A GREAT FORGER'S CAREER.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 619, 13 June 1876, Page 3

A GREAT FORGER'S CAREER.

OPERATIONS OF W. E. GRAY, THE WALL STREET FORGER.

The arrest in London of William E. Gray, the forger, who fleeced Wall streetjto the extent of about 400,000 dollars in 1869, has been chronicled. Since Iris flight, as far as can be ascertained, Gray has visited many countries and been known by many names. He was heard of in 1870 at Valpariso, but when the officer sent for him reached that city, he had disappeared. Next he was heard of in London late in 1872, and Detective Sampson crossed the ocean to track him. But again Gray eluded pursuit, reached France, reveled for a time in the delights of Paris, and at length when the thwarted detectives sailed for New York, returned to London. There he assumed the.name of Morgan, and lived in high style. In 1867 Gray entered the office of A. A. Dimmock and Co, of New York City, as a clerk. He was the son of the Rev E. H. Gray, formerly Chaplain of the United States Senate, and was recommended by the Hon L. S. Foster, then acting Vice-President of the _ United States. In the two years of his service with this firm his course was exemplary. In 1869 he entered into business at 44, Broad street, with T. H. Pratt, and soon gained the confidence of many of the leading banking houses. In December of the same year he overdrew his account at the Bank of the Commonwealth, and obtained a loan of 30,000 dollars on three forged State bounty certificates. The cashier of the bank, noticing the bonds on the teller's desk after the loan had been made, took them to Mr Harberger, of the Merchants' Bank, who pronounced them genuine. At that moment the transfer clerk came in, .and it was discovered that the bonds had been raised and altered. Gray was sent for and came around to the bank. On being informed of the discovery he assumed an air of injured innocence, and said that he received the bonds from T. H. Pratt, residing in the St Nicholas Hotel, and that he had obtained a loan on another of the bonds from Coleman Benedict, and that he had a similar bond in his safe. This bond he surrendered and he was not arrested, promising to make matters right on the following day. On the next day Mr Fink, who was in Pratt's office, advised him to draw his account at the Mechanics' Bank and make good his credit on the street. At that moment a carriage containing a lady moved up to the door. Gray took a bundle from his desk, went but, handed the bundle to the lady, who drove off, and he walked up toward the Stock Exchange. That was the last seen of Gray in New York, and the bundle handed to the lady in the carriage contained United States bonds, which he had purchased with the proceeds of his forgeries. When Gray's flight was discovered his victims were found on every side. Among the persons and banks plundered were Howes and Macy, 75,000 dollars ; Brown and Loveridge, 10,000 dollars; Vermilye and Co., 50,000 dollars; Mechanics' Bank, 30,000 dollars; Coleman Benedict, 18,000 dollars; J. N. Ewill and Co., 25,000 dollars; and E. P. Scott, 40,000 dollars. Of the circumstances of his arrest little is known. It seems from the information received by Detective Sampson, that Gray came back to England some months ago, and under the name of Dr Koletzo started a land swindle. Before Detective Sampson left England he gave Detective Micklejohn, who is admittedly the smartest of the English detectives, a photograph of Gray. On Friday afternoon Detective Micklejohn met Gray in Pimlico, and recognising him from

his photograph, arrested him. Gray was arraingecl before Sir Thomas Henry, at Bow street, and on being fully identified, was remanded to Newgate until the United States authorities might be communicated with.