Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-29
THE AUTHOR OF HIS RUIN.
That's what Fish Calls Ward.

The day James D. Fish, the President
of the broken Marine Bank, was arrested
a Herald reporter had a long talk with
him. The reporter said:
Then you were completely in the dark
as TO the real rotten condition OF the firm
atfairs!"
Il was. indeed. OF course. when peO-
pie spoke TO me l spoke Of the government
contracts as gIibly as though l Under
stood all about them; which, Of course. 1
did rot. Ward paid me frequent visits.
and always had some sort of memoranda
referring TO these contracts. He had
copies OF Indian c0ntracts-that is. sup
plies for use by the Indians, and also for
all sorts OF supplies. which l supposed the
government was buyine. Hay, pork,
beet, lumber, wheat and oats were all
among the articles which were bought.
and upon which the firm We're making
advances and taking its share Of the large
profits which were gained by the con-
tractors. / talked to Ward about them.
and asked how they We're secured. and he
gave me to think that they were special
favors hOm persons high in political
life
Whom did he mendon;"
General Grant, l remember; also SEN
atOr Chaffee; yes, and President Arthur.
NhUs ne AACnEANEttA- 4 AIlllh- many LIOIE.
but their names do not come TO me Just
now. He said that these parties were shar-
ing the profits with him on these contracts.
and that they did not wish them talked
about too much lest others should want
10 get in. too. When l went to the office
Of Grant & Ward I generally saw a num-
Der Of politicians there, and / was intro
duced by Ward 70 some OF them. He told
me then that they were calling upon him in
reference 10 the contracts
did you talk TO them about these con-
tracts:'
mo. l don't recolleet that l did. Our
meetings were only casual ones. and the
affairs of the firm did not come under dis
oussion. You must recollect that there
was not a breath Of suspicion at that time
and that there was nothing to prompt me
to make inquiries"
DEAD SEA PROFITS.
"Then you wish the public to under
stand that you had no idea of the real
character of the firm in which YOU were
a member and from which y0u were
drawing pFOfits:'
''Profits,' said Mr.. Fish as he brought
his INST down with a bang on the table be-
side which he was standing. profits.
indeed Why. a month ago l would have
estimated my worth at $500, 600. or at
the lowest, under forced sale, at $780,
600, Does any sane person think for
moment that l would have brought N.Y.
self 10 this position willingly, or that /
would have taken the risks which
even a success would have involved:
Here am l. sixty-three years Of age,
ruined financially and in character
in the ewes Of the world. All that l
had gained by life Of attention to bust
ness gone through nv blind faith in the
words and promises Of a man whom l
looked upon with such regard as l did
Ward at that time. Not only have | i'm
pOyerished myself. but my family as well.
One son Just starting in life placed $1,000.
which he had saved UP in driblets from
money given him from the piH-maney OF
his mother. into the nrm as an investment.
and this is gone. Another son, acting as
cashier of the Marine Bank, lost all he
had in the world By the failure Of the
bank and the firm. \ brother but a few
years younger than myself placed $50, 900,
the earnings of a lifetime. into this con-
cern. and on my advice, too. Is II reason
able to suppose that I would have brought
all this ruin on those related 10 me when
at any time / could have drawn ont. or at
least checked the ruinf'
THE AUTHOR OF HIS RUN.
ssThen you regard Ward as the author
OF your Tuint"
Exactly. He simply stole what was
placed in his keeping as investment. He
made q clean sweepof all the partners and
patrons Of the firm put in, and am only
anxious for such complete explanation
OF his peculiar methods Of finance as
shall show who are really debtors and
who are creditors Of the firm. 1t is CON-
pletely reversed now. Those who have been
drawing such alleged profits out OF the
house ought really to be putting money
in now"
ssHave you seen Ward since the col
lanSe -
ssHe tried to avoid me. but have seen
HIM. Early on the morning Of the failure
went TO his residence in Brooklyn, FOR
our bank was a debtor to the clearing
house by nearly million dollars. owing
to the failure Of Grant & Ward 10 make
good their Oyerdrafls. l met MIS- Ward
al the house and she said Ferdinand was