Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-12

to go to Paris with his share OF the
plumber. Our visits to James had always
been in his private Office, and his clerks
had never seen either of us or Brea-
Our plan was to make use of James
Office in q way that will appear later.
As related, he was suspected by his pro-
fession, but the general public thought
him q very great man. He had appear
ed rs (volunteer) counsel in two or three
murder cases and had delivered power
full addresses which had attracted con-
siderable aotice in the papers.
One day, soon after our plan was
matured, Brea went to philadelphia,
and by a mixture of audacity and finesse
procured from Jay Cooke himself (the
parent house of the New York firm of Jay
Cooke & Co. was in Philadelphia) a let
ter Of introduction to the manager of
the New York firm. He wanted the let
ter ostensibly in order II consult the
manager about certain investments
which he, as executor Of an estate, de-
sired to make for his wards.
As the transaction was one of consid-
cradle magnitude there would be large
commissions paid, and with the grand
send off of letter from Jay Cooke to
his subordinate in New York the specu-
lation opened well-so we'll that we at
once decided what we would do with
the money when we got ia case in
point for the old proverb. We had ascer-
tanned the name Of Newark maui
facturer who had recently failed in bust
ness. I will call him Newman. On the
morning after his return from Philadel-
phia Brea presented himself at James
office, it being arranged that James
should be out, SO Brea told the clerk
that lis name was Newman; that he
had lStely failed in business and intend
ed to employ Mr.. james to put him
through the bankruptcy court. The clerk
told him to come again at 10 and he
would find Mr.. James in.
At IL he came The clerk introduced
aim. James kept the clerk conveniently
near that he could hear the converse
zion. Brea, as Newman, told James he
had used i'll his business $24O,O 900 be-
longing to his wife and her mother,
and that in scheduling his assets he
proposed to use enough to make those
amounts good, intending to conceal
the fact from his creditors. He de-
termined to invest the amount in
bonds-so ran his story-and was going
to deposit the money in the bank that
very afternoon, at the same time produc-
ing his letter of introduction from Jay
Cooke, all Of this, of course, being for
the eye and ear of the clerk, who might
be required as q witness of his employ
er's good faith.
Brea Newman also paid James in
presence of the clerk a retaining fee of
$3.50, which was privately returned.
James banked in Jersey City, and when
Newman said, Introduce me at your
| bank, as want a small credit handy"
James said, my bank is in Jersey
City,
The clerks brother was paying teller
at the Chemical bank, and, as was ex-
pected, he at once spoke up, saying,
Let me introduce Mr.. Newman in the
Chemical bank" So down went New
man and the clerk, and in ten minutes
| our man had the Chemical bank check
book in his pocket and $4,000 to his
credit in the bank. The same afternoon
he presented his letter of introduction at
Jay Cooke & Co. S and was cordially re-
ceived. He of course told a totally diff
ferent story there. In this case rela-
| tive lately deceased had left him an es-
tate of great value He was, he said,
realizing on his real estate and buying
bonds as fast as his money came in, and
he wanted to invest a million in various
railway bonds. At present he had $780,
600 on hand, which he wanted to invest
in government bonds. He then left for
the time being, leaving n good impress
sion, which his refined manner and ap-
pearance confirmed.
So far all was well-that is, all was
well from our point of view. The next
two or three days Brea paid several Wis
it's to the Chemical bank, getting small
checks for $500 and 81 900 certified, and
now had his account drawn down to ST.
900. The day before he had called on
Jay Cooke & Co. and told them he
would take $4,000 in seven thirties,
Bearer" bonds, and that he would call
the next day and pay for them. At the
same time he got them to give him a
pro forma bill for them.
The eventful day had come, and
James, to get his head clerk out of the
way, sent him to the admiralty court
to take notes of the evidence in a case
going on there.
At 10 O'Clock Brea sent messenger
with a note to the bankers, requesting
them to send the bonds to Edwin James
Office, and he would pay for them OH de-
livery. He could not come himself, as
he was in consultation with the execu-
tors of the estate.
In the meantime a check for the full
value Of the bonds, e240, 900, had been
made out. 1t was drawn ON the Chem
ical bank and was, in fact, similar to
those always given between bankers on
bond transactions
Brea had drawn his own check for
$240, and had it in his batband along
with the $240, 900 dummy check. The
plan is palpable enough When the mes.
senger brought the bonds, Brea, or New.
man, was going to say: "All right,