The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-24
AMUSING INTERVIEWS.
THAT WONDERFUL PERUVIAN co.
Disclosures Of 0ns On Tho "GrouAd floor"-tls
tsIls hIs Story from . Prtson Ceit-0su. 0rant
and Others Declared Shareholders
Story lndignAAtly Denied,

Heter lleEeneT, Anu mere AIc 10 Dc Iouuu u
large share OF the victims OF the alleged
company. Peter lIevener, alias Jones, has
u long and eventiil history. In the year
1853 be assumed The name Of Jones. Prior
TO that time he had been in Australia. One
Of his former companions, JAMES d, Man.
trop. has been thrown into dungeon by
hcvener and is now leading the lie of a
philosopher ut at'Moyamensing. A newspa-
per correspondent called upon Mantrop 10
ascertain what additional facts could be Oh.
tained in reference to the Peruvian Com
pany. The conversation took about this
shape:-
"Will you give inc list OF the original
stockholders Of the Peruvian Company7'
asked the writer.
'Thc half OF the claim was divided into
ten.twentieths, and these shares were pur.
chased by few men," WINS the cautious
answer.
Purchased with CASH."
"fes, in most cases."
"Then there can be no objection 10 Civ.
Ing the original stockholdeB," suggested
the writer.
"Well, they were as follows John r.
McPheHon, United States Senator from
New Jersey, one share OF twentieth, for
which he paid $4,000. Martin, Fuller 4
Co., of Philadelphia, one.tweniieth, ior
which they paid $4,000. George Curry,
o03 Glrard avenue, one-twentieth, for
which he paid $500. George II. West,
,l22 Girard avenue, ,one-twentieth; amount
paid unknown. Howard Jones, Of Phila.
delphia, one-twentieth; amount paid un-
known. Franklin Stewart, OF Swaim's
Panacea,' one.twenticth and one.fortietl;
for this share and half Or. Stewart paid,
perhaps, $4,000, not more. James Mont.
gomery, OF this city, onc-twentieth; all that
he retained Of the claim which he bought
Of me. Jacob Il. Shipherd, New York,
one-twentieth; which he received from
Montgomery; consideration unknown. Jas.
B. Mantrop that's me), one.twcntieth. l
originally had tenth, but sold half OF
my share to franklin Stewart. But the
whole trick was to sell the stock at the best
figure and TO get out"
"These were the men who got in on the
ground floor :" asked.
II suppose SO. But most OF us knew it
was fraud and swindle; some hoped it
was and the others bought the bauble."
$50, then, Senator Mcpherson is the
mysterious Senator who has been referred
to so often?'
II suppose he is. Mcpherson worked
very hard in the matter, and know OF
good many men whom he talked to very
earnestly on the subject" said Mantrop.
"Did he believe in the claim?'
YES; ! think be did-at least, at first he
did,"
"Do you know Of anything connecting
e1'secretary Blaine or any other govern
ment official with the deal ?" was asked.
Il do know that an attempt was made to
approach Blaine, even with stock 10 q
large amount, but it failed miserably. The
man who made the otter WIS insulted on
the spot and almost kicked out OF the
Secretary's presence.
Indeed, and how do you know this?'
| Because was the man."
"And the late Minister Hurlbut, how
about him 2"
'He was offered stock also, to my Ger.
Indignantly"
"Were there any others who were after
wards supplied with stock 2"
Yes, indeed, large number; but it is
too laughable 10 talk seriously about" said
Alantrop, convulsed with mirth. "There
are some big fish in . that net yet il the
Congressional committee can only land
them"
"Who, for instance 2" :
"Well, General Grant is the owner OF
S250, 900 worth OF stock OF the Great PERU
A Wan Company" and Mantrop laughed un.
til the corridor rang with his wild guffaws.
ibid he pay full price for it?'
No" with some hesitation.
"Was the money raised for him in New
York by some public spirited citizens
exactly the amount, believe, OF $3.50, 900
invested in Peruvian Company stock !?
Answer quick"
from. | know that he paid the first install
ment OF 5000 on allotment, but what he
has paid since do not know OF personal
knowledge"
"Were others in that you can name"
asked.
81 should say could name them. Bout
well, Blair and four others were duly hired
counsel. They were not stockholdcrs-un-
less Shipherd slyly paid them in stock.
Conkling was never employed as counsel
and never received dollar in money or
stock. They wee airaid to approach him
in any but purely professional way"
You Say you have letters and documents
bearing upon this subject?"
~ have letters from Hurlbut, for in.
stance, TINT will clear his name entirely.
How they came into my possession doesn't
matter Just now. I nm expecting to be
called TO Washington before the committee
after Hevener takes the stand. The charge
a sainst me here amounts TO nothing; but
am foreigner and iriendless on this side
OF the ocean, and must wait my time,
There will be bull in china shop, sure
enough, when get loose"
The speakers frame OF mind WAS most
mercuriaL One minute he was in despair
over his alleged illegal detention, the next
he was blessing the bars that guaranteed
him protection for his mysterious papers
and documents. Some OF these he got out
aud exhibited for the writer's obligation
startling enough in their size and tlarinc
chirography; antique il the layers OF dirt
that encountered them were to be taken us
any indication. The writer promised to
suggest that he be called Us a witness be,
fore the committee, and therefore does 80
now. Mantrop is very ready OF speech,
At times there is a suspicion that he Is not
telling quite all he knows. - r
nnntrop'a STORY Pronounced False,
PniLApELrlllA, April 23.-The interview
with Mantrop, OF Cochet.claim fame, has
created big stir. He was interviewed BY
Il New York Herald correspondent, in his
cell in Moyamensing prison, where he was