Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1892-12-23

seemed to be so mixed that it Wal
quite impossible to ascertain jus
how the firm sto I'd Gould sool
saw that his partner was becoming
suspicious and determined to b.
ready for him, On the growth o
the business Gould had, OF course
occasion to frequently visit New
York, whore he became acquainted
with most of the merchants 10 The
Swamp then. as now, the centr,
of the leather trade. Among others
he became acquainted with Charles
NJ. Leupp, a merchant of the old
school, honorable and correct in all
his dealings. He was q man OF
great refinement and of poetic tenn
permanent, and possessed many OF
literary and artistic tastes. He WAS
\ man of wealth and owned u fine
mansion, still standing, but has
bsen altered into al apartment
house. In Mr.. Lsupp's time it
was probably the handsomsst and
est-constructsd private dwelling in
the city, and cost about 81 $4,000
1t was sn evil day for Mr.. Leupp
when Gould came to him and pro-
posed that he advance the money
to purchase Mr.. Pratt's interest In
the tannery. That was the begin
ing OF Mr.. Leupp's troubles, bat at
that time he considered the pro-
position an advantageous one and
he consented to advance the cash.
Gould never seems to have had at
any period in his career any diff
Guilty in interesting tho wealthisst
and most powerful men In his
schemes. He has himself said that
il is just as easy to obtain the ac-
quaintance andsecurs the friendship
of the most powerful as the most
Insignificant if only ono will set
about it in the right way.
Well, Gould returned to Gouids-
boro with Leupp's backing. He
found Pratt looking over the books
and puzzled by their intrlcacies.
He discovered that Gould had star
tod a private bank at Stroudsburg
in his Own name, and he became
suspicious that the firms funds
were used IN the bank. Pratt then
demanded an explanation and final
ly threatened to close up the tsnnery
and dissolve the partnership.
Gould protested that this would
ruin him, when Pratt said he must
buy or sell. This was what Gould
was waiting for, and he offered
Pratt 100000 for his interest in the
business. Pratt accepted tho offer
and Gould drew on Leupp for the
money. This made Gould part
ner of Leupp with full powers.
He continued with Leupp tho poll
cy he had begun with Pratt. He
brsnched out in many speculations
in Leupp's name, but without his
knowledge. 1t is said that he
bought another tannery, attempted
to get up "corner" in hides and in
other ways entered into many haz-
ardous enterprises. He continued
to draw on Leupp for money and to
display his incspacity as a book
keeper until Luepp became sus-
picious, just as Pratt had. Mean
while the panic of 1857 had swept
over the country aud unsettled all
business operations, and when
Luspp discovered the extent in
which he had been involved in
Gould's apeculstions he thought
that he was ruined. He went to
this magnificent home one night aud
in fit of dependency, shot him
self dead. 1t is not certain but
that Guuld's schemes would have
turned out oil right, aud to lIeupp's,
as we'll az to Gould's advantage,
bat it is u fact that Leupp's part
ners and heirs have always felt
very bitter against Gould, and
could not help believing that he
was indirectly the cause Of Luepp's
sad and untimely end. 1t is rela-
ted that in tho excitement and pas
sion OF Black Friday when a mob
surgsd through Wall street, a voice