Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-03-28
A WELL SET TRAP
Shared a BIackmaiIer Who Dared
to Invade Wall Street.
TRIED TO WORK Jay GOULD.

His Partner Fixed Up Scheme That
cIeverIy Caught the cuIprit.
The late Jay Gould arrived at his Of
fee one morning in state of mind.
.1Therer' he said to his favorite part
ner f,inging down a letter which had
been addressed to Mrs. Jay Gould. Il
don't mind their writing their scurril-
Gus things to me. but when they begin
TO send them to, my wife it's got to be
stopped What can you dor
The partner first read the letter. The
writer promised that he had lost great
deal Of money specializing in Gould
stocks. especially Missouri Pacific, and
required that he be advised how to get
back what he had lost and more be-
Sides Unless Mr.. Gould impaired to
him straight. bona fide money making
information he would destroy Mrs
Could The manner in which he de-
sired the information to be impaired
was this: Every morning an advertise
ment should be inserted in the personal
column of certain New York news
paper advising him when to buy and
when to sell Missouri Pacific The ad-
vertisement should be written in a code
which he had devised. so that he alone
would receive and understand the tip
II think | can catch him." said Mr..
Gould's partner. '.Just leave it to me-"
Mr. Gould was for calling in Inspec-
tor Byrnes at once. but his partner
thought they had better wait until
they had laid mine for the offender.
The partner. who had shrewd I'M
derstanding of human nature. proceed
ed in an unexpected manner. 1t hap
pened that Mr.. Goulds firm was very
active in Missouri Pacific and con-
trolled the stocks fluctuations. On
the next day an advertisement was
inserted as the blackmaier had re-
quested. informing him agreeably to
his code to buy Missouri Pacific and
to watch for further Instructions Mis-
souri, Pacific stock went up. A few
days later another advertisement was
inserted telling him to sell Missouri
Pacific And Missouri Pacific declin-
ed Again he was told when to buy
it and again when to sell it. and when
this had been repeated number Of
times the partner was ready to spring
the trap. He inserted an advertise
ment which took the blackmailer off
his guard 1t read somewhat like this:
missouri Pacific.-Thp person who
has been receiving information to his
own profit about the movements Of
this stock has not kept faith with us.
| He has been imparting it to others
| For that reason it is discontinued"
That was not true There was not
the slightest reason to believe that the
blackmailer had impaired his informa-
ton to others: there had been even
no conclusive evidence Of his acting
on it for himself. as he would not be
likely to speculate Oh so large scale
rs to be recognized in the stock mar
ket. But even in Il few hundred shares
at time Il man could make great
deal of money in Il ShCrt time If he
knew beforehand infallibly when the
price would rise and, when it would
fail. Mr.. Gould's partner counted
upon the mans natural impulse when
accused of having by his own lack
of discretion, slain his goose. The i'm
pulse would be to deny that he had
broken FIFTH. The chances were that
he would deny it by letter. The trick
was to nail him as he mailed the letter
Inspector Eyrnes was now called
into the case. The accusing advertise
ment was printed on Sunday morning
SO that If the blackmailer posted q
letter during the day 1t would be all
the easier to catch him. Inspector
Byrnes stationed man, ut every mai
box in the postal district from which
the original letter of threat had beer
posted to Mrs. Gould. Every man who
posted a letter anywhere in that dis
trict that Sunday was under suspicion
Before he was out of sight detec
tive. under pretense of posting one OF
MS own. had opened the box with his
pass key and had inspected the letter
last deposited
And just before dark letter ad
We'll dressed young man. who ten min
utes later was in the Office Of Inspector
byrnes protesting Indignantly and de
caring his family connections. He dit
not know on what evidence he hat
been taken. Mr.. Gould's partner wa!
summoned. and he opened the letter
watch was exactly the one expected
The writer warmly and truthfully de
MED that he had impaired the Missouri
facilic information to any one and SAIL
mat therefore he should expect to con
'ihue receiving 1t as before.
hut the blackmailer was no more sur
l,rised when confronted by the lette
.hah Mr.. Gould's partner was when h
saw the blackmailer. for 1t turned GU
mat he was socially well connected
he was. In fact. the son of man TO
whom one member of the Gould firm
Entertained feelings Of friendship. 81
iiad done badly with everything ant
had ut last resorted to blackmail. HI