New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
FORTUNES Of FERGUSON
Missing Partner of L. B. Wilson
& Co. Had Hard Fight.
DEATH AFFECTED HIM
Senior Member of Firm Says
Defalcation May Be $780,
OOO-Friends Rally.

The suspene,on 81 the firm Of L. r Will
son & Co. Consolidated Stock Exchange
brokers brought out yesterday the story
of the rise and fall of the junior partner
D. NJ Ferguson Years ago Mr.. Ferguson
came to this country from his home in
Scotland. practically penniless. 10 carve out
his fortune 1t was a hard struggle from
the start. and there were days when the
Scotsman went 10 bed hungry.
Employers he approached knew nothing
about his character except what he him
self could tell them, and any one hunting
a job in New York under similar circum-
stances can appreciate his position. Finally
one man gave him work as a clerk. That
was the beginning OF the long, hard, up
hill climb to ample competence, il not
fortune.
Time passed. and Mr. Ferguson saved as
much as he could from his salary. He won
the confidence of his employers. Finally
he met railroad president, Mr. Quigley,
of the Toledo, St Louis & Western Rail
road. Mr.. Quigley needed a confidential
secretary and he offered Ferguson the place.
The latter gladly accepted the post
Again the wheel OF fortune spun merrily
around. Mr. Quigley found he no longer
needed the young Scots services. He liked
him, however, and one day went to his
friend. Mr. Harris. president Of the North
ern Pacific. II have a young man whom
would like to recommend to you" said
Mr.. Quigley. That's fortunate" replied
Mr.. Harris; my personal secretary has
just left. Can he take his placer" He
can" answered Mr.. Quigley.
So Ferguson got the job. All this time
he was saving money and all the time he
was studying the stock markets, so when
a position as cashier in a brokers' office
turned up he resigned his secretaryship
and accepted it. He played the market
little and was successful. Then he met
Mr.. Wilson. The latter. nothing more than
a boy AT the time. liked him. and they
agreed TO &C into partnership as a stock
brokerage firm. just nine years ago yes
terday. Mr.. Wilson was then member OF
the Consolidated Stock Exchange.
Fortune varied Then came hard times
and good times. but by dint of hard work
and a reputation for absolute honesty the
firm eventually built up a lucrative bust
ness
Before he Joined the firm Mr.. Ferguson
had married. Three years ago his wife
died. and his friends say he has never
been the same since He had one SON. and
this boy was the pride of his life.
After his wife's death the turning OF the
roads came His one idea. his friends say,
was TO leave his boy a wealthy man. Busi-
ness went from bad TO worse. and he began
specializing in stocks. When he needed
money. it is said, he borrowed it from his
partner. and then, when he could borrow
no more. he is alleged TO have taken his
firms money classifying his customers ac-
counts
On Friday the climax came. Some Of the
customers complained, and the defaication
was discovered.
Mr.. Wilson said Yesterday that The falsih-
cation Of accounts began in November, as
far as he could find out He further added
that the examination Of the irm's books
showed that the defaication would amount
10 at least $4,000 and might exceed that
figure 1t seemed 10 be the general opinion
in the Street yesterday that Mr.. Wilson's
friends would stick by him and that they
would eventually lend him enough money
to resume business.
one Of the firms customers walked into
its offices yesterday and asked for Mr.. VIII
SON When he was told that the latter was
very busy he said: Never mind. just
wanted 10 tell Mr.. Wilson that ne need no,
give the 1900 his firm owes me a thought
Tell him. further that If few thousand
will help him out I can raise them for
him"
A picture Of Mr.. Ferguson has been
turned over to Captain Faurot. Of the de-
tective force and the latter expects TO
make this case the first application Of
Bertillons portrait pare' system In this
country He will give this photograph TO
one Of his men versed ia the new system
OF apprehension, and the latter will observe
and classify the nose. eyes, ears and fore
head. then throw the photograph away and
search for his man under Bertillons new
system. Police officials are viewing the
test with deep interest, and should it prove
successful it will lend new impetus to the
thorough adoption Of the portrait parle
method OF criminal apprehension.