The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-05-12
PERsONATING VANDERBILT
The Latest Scheme of the Forger Ora

me Latest scheme OF the forger Gray.
The New York Tribune of this morning
says; The following advertisement was
published on last Friday;
5000 Wanted-90 days, gilt-edg note,
and $4,000 stock security; appointment
with 5000 year to competent party. Adj
dress Discount" Post Office box | ,i9l.
The experience OF a person who answered
the advertisement subsequently developed
| the fact that the advertiser was no other
than w. Il. Gray, the well-known forger,
whose unauthorized use of the names
of Cornelius Vanderbilt and other
capitalists in connection with the
United States Electric Light COM
pany was exposed in the the Tribune last
December. Mr.. Gray this time, however,
appears without the first initial of his name
and with new title to his company, but
still employing the name of Cornelius Van
derbilt to further his schemes. The name
of the person who answered Gray's adver-
tisement is withheld, but for convenience
| in telling the story he may be called MIR.
Brown. He is II lawyer in Broadway and is
highly connected in social and literary cir
Giles. lie frequently secures investments
for his clients, and, having the placing of
some capital in his hands at present, he re.
piled to the advertisement in the hope of
making desirable bargain, The response
| from the advertiser came from Edgar GRAY,
aud on Monday Mr.. Brown had personal
interview with Gray at No. l45 Broadway,
rooms s 0 and 10.
Mr.. Gray explained that he wanted to
discount note for 5000 by the National
electric light company, secured by the
company's stock. He offered the position
OF secretary of the company at So 900 q
year to the person who would discount the
note. The company, he said, did not need
any more subscriptions to its stock than
had already been obtained He showed
Mr.. Brown the articles OF Incorporation
among the incorporators being himself
Gray, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Edmund
l.. Morse. Mr. Morse was said to be the in
ventor of the machines used by the COM
pany and to be a descendant OF S. +. B..
Morse the inventor OF the Morse telegraph
system. The fact is that Mr.. Morse has no
descendants. Gray said that Mr.. Wander
bilt was president of the company. On
Tuesday Mr.. Brown had another interview
with Gray, at which it was arranged that
the former should meet Mr.. Vanderbilt
yesterday at p. m.
"Why cannot 20 to the Grand Central
depot this afternoon" Mr.. Brown inquired,
land see Mr.. Vanderbilt myself"
at is not worth your WHILE" Gray re-
office, and all the books aud papers relating
to the company are here with me-"
At the appointed time yesterday Mr..
Brown was at the National companys
office, and was introduced by Gray to me-
dium-sized man wearing yellowish point
ed beard, who, Gray said, was Mr. Wander
bilt. On Mr.. Browns expressing surprise,
and declaring that he had expected to see
the vice-president of the New York Central
railroad company, Gray feigned astonish-
ment, saying: why, did not know that.
This is cousin of that gentleman
The interview was abruptly terminated
by Mr. Browns relating the conversation
OF the previous day and declaring that he
thought the scheme was "a fraud and hum
bug" The post office box given in Grays
advertisement is the same AS that formerly
used by the fraudulent United Globe com
pany; the corporators, Cornelius Wander
bilt and Il. L. Morse, were trustees of the
Globe company, and the Il, Gray, of the
National, is the same man MS w. Il. Gray,
of the exploded Globe com pany. There is
a genuine company known ms the National
Electric Light and Power company.