New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-27
COMMENTS ON FIsHs STATEMENT.

MUCH STIR CAUSED By iHE TRBUNH5 DiSCLo-
sUErs-WAGrING FOR STATEMENT FROM THE
EX-PREsIpENT.
Almost the only topic Of conversation yesterday
among persons Interested in the Grant 4 Ward case
WAS the statement of James d. Fish. published eX-
cluslvely IN The TRIBUNE. The most interesting
feature of the statement the assertion that
General Grant had repeatedly written 10 Mr.. Fish
assuring him of the validity of the fictitious Govern
u.nt contracts upon which Ferdinand Ward based
Lis successful scheme for procuring money. For the
moment the arrest Of Mr. Fish and the speculation
a. to where John c. Emo was were subjects lost
sight Of The general position taKen By people was
that Of a suspension of Judgment u1tll General
Grant could be heard in reply 10 the president OF
the Marine Bank In most cases the view was
taken that the General must have written the let
ters at the dictat.on Of Mr. Ward. The general
opinion was that the ex- President would not know
ingly lend himself to any scheme for deception or
punder 1t was argued that when he received Mr..
Fish's letters Of inquiry he probably turned them
over to Ward and inquired what answer he should
send 10 them The Generals confidence in Ward
and the latter's glibness Of tongue were all that
were necessary TO shape the formers replies to Mr..
Fish The friends of the eV-PTesdent Indignantly
scout the suggestion that he intended to misead
Fish or furnish him him with any information that
he had not received from Ward.
Charles McNamee, Of the law firm of Davies,
Work & McNamee, said
There are no new proceedings suits in the Grant &
ard matter that have come 10 my knowledge 40 not
think there Will be any further arrests. know nothing
OF the alleged letters between Fish and General Nrint
hot thrv can pronaDy be explained do not beheVe
General Gran would lend himself 70 any scheme 10 gull
people.
Bank Examiner Serbia was called on at the
Marine Bank by TRIBUNE reporter He SAID that
be had not seen any of the Grant-Fish correspond
ence
~What do you think of Mr.. FishS statement ~
wac asked.
Of have no opinion on the matter" Mr. Serbia
replied " think Judgment ought to be suspended
until we hear from General Grant do not believe
that he wrote anything except what Ward told
him"
MIR. Serbia speaking of his affidavit on which Mr.
Fish was arrested said that Grant II Ward were IN
debteA TO the Marine Bank on the morning Of their
failure TO the amount of about 81 400 900 on loans
and discounts including their over-dratt OF
s786. 4O2 OF the 81 1884. 900 Indebtedness aside
from the over-drafts, about 100000 was lent to
the firm without any security. This included the
fctitious loans recorded the banks books TO the
names of +. ID. Grant. w. S. Warner, u. :. Grant,
ir. and Others. George l.. Spencer. A +. Doty and
w II Mallory to whom some of the fictitious loans
were made are clerks in the office OF Grant *
Ward Charles H. Armstrong 20 whom a loan Ot
$50. 900 was entered on the books Of the bank, Is
the colored messenger of Grant Il Ward
Mr. Serbia after little reflection said that prop,
ably proceedings could be taken by the lnitod
States officers against w. - Warner anu ~ II.
Work on the ground that they had coluslvely re,
ceiyed part OF the moneys Of the pank miSappi'ou