Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/92

 knocked off the list and Gould organized a new Board of his own, where trading in Erie went on as before.

Gould at this time actually posed as an anti-monopolist before the public. All his extraordinary acts as president of the Erie were defended on the ground that he was endeavoring to protect the system against consolidation or affiliation with other trunk lines, and there were some honorable persons who really put faith in this statement. "Gould," said Mr. Adams, "posed as a public benefactor, with unspeakable effrontery."

There was more fighting in the courts over Erie. Justice Sutherland vacated Barnard's order making Gould receiver, and Noah Davis was made receiver. Barnard stayed Sutherland, and Sutherland granted a motion to show cause why Barnard's stay should not be vacated. Gould and Fisk sued August Belmont for $1,000,000 damages, and Frank Work and Richard Schell for $429,250, paid to them at the time of the settlement with Vanderbilt. Gould and Fisk even went to the United States District Court, and on a petition of one of Gould's clerks, Henry D. Whelpley, a stockholder, Judge Blatchford appointed Gould receiver, and directed the Erie company to place $8,000,000 in his hands to protect the rights of the plaintiff, Whelpley, who protested that he had been injured by certain issues of stock.

The marvelous business acumen displayed by the manipulators of these properties was aided by the blind zeal of certain foreign investors for Ameri