The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-18
TO STEAL SEVEN MILLIONS
BIG FORGERY BY IVES AND sTAvNoR.
The Young Napoleon OF Wall-st- Charged
With Having Attempted to Steal Seven
Millions of Dollars From the Es-
tate OF Christopher Meyer.

story in which IL charges Henry s. Ives with an
attempt to rob the estate of the late Christie
pher Meyer of 100000 by means Of forgery.
The SUMS story reads "Henry S. Ives, who has
been often and truly referred to in these
columns as the master thief, also ranks high
among forgers. The narrative which follows viii
show that he, by the forgery of two initlals-A.C
and an M.'-was in fair way to obtain at least
100000 in cold cash and TO open till which
contained some thing more than 100000
Ives added to his previous crimes that OF torg-
cry in the latter part Of last December. This
fact is published to-day for the first time, and
can be substantiated whenever it shah become
necessary. II was from the chance utteranee
of Ives own lawyer. Mr.. Charles w. Brooke,
that the first intimation of the facts which fol-
low was obtained. Beginning with a slight
clew, unintentionally furnished by that able
and eloquent gentleman, all the details OF the
story below were traced step by step, and they
have been corroborated IN quarter which
places their authenticity beyond all doubt.
1T viii be remembered that when Ives and
Staynor, acting in conjunction with Albert
Meter, the notorious Cincinnati broker now
fugitive from justice, found the means at their
individual command totally exhausted long be
fore the control of the c., H. & D. road had
been acquired, they cast about to obtain the
necessary pscuniary assistance from some out
side quarter. II was Stayner's credit with
Gillig and the American exchange in Europe,
which had furnished the $4,000 necessary to
steal the Mineral range; it was now Stayner's
credit and acquaintance which furnished the
means OF this greater robbery.
christopher Meyer was an elderly man,
resident of New Jersey, and many times mil
lionaire through his ownership Of large rubber
boot and shoe manufactures in New Bruins
wick. For several years back he had had deal
ings with Stayner, which had resulted, natur-
ally, the worse for Meyer to the tune of about
100000. Stayner was indebted for about that
sum to Meyer, and after going into insolvency
compromised the debt, leaving balance of
many thousands Of dollars unpaid. 1t may be
imagined that the relations between Meyer and
Stayner were not sweetened by this arrange
ment; but when Stayner ana his precious part
ner Ives became squeezed for funds Stayner be-
thought himself of a novel but effective expedi-
ent for recapturing old Meyers confidence and
making him contributor to the scheme in
which he had embarked with the thieving Ma
poleon-
after drawing upon the Mineral range fund,
OF which Ives & Co. had made themselves de-
positories Immediately after they had got
troll of the road, Stayner presented himself to
Meyer in high moral attitude. He declared
to Meyer that he had come to perform what he
considered his duty as Christian and an hon.
est man: that he was-indsed exempt by law
from further liability account of his indebt-
edness to Meyer, but that with him the only
law was the moral law; that he was now hap
PLY in funds sufi cient TO discharge the last
cent Of his obligation, and that it was for that
praiseworthy purpose he had called. Meyer,
from that time on, gave implicit credence to
all OF Stayner's declarations, and was soon per-
suaded by him TO give his aid to the syndicate
formed by Ives, Stayner and Meter. He
agreed to receive for them, when purchased
and brought to New York, total Of six thou
sand shares of {. II. & d. common stock at an
average price not to exceed 115 per cent and
to carry 1t for them, receiving per cent.
for the use of his money, an arrangement which
was practically a loan by Meyer to that extent
upon that stock since it was agreed that Ives
and Stayner should cast the vote upon il at all
elections of the road and at the stockholders
meetings. This agreement was carried out by
Meyer TO the letter. The stock was held in his
name during all the existence of the swindling
firm of II. 5. Ives 4 Co., and when the inevi-
table exposure and crash came il was still so
held.
. The exposure of Ives and Stayner's un.
scrupulOusness the daily mention of his own
sense of disgrace, drove Meyer to his grave in a
few months.
within three mopths after Meyers death
there was put into operation through Ives
agency, scheme to impoverish Meyers estate
and to open up 70 himself and his cOnfederates
. mine Of 100000 In the fall of 1883 there
was begun in Ohio court suit by Albert
Meter against Henry 5. Ives, George ii. Stay
ner and the executors of the estate of Christ
opher Meyer for the balance OF the purchase
money OF his syndicate interest remaining un-
paid. VOluminOus dispositions in that action
were taken in this city during all last fall, but
only the most meager outline of the case was ever
made public. NOsoOner, however, had the plain
TIN begun his case than the colluslve character
of the action was revealed. Ives and Stayner
were nominally defendants but they were the
principal witnesses whom the plaintiff called to
prove his claim against themselves. Neither of
them was solvent and the manifest intention
was 10 turn to the only responsible de-
fendant-the estate of Christopher Meyer. To
make that estate answerable il was necessary
10 prove that Meyer had been partner of the
Ives gang, and as such responsible for all their
losses. Meyer was dead and could deny moth
ing:
''The ready lips of Ives and Stayner swore,
with affected reluctance, to everything essen
tIal 70 prove his partnership. They produced
from their own letter books written PROPOSE
tons TO Meyer, which, if adopted, would have
made him a partner. But, unfortunately for
this scheme, outside of their own declarations
cOulu prove no acceptance DIV meyer OF their
offers. IL was necessary to produce some writing
bringing Meyer in. None such was in ex-
istence, and the very fact Of such
a thing had been disclaimed by Ives
and Stayner in their dispositions. But to a
"Napaeonic' mind, such obstacles are trivial
If the document did not exist, it must be made
to exist.
The project was no sooner conceived
than executed. Facilities were not wanting
Stayner had been engraver in his youth and
and in that capacity he had first come into the
employ of the American bank note company,
and Ives himself was not unskillful with the
pen. Accordingly at the next meet
ing Of the reference there was voun-
erily produced by Stayner a document which
met all the conspiratOrs' requirements. With.
out the slightest prior suggestion il had sprung
into life fully matured and ready for business.
OF course it clearly showed Meyer partner
of Ives, Stayner and Netter and responsible
for all claims against them TO the full extent of
bis estate. The document was signed H. S. T.
g. ~ q. II. S. and witness II. w W.
This extraordinary document was wholly in
Ives handwriting in lead pencil, upon a sheet
OF e., H. ID. letter paper. The initials III.
s. l. were Ives; the initials q. III. S. were
stayneT's; the initials c. NJ were declared
TO have been written by Christopher Meyer.
OF the genuineness OF the first three there
could be little doubt, but the moment
that examination was directed to the
initials &C. ND they were declared
by those familiar with Meyers hand
writing TO be q forgery. They we're firm and
bold, while Meyers handwriting at the alleged