Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/120

 H. VanDyck, resigned his office in this city. Mr. Gould's chief ambition was to name his successor in order that he might be able to control the treasury when the time to get a corner in gold should be ripe. Mr. Abel R. Corbin came in quite handy at this juncture to help to further the designs of Mr. Gould. He was a man of fair education and considerable experience both in business and politics. He had been a lobbyist in Washington for some years. He was well informed on financial matters, a pretty good writer, and could talk like a book. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Grant and he had good opportunities for reaching the presidential ear, which he employed to the best advantage.

"A gentleman named Robert B. Catherwood, who was married to a step-daughter of Mr. Corbin, was approached by Gould and Corbin on the subject of the Assistant Treasurership. They were anxious that Mr. Catherwood should take the office and told him that he would make a great deal of money in a perfectly legitimate manner if he were once installed.

"So Mr. Catherwood stated in his testimoney before the investigating committee, but he adds: 'My ideas differed from theirs in what constituted a legitimate manner and I declined the office.'

"The office then sought another man in the person of Gen. Daniel Butterfield. He received the intimation of his appointment in a very different spirit from Mr. Catherwood, showing that he was fully equal to the occasion. He wrote a letter to Mr. Corbin, thanking him kindly for the offer, say