The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-12-19

and Brea over, but first to use Brea and
James for our own purposes. Once more
we found ourselves planning a coup in
Wall street. Talking the matter over,
we three soon had plan, and being
lowered with intense energy it prom
ised successful determination. Auda-
ciously enough we determined the light
ming should strike once more in the
same place-that is, to make Jay Cooke
q Co. again the victims. Irving and his
honest fellows were to cooperate by
watching everything. and if any arrest
threatened to be on hand to make it
themselves and then let the prisoner es-
cape. Most important of all, when the
bankers drove up in hot haste to police
headquarters to give information, James,
honest James, would be on hand to re-
ceive him, would call in his two TRUSTEES
to get with him full particulars of the
robbery and description Of the men,
Then the banker would be sent away
with the assurance that 1--WE know the
men and will have them,' but at the
same time warning him to keep the mat
ter a secret in order better to enable
them to catch tho villains.
If successful, the detectives were to
receive % per cent between them. Our
plan required James to play an impor-
tant part, and although no confederacy
could be fixed on him. yet he would
hardly escape questioning and a very
considerable degree Of suspicion, so
much SO that it probably would put an
end to any lingering remnants of char
acter he had on hand or in stock. But
he was tired of America and determined
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 meyer seen either of us or Brea.
Our plan was to make use of James
Office in a way that will appear later.
AS related, he was suspected by his pro-
fession, but the general public thought
him very great man. He had appear
ed as (volunteer) counsel in two or three
murder cases and had delivered power
full addresses which had attracted con-
siderable notice in the papers.
One day, soon after our plan was
matured, Brea went to Philadelphia,
and by 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) let
ter of introduction to the manager of
the New York firm. He wanted the let
ter ostensibly in order to 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 a 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 it-a case in
point for the old proverb. We had ascer-
tanned the name of Newark manu-
facturer who had recently failed in bust
ness. will call him Newman. On the
morning after his return from Philadel-
phia Brea presenteds himself at James
Office, it being arranged that James
should be out, so Brea told the clerk
that his name was Newman; that he
had lately 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
him. James kept the clerk conveniently
near that he could hear the converse
ton. Brea, as Newman, told James he
had used in his business $4,000 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 a 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 I want 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 So, 900 to his
credit in the bank. The same afternoon
he presented his letter Of introduction at
Jay Cooke & Co. g and was cordially re-
ceived. He Of course told totally diff
ferent story there. In this case rela-
tive lately deceased had left him an es-
tate Of great value. He was, lie said,
realizing on his real estate and buying
bonds as fast as his money came in, and
he wanted to invest million in various
railway bonds. At present he had $780,
600 on hand, which he wanted to invest