New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
GOFF'S QUEER SCHEMES.
A MONOPOLY GRANTED BY ECUADOR
HE WOULD SOON HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY
HAD HE LIVED TO swISDLE

PEOPLE LONGEh
The ghost Of Edwards II. Gon and HIS American Ex-
port and Trading Company will not down. The latest
developments have brought to light schemes in connec
ton with II even more ambitious than any that were
originally made public. 1t seems that the country
from which the treasurer, Vandeventer was expecting
advces but Of whose name he was bliss.uy ignorant,
Is Ecuador. For some months Gof had been negoti-
ating arrangement whereby the American
Export and Trading Company was to become
a sort Of purchasing agent for the government OF
Ecuador. 1t to put It's stamp on all goods pur-
chased here thereby guaranteeing that they reached
a certain standard This plan was expected 20 bring
to the company an immense trade from mdlVlduM
merchants in Ecuador and elsewhere. The Intention
was TO make similar arrangements with the "oVerh-
ments Of other spanshAmerican countries In order
to carry out the plan GOf going to increase the
capitalization Of his company from 100000 TO 30
100000. As the original 100000 appears to have
been all wind it is hard to say what form the $4,000
600 would have taken had not the scheme been nipped
in the bud by Gof's illness and death.
There is doubt that the negotiations with
Ecuador, at least, were nearly closed. Domingo L..
Ruiz the Consul General Of that Government at this
port, admitted to reporter that the plan had been
proposed and that he thought 1t a good one, and
had recommended IL to his Government lie had
not however, any knowledge that IL had been acted
upon. According to Gos story II had been so faVor-
ably received that the EcuadCrian officials were TO
advance him 100000 which was said to he dile nero
to morrow. With this money nc expected TO be able
to swing the whole scheme
Frederick A. Berlon is the ConsulGenera to Chill at
this port and one the directors OF the American EN
port and Trading Co. He said yesterday to Tribune
reporter that the first information lie had Of the COM
pany's existence was sometime last September when he
received letter from Mr. Gof saying that he (Berlen)
had been chosen director. At the same time Gof
sent him 100 shares OF the stock. The namcs Of the
cha of taHf md
known He reason for doubling that every
thing was all right and allowed his name to be used.
When the exposure OF GOf and his methods was pub
lished lie went to GOf and asked for explanation
1t was given, and with such plausibility that he
accepted and still allowed his name to stand OF
late, however, he had decided to withdraw, and was
only awaiting Mr.. GO's recovery to offer his resigna-
ton. He had never been near the Office Of the COM
pany. not even TO draw the dividend that had been
declared and had personal knowledge Of its affairs
He knew he said, that arrangements were pending
with Ecuador from confidential circular" received
from Goff. Cof had never approached him to make
similar proposals. With regard to the story that
900 had been advanced to Gof he did not be-
lieve 1t.
Andrew H. H. Dawson, who was one of the original
directors and general counsel for the company said
that he first knew Gof through the medium of a letter
of introduction which brought him Colonel
Patrick Donan GOf made him a director and general
c0unsel ana gave MIN 2OO shares OF The STOCK. lie,
too, thought the list Of names given as directors
good one, and nothing suspicious about
the company When the exposure came, he went
to Goff in his turn, and demanded explanation The
defence offered weak and contradictory that he
parted with Cof and withdrew from the company. He
asked Gof for the papers proving that he had received
the "valuable concessions" prominently adver
tsed, but they were not produced. Colonel
Dawson refused to believe that John F. Cahill.
NJ An Of
company or that General John b. Gordon, OF Georga.
was in any way connected with 1t.
Mexcios Consul General, Juan y. Navarro, and
Jacob Baz, who represents the Governments Of Hon.
duras and Guatemala both positive that no pro
posals OF any kind had been made 10 their Govern
ments by Gof would any such proposals as
those made to Ecuador be considered by them