Page:Facts, failures and frauds- revelations, financial, mercantile, criminal.djvu/9



Its Inanguration, Development, and Rapid Progress .... 1—5

The Railway System—Its Early Introduction and Progressive Expansion—State of Business anterior thereto—The Appearance of Mr. Hudson on the Scene, and his Assumption of Power in Railway Circles—Subsequent Disclosures, and his final forced Retirement 6—73

The Age of Appearance—Watts's magnificent but brief Career—His Success as a Man of Fashion and Wealth—His luxurious Mode of Life, alleged Sources of Income and Theatrical Speculations—Failure of the Latter, and the Discovery of his gigantic Frauds—The Investigation at the Globe Assurance Office—The Trial of the Delinquent, and his Suicide in Newgate 74—105

The Surprise created by the Failure—The Blow to Confidence in the Private Banking Interest—The Antecedents of the House—The Position and Relations of the Partners—Social Standing of Mr. Strahan, and the Religious Habits of Sir John Dean Paul—Distressing Disclosures respecting the Appropriation of Securities—The Bankruptcy of the Firm, and subsequent Criminal Proceedings against the whole of the Partners 106—153