St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-05-14
FERDINAND WARDS RASCALITY
Fish, of the Marine Bank, tells "Gath"
Something Concerning Conf
Dental Contracts.
The Grants We're Interested, but it Would be
Little Delicate to Call them Frauds.
Especial Telegram to the Globel

Especial Telegram to the Globel
CINCINNATI, May 13.-Gath has the following
interview in the Enquirer with Fish, the presi-
dent of the defunct Marine bank:
''When was it that you first knew Ferdinand
Ward?''
''Itwas in 1871 said he. 81 was introduced to
him, Ithink, by Mr.. Green, the vice president
of our bank, but after Mr.. GREEN'S death he
came to see me',
''What was the date of the organization of the
firm of Grant 81 Ward?''
Mr.. Fish said 1881, but I think it was at the
close of 1880. He then made the following state
ment in slow way, apparently recollecting with
some difficulty under the pressure he had been in
for the past six days. do not ouch for this
language
"The first time that lent Ward money in any
amount was upon his representation to me that
he had opportunities to supply flour to the city
OF New York. In general way l inferred that
he got contracts to sell the flour to the city
through Mr.. Edison, the president of the produce
exchange, where Ward employed. My
election is that there was a confidential way
about the transaction, or that he told me that it
was Il matter of favor that he got it. 1t turned
out well for he paid the money back with inter-
est mention this matter, said Mr.. Fish, to
show that from the beginning of my relation with
Ward there matters which he
represented that were too confidential for
ME to have anything directly to do
with them. l was not much of man for poll
tlcians, and did not care to know how he got the
flour contract, and do not know if there
were any flour contracts except that he said so.
Now within the past several months Mr.. Ward
has represented to me that he had confidential
understanding by which he furnished to the gov
ernment the supplies l supposed that through
the Grant family. or the friends of the Grants he
might have some such contracts. had no reas-
on to suspect anything he said, for we had now
been doing business for six seven years to
gether.
'sN[r. Fish, what did he first say about these
contracts?'
''Why, he said to me after he had been in
great variety of transactions, all of which turned
out well, that it would be good thing to get the
contracts for the government supplies, and L
think he mentioned the names of Chaffee and
EllSins, who had been in congress and knew
about business of that sort The impression was
put in my mind that had better not have any
direct knowledge on the subject, was in a
national bank. l supposed that he might be ar
ranging to supply stores, not only to the army
posts and to the Indians but perhaps to the
navy, or for whomsoever the government bought
its supplies. do not know anything about
government business. To confirm this idea
Ward introduced me to Chaffee and Elkins,
sitting in his office, and thought that they were
portion Of the scheme, or that their friendship
or knowledge had been of advantage to Ward, as
the partner of Mr.. Chaffee's son-in-aw and of
Gen. Grants son."
''Mr. Fish, do you think he had any govern
ment contracts of that kind?'
''Nothing whatever said Mr. Fish 81 am
now satisfied that the whole thing was an inven-
tion and myth. don't believe he had any kind
of contract. Mr.. Ward, however, had been in
such various transactions, which he managed en-
tirely by himself, that considered it was not my
business to know too minutely.'
Said l, 81 think that portion of the business is,
what the public most demand to know, for it
then asked Mr.. Fish if Gen. Grant had done any
thing that he knew of in the contract matter
81 don't suppose now he knew anything about
it, said Mr.. Fish, 'sbut before these disclose
ures l did think that Grant, or Grants friends
might have given Mr.. Ward the opportunity.
Mr.. Ward said to ME at leastone occasion that
L now saw the advisability of his having brought
the Grants into business relations with u.s. He
referred to the matter of these confidential con-
tracts. I did not speak about these things to
Grant, Chatter or Elkins, any of the Others
because the idea had been conveyed to me that it
was distinctly confidential and rather delicate
thing"
GLOW could man have got such large sums
of money on representations of that kind and
not have been dishonest?''
u don't see any thing in it but rascaity, said
Mr.. Fish 1.-The young man had my conf
dence through period of very active years. l
never saw any thing about him to distrust nv
faith. Perhaps should have been more particu-
lar to know about these things, but my own bank
occupied all my time, and the business of Grant
d Ward was Wards own labor. When we en-
larged our partnership, rather increased the
capital at the time that Gen. Grant wanted to put
in more money, it was then arranged that Ward
should have the entire management, should sign
the checks and should keep the books''
''Mr. Fish, what was the amount of money
originally put into the firm of Grant & Ward?''
''Three hundred thousand dollars Buck
Grant 100000, 1 put in 100000 and Ward
100000"
Ibid you have any previous knowledge of
Buck Grant before he went into the firm?''
''Hardly any. Ward had gone up to Wall
street and taken a desk there in the office of
stock exchange. He had number of transac-
tions there, which all turned out
profitable far as my interest in
them was concerned 1 think it probable that
while he was at that desk he made the acuuaint-
ance of Buck Grant He came to me and said
that Grant wanted him to go into business aud
have general brokerage and banking house.
l told Ward that, while had respect for Grant
useful citizen, he was politician and 1 did
not put any stress a business man because of
his public eminence. l declined at first to
be introduced to young Grant on the
ground that Ward had better attend
to his own concern, and that if there was an
arrangement made to make it himself How
ever, he did ask me to dinner one day and there
young Grant. He seemed to be Young
man of good appearance and address, and fair
knowledge of the world. 1 thought he must be
pretty good fellow to have attracted Ward as
he had done. They wanted me TO put nv
name in the house, but said: ssNo; YOU
boys attend to the business yourselves, will
help you to the extent of 100000, which
could then afford to put i'm
''When did Gen. Grant come into that firm,
and what did he put in?''
ssGrant did not speak of coming into the firm,
nor did not hear of his coming in until after
Garfield had been elected president. Possibly
Gen. Grant may-have thought the presidential
office would come to himself again. Anyhow,
after Garfield was elected, Grant said he would
have to find something to do, and Ward pro-
posed to to let him in the firm.
queried, rather than objected to
the matter, because thought
the firm was doing pretty well, and there were
already three persons in it with equal interest.
Ward said that young Grant wanted his father to