Conspirator James Fisk Jr. Signed Legal Statement Re: The Erie War

A legal statement signed by James Fisk Jr. during the "Erie War". 1p, measuring 7" x 5.75", New York, dated June 18, 1869. Signed "James Fisk Jr." and sworn before Mortimer Smith, a New York Notary Public.  The document was previously separated along a horizontal fold but has since been expertly repaired. Uneven toning at the fold and at the edges. Fisk's large, bold signature has been slightly smudged, else very good.

Reading in full: "James Fisk Jr. the plaintiff being duly sworn says that the foregoing complaint is true to his own knowledge except as to the matters therein stated to be upon information and belief and as to these matters he believes it to be true."

The Erie War was the name used to describe the conflict between American financiers for control of the Erie Railway Company. The railway was chartered in 1832, but by the mid-1850s, mismanagement had led to the company falling into immense debt. Between 1866 and 1868, Daniel Drew, a cattle drover turned Wall Street banker, conspired with Fisk and Jay Gould to issue illegitimate Erie Railroad shares which devalued the stock. An unsuspecting Cornelius Vanderbilt bought a large quantity of the bogus stock and ended up losing more than $7 million in his attempt to gain control over Erie Railway Company. A legal battle ensued, and Vanderbilt was able to recover the majority of his money but conceded control of the railroad to the three conspirators. The trio then became involved with the corrupt Tammany Hall political party machine and made Boss Tweed a director of the Erie Railroad. Fisk would later be murdered on January 6, 1872, when he was shot in the Grand Central Hotel by a former business associate.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!