The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-13
A MAGNIFICENT scoUNDREL.

pLGsCAls -....H.
A MAGNIFICENT scouNDREL.
The noble height of scoundrelly abil-
ity to which Gordon here climbed is
worth mention in any history. he
waved, Gould away. you can leave
nothing with me, sir" said he, ~ think
this interview has lasted quite long
enough. 1 shall, however, consider
some OF the things you have said, and
in case deem it advisable to see you
again l will let you know. Good morn
ing" Gould, detected, went back 10
the Erie office. He found the directors.
They had become disaflected and meant
to GUST him from the Erie. His situa.
ton was desperate. II only he could
secure Gordon he would BIO master OF
the game and could laugh at the direc-
tors who had turned upon him and do
with them as he chose. Back he went
to the Metropolitan Hotel. He tray.
elled from Twenty-third street and
Eighth avenue, where the Erie Offices
then were, down to the Metropolitan,
in the worst snowstorm that had ragged
in years. The bundle of securities on
which he relied for his salvation was
still pressed to his breast.
He wrote motto to Lord Gordon say
ing he had omitted in the interview to
make some important statements, and
he hoped that he might see him again.
Gordon this time appeared to be slight
ly placated. Gould, much encouraged,
urged him to accept the securities as q
pledge OF his good faith. Finally, the
noble lord relented and agreed reluct-
antly to do as he was asked. lie played
his part in the comedy so admirably
that he induced Gould to be guilty OF
the incredible folly OF writing out and
signing a paper absolutely giving to
him, Lord Gordon, that tremendous
amount OF money. This action on
Gould's part seemed to be one almost
incredibly foolish, but there is no
doubt as to its truth. 1t explains legal
matters which came up later, and Will
lam Belden, who recovered large part
of this money for Gould, is now IN New
York, and can, if he chooses, verify the
truth OF this history. Having succeeded
in inducing q swindler to accept out
right almost three millions OF his
money, Gould went away very happy.
1t was understood, OF course, that the
deed of gift which Gould had signed was
mere fornality. Lord Gordon was to
return the money and stocks rs soon as
he became convinced of Gould's sim
cerity, and in the meanwhile the great
mysterious block OF Erie across the
ocean was to be used by Gould to keep
himself in power and fight his restless
directors.
Gould's dream Of happiness did not
last long. Forty-eight hours afterwards
Gould learned from Philadelphia that
some OF his securities had been put on
the market there. 1t instantly oc-
CURED to Gould that those securities
were some that he had given to Lord
Gordon. With characteristic sudden
ness Gould decided that Lord Gordon
was swindler and not the Earl OF
Aberdeen. If Gould had understood at
that time the ways of lords he would
have known that an Englishman calls
himself by only one title, and that the
Earl OF Aberdeen would speak OF him
self as the Earl OF Aberdeen only, and
never as Lord Gordon. II he looked in
Burk's Peerage, however, as he proba-
bly, did, and rs the swindler probably
did, he saw that the Earl OF Aberdeen
sat in the house OF lords under his
other title of Viscount Gordon, and he
doubtless concluded that man who
had two titles would wear them both
proudly. .
Now that suspicion was aroused,
however, Gould was absolutely certain
that he had been swindled. lie con-
suited with friend, and it was decided
to take the advice of William Tweed,
who was the owner OF the Metropolitan
hotel, where Lord Gordon stayed, and
the friend OF Gould. A consultation
was held in Tweed's Office in Chamber
street. Kelso, the chief of police, was
called in. The position was delicate
one. Tweed did not see what could be
done, as Could had made the man
present. Kelso offered to arrest him,
but this Gould did not want to do. He
was far too wise to get his precious
cash and securities tied up in lawsuit
What that would mean in the way OF
delays in the court he knew well.
Meanwhile, Tweed ordered the clerk OF
his hotel to allow nobody to go to Cor
dons rooms. 1t was finally decided
that Gould should go to Gordon and try
to frighten him into returning the
money and as many of the securities "a
he had not disposed OF. For this kind
Of work, however, Gould had no heart.
He persuaded Belden, his friend and
business associate, to undertake tho
task for him.
lord GORDON DIsGoRdFg.
Belden saw Lord Gordon, whose
rooms were at the end Of the hall. He
informed him that hemight be lord
and he might not. Mr.. Gould thought
he wasn't and wanted his money and
stocks back. 'Ii you refuse to give up
the mouey and securities" BeldeD said
to Gordon, I've shall try to take them,
and If any disturbance is made it will
result in everybody being taken around
TO police headquarters in Mulberry
street" After celebrating for while