Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-05-23
FRIENDS LOYAL TO GRAYS0N.


Wentworth Lowenstein & Stern. OF
346 Broadway. refuse to make any
statement regarding their client, and
none OF his friends in town-he APP
pears to have many of standing and
wealth in the financial district-wln
say much about him. This all-around
rCtiCence is the result of a request
made by the prisoner himself To his
lawyers and to some OF his oldest New
York friends he said yesterday morn
ing:
Il have been arrested on "A serious
charge. which must be tried in court. |
do not wish TO shirk responsibility or
avoid punishment for any wrong act
of mine which have not righted. !
wish to affirm or deny nothing. am
down as plain John Brown, 30 William
street, New York. Let me remain as
such for the present"
His attorneys said they would be
glad to make an extended statement
about their client, had he not bid them
to keep silent. But man WHO knows
said
when John Brown, SIS William
street New York, was taken into Gus
tody. the New York police arrested
one OF the biggest financiers OF New
Mexico. Down in that country John
Brown is Charles F. Grayson, presi'
dent OF the Silver City national bank.
The bank has a capital OF $4,000,
surplus of $4,000 and deposits ag
gregating s225,000. Its New York
correspondent is the Hanover Nation
al bank, and II has correspondents In
st. Louis and Kansas City. II is one
of the strongest banks in New Mexico,
and Mr.. Grayson has been its rresi'
dent for more than ten years. And
want to say, although | have no au-
thority for so doing. that | believe.
| should there be run on the Silver
City National bank as result OF the
arrest of John Brown, the Hanover
National bank will stand behind the
New Mexico institution until the run
Is over. The Hanover people will do
this. believe. solely because OF their
confidence In President Grayson.
In the past Mr.. Grayson has han
died very nearly $4,000 coo for various
banks and bankers in New York. and
every cent has been scrupulously ac-
counted for.
This may seem no extraordinary
thing to the average New York bank
for the time being If held up as a
crook. II he were naturally dishonest
he could, In the country In which he
has been living for so many years,
have got away with good part of
the milions he has handled for New
York accounts and the New Workers
could have whistled for their money.
But what is, perhaps, more inter
esting than anything else is the fact
that Charles +. Grayson, the New
Mexico banker has never tried to
conceal the fact from his friends in
New York and elsewhere that he is. In
reality. Moody Merrill. lawyer and n
nancler OF Boston. ! don't mean TO
say that he has worn placards an.
nouncing the fact, but | have reason
to believe that people in New York and
in Boston knew that Grayson and Mer'
rill were one and the same.
Il don't know that Grayson would
thank me for telling the story, but
now that he is under arrest, can see
no harm In telling of the incubus un
der which this man has lived and work
ed and righted wrongs done to Others
2 many years ago. AS Moody Merrill
+ Grayson was bigger man In Boston
: than he is today In New Mexico.
Property was intrusted to him and
] money given 10 him to invest. One
. day II came out that a large part OF
1 these trust funds had been dissipated
;. Merrill was accused and he never lift
n ed his finger to clear himself OF the
! charge. He fed from the city. which
! of itself was a confession OF guilt
Moody Merrill. lawyer. financier. stree
7 railway magnate and once candidate
for mayor of Boston, was branded az
e a felon
q From that day to this he has neve'
INT in a defense. and believe he vii
put in none now. even to save him
sell from state prison. some OF MI
friends, however. know the story be
= hind Moody Merrill's alleged defalcs
ton. The man had relative who
: was very dear TO him and whom M
trusted, That relative made mister
and In trying to get on the straight
!, road again. helped himself to some O.
the money and property intrustei u
!. Merrill In trying to spare the irn
, theft more OF the money was borrow
y ed and thereafter II was the old story
when Merrill understood the situa
ton he said, to all intents and pur
!, poses. I did IT, and fed. Since thei
he has settled with the creditors as h
could, and am told he has settled ev
y cry one OF the claims against him
4 including the one for $40 900 on whicl
he was arrested here. The money