second tier OF cells in the
prison was equally vol pleased with Gray. He
pos ali the Gsf in the e 0'
| GrRy's cell Is the third one on the loft ot the
stairway connecting the several tiers. He Is
the solo occupant. 1t was pleasant sight. yes
teri9y. TO a person entorng the prison from
the dismal. slushy street; An oil lamp. covered
glow. ana .dlffnsed a genial warmth. The fra
GRANGE OF large bouquet OF fiowors came
pleasantly through the bars OF tho outer door
| Upon the walls OF the cell were hung so many
pictures that its whitowashed surface was hid
den warm-huod carpet was on the floor
many books. The iron pallet was piled high
with mattresses. overlaid with snowy quilt
Tho pillow, was covered with a sham OF lace
ornamented with knots OF blue silk. Gray was
neatly dressed in stylish black. with the eNcep
ton OF his coat. but he put this on before he np
preached tho door TO greet the reporter. He /,
comparatively young man. OF easy manners
and pleasant address.
'' My case is still in allegiance" he said. " and
would very much rather have nothing writer
about mo Just now"
|, moment aiterward he passed the reporter
on his way to the room in which prisoners are
! allowed to confer with counsel. 1t is the pleas
ATTEST room in the prison. opening on th'
t9 eSurtyaId which, In summer. Is ennvsned nh,, b,
many pigeons. IL contains a library Ora!
wore fashionable silk faced overc9at l! wa
upon his vest His hat wac a ow.erownot
Derby OF the latest style, In his hand he car
.. rIed bundle OF illustrated newspapers;
i is, except at night" said an attendant Ia TN
Court of General Sessions. whose duty i is I
He seems to be in tho counsel room most Q
tue ume Tendlng. smoking; or chatting VIII
/, friends. He is visited often by women" ,
A gentleman who visits tho City Prison dali
on business said that he had been inlorme
that Gray operates in stocks in wall stree
through friend who, VISITS him and that Ora
, sentenced to State prison.
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