The 1869 book “Another Chapter of Erie” by George Crouch is a 48 page public defense of James Fisk, Jr and Jay Gould, two of the people accused of financial mismanagement of the Erie Railway. The author’s goals are not hidden, as he notes in his first section:
They have been discussed and criticised as financiers and speculators ; some censuring their conduct, some applauding them, but all astounded at the grandeur of their schemes. Fisk has been ” written up ” repeatedly in his character of speculator, operatic manager, and admiral, but of his rendition of his principal role, that of a ” railway manager, ” little or no notice has been taken, So far as his connection with the business of the Erie road goes, Mr. Gould has also escaped attention hitherto. The object of this Second Chapter of Erie is to show how the road is worked under the present dynasty, and how far Messrs. Gould and Fisk are qualified for the responsible positions to which they have been elected.