Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-31
GOULD'S UNEASY LIFE
NO BED OF ROSES FOR HIN.

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American Cenupeat.
A Charleston telegram says: When
Jay Gould recently hurried down here
by rail to 60 on board his yacht for
winters sail through southern waters
he brought, besides his family and his
doctor, another guest, man Of retiring
manner, who was never seen with the
excursionists, but who was, for all that.
in Mr.. Gould's estimation. an important
member Of the travelling party. This man
of the retiring manner was private de-
tective, a doughty, middle-aged fellow
Of experience, who draws yearly sala-
airy out of Jay Gould's till. He is the
employee Of a New York detective
sgency whose chief patronage is said
to come from Gould, who finds ample
use for big staff OF such officers. They
serve him not only in personal matters,
but look out as well for certain deli
cate affairs that it is well for Gould to
have clearly in sight in the management
Of the various corporations where he
has large financial interests.
Newspapers down here, as elsewhere.
within the last few years have fire.
quently reported Jay Gould when for
time leaving New York as off on tour
over his southern and southwestern
roads. The truth is that Jay Gould
for years has not dared to make such a
iodrney. There are miles and miles Of
railroad governed by Gould over which
be could not be tempted to ride. His
life would he in danger there, and ne
knows it. lie knows where he is safe
and when he is safe it is to tell him
this that he spends thousands of dol
lars yearly upon private detectives,
whose reports are made to him weekly
in the same concise form that he re-
quires from the book-keeper who at
tends to his personal balance.sheet.
Gould, it is said, began to employ
private detectives extensively a half
dozen years ago, when by some means
he discovered a plot that had been
made by dissatisfied spirits on the line
of the Wabash railroad to wreck a
special train on which he was preparing
to make an inspection trip with Russell
Sage. A man who knows Gould well
saws that his detectives cost him more
than all the clerks in his New York
Offices. lie never makes journey,
even the shortest, nowadays without
first sending his scouts on ahead
to discover if any obstacles are
likely to be encountered. A
corps Of these detectives are kept con-
stantly travelling up and down such
lines as the Wabash, Missouri Pacific
Texas Pacific, and the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas. No criticisms are openly
uttered. no threats made, no organiza-
tons formed that are not promptly re
ported to him. Twice within the past
year and a half Gould made ready to
run his special car over his remoter
roads, but in each instance, it is said,
he was advised by his agents not to at
tempt the experiment, and in Difference
to the opinions Of these detectives he
both times abandoned his purpose.
People at the North who have been
startled and angered at his open and
notorious purchase of Legislatures and
courts Of justice are still without any
ADEQUATE idea Of the hatred borne this
man along the distant lines Of railroad
whose policy he dictates and whose
employees he rules. Mutterings OF
discomfort have been heard, and yenge-
ance vowed by hundreds of men is
still their purpose. 1t isn't idle talk to
say that the wickedest deed against
even the life of Gould would be excused,
and even justified, by multitudes who
see in him only a sordid aud cruel task
master, bounding armies OF men to
death for his own gain. The reports
Of the detectives have been startling
information to Gould. For time, il
is said, he disbeleved the news they
sent him, but other men dispatched to
the same territory furnished him pre-
cisely the same tidings, and he was per-
force obliged to recognize the truth OF
how deadly hate was borne him.
Month by month the same story
has been sent to him. If ne has
ever done anything to bring about a
change in the sentiments Of these peO-
pie, who are his sworn enemies, nobody
has heard any hint Of it. The bad
feeling along his roads has increased
continually instead of lessening. Dis
patches were lately sent from this city
representing that he had changed his
plans so far for this winter as to decide to
give up his yachting trip and go on an
inspection tour over the Southern Pa
cifc lines. For the very reasons that
have been indicated already, this re-
port was untrue. lie had no thought
Of making Southern Pacific trip. The
statement that he had was used only
for a peg to hang stock-jObbng
scheme upon.
An entertaining story is told Of how
on one occasion Gould oyerreache d him
self in rather embarrassing fashion in
his use of private detectives. \ man
well known in Wall street had incurred
Gould's enmitv, and the INSCRIPTIONS
magnate was determined to break that
man down. Plans were laid carefully,
but for some reason they miscarrled
The man marked for financial extermi.
nation discovered what was going before
the end of the game, and prepared to de-
fend himself. Anxious to know Just no y
far the campaign against him had pro
crossed, he applied to private detec-
tive agency for a reliable man to make
certain Investigations. The man wa
suppled-one OF the very men actively
engaged in serving Jay Gould in thi:
very case. This was little moral lapse
not so remarkable in the history o
some private detective agencies. Gould
of course, was promptly notified Of the
new move. and naturally he was de-
lighted at the spectacle Of having hi:
enemy placed so readily within his grasp
Gould, it is believed, practically wrote
the reports which the detective made
daily TO the new client, and the pref
test sort Of a trap was set for him
Little by little circumstances were ar
ranged to lead up to the grand denoue'
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