The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-20
ABOUT IAY aOuLI.
Ills IndlTsroncs TO vsraoisy aud His Con-
ceptlon OF Truth.

Chicago Record: jay Gould's man Fri
day, Morfsifi, has written a book OF
"reminiscences. The volume treats al
most entirely of Wall street men ana
manners. But of Morisinrs benefactor
there is very little. Morisini. naturally,
extenuated much that was censurable
In the extraordinary financier's charac-
ter and (what Is equally apprehensible)
he italicized the many admirable traits
In the wizards mental compositions
There was, however, one Oddly III
Gouid's mentality that perhaps mad
vertently) escaped Morisini's pen. In
matters financial the great operator re-
garded truth as q initiating redund-
ancy. An ideal husband, model fath-
or his home life was characterized by
purity and sincerity. of which ne
promptly Invested himself when he en-
tered Wall street.
A Chicago corporation lawyer bears
witness to jay Gouid's indifference TO
veFacity.
Eight years ago litigation was pend
Ing in the Illinois circuit court regard
Ing branch line Of one OF the western
railroads Gould was the defendant ana
was placed on the stand. The attorney
In question represented the prosecution
He had carefully fortified himself with
data from the public records bearinS
upon the subject In hand. The legal
points CLEANED were from comparatively
recent history, recorded in the courts
archlyas, ~ The then young counsel had
no intention of testing Gonld's estimate
of verify; he made the notes for the
purpose pf attaining d. lucid and O Som
prehensive view OF the case ON trial.
But he found occasion for uillizipg
the memoranda in an unexpected way,
for the modern Caesar proved decided
10 lubrlcous when evidence was taken.
Gould's gentle, infantile frankness
made n favorable iml ression upon the
local advocate. The former answered
the first unlmportant questions with
such convincing candor that the latter
felt sure there would be no difficulty In
extracting all necessary Information
from the famous organlzer--and dlsor-
ganizer. But the interrogation soon be-
came deprived OF an Ideal when the
New Yorker succeeded In disassoolat-
ing himself from several mooted facts
with remarkable facility. The lawyer
became alertly apprehensive. Those
soft, unctuous tones, instead OF lnspir-
ing confidence, aroused suspicion.
The legal gentleman resolved to make
thorough examination OF salient
mari OF Mi. Gould's ethical architecture.
''Mr. Gould, did the - road file a
mortgage in the - court a year ago
last May?"
Gould was thoughifully silent for a
few moments. Then he smiled, shook
his head and replied tn a mild. child
like voice: "Oh, no, sic.
The lawyer was staggered for mo-
ment He had to consult the record to
make sure that he was not In a trance
lie tried again.
MIR. Gould, did you not. on septem-
her 1. sell the - line to the Missouri
Pacific for - dollars?"
"oh, no: no, indeed, sIr." CHS eyes
we're consummately angelic us he said
IT,.
The lawyer then decided TO sound
Gould's conception OF truth In a slight
ly different sense. He quickly Invented
tale TINT would rebound TO Gould's
credit. Ten years befor, the mastery
manIpulator had consolidated the At
lantIc q Pacific and the Western Union
Telegraph companies and in this deal
the minority stockholders Of the ATTAIN
tic 4 Pacific were treated In q step
mothcrlY fashion.
"Mr. Gould, YOU paid the minority
stockholders OF the Atlantic Sc Pacific
Telegraph Company par, In cash, for
theft holdings at the time the company
was consolidated with the Western
Urion, did you not7"
"Yes sir; l aid; that Is right" tThe
voice that affirmed the fable was low
and mellnuous)
The Chicago attorney was satisfied,
THAT win BIO MI. Mr.. Could thank
YOU"