The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-31
FISH, GRANT AND WARD.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THEM.
Fish Placed Uader Arrest and Admitted
to Baii-He Makes Public Some Corre-
spOndencs Between Himself aud
Grant-Somc DisagreeabIe Facts.
THE FINANCIAL SCANDAL.

President of the Marine Bank, was arrested
last night upon warrant issued by United
States Commissioner Shields He was found
at the Mystic flats, Broadway and Thirty
ninth streets, where he had been hiding.
He was not taken before the magistrate, and
Is still in the custody of Deputy Marshal.
The warrant was issued upon the affidavit
of Augustus Serbia, the National Bank Ex-
aminer, who deposed that Fish had misap-
propriated Sl,l4l 900 between March l and
May 6, 1884, by series Of credits to the
finn of Grant Il Ward, in sums from S25,-
600 to $3.50, 900 at various dates. The credits
were entered in the books of the bank as
loans to imaginary persons, and secured by
imaginary colaterals in stocks and bonds
all OF which transactions were stated to be
entirely fictitious.
Fish stated that he was never on intimate
terms with Ward, and did not see him
once month until just before the break
up. Up to the day the Marine Bank
failed he had not the glimmer of suspicion
that the Government contracts repre-
sens,d by Ward were not genuine July 8,
1859, he wrote to General Grant asking,
among other things, about the Govern
ment contracts. In reply he received two
letters from General Grant, one written by
General Grant personally and the other by
George f. Spencer, the cashier of the firm
OF Grant & Ward, and signed by General
Grant himself. In both Grant said that all
transactions were straight and that the
profits were genuine.
Fish further said that the suit on which
Ward was arrested was originally against
Ward himself, but as soon as he show ed
General Grants letters and certain other
evidences of fair dealing the counsel for
City Chamberlain Tappan destroyed the
warrants against Fish These Grant let
tiers were photographed, and a
dozen copies are now out in the hands of
lawyers. Fish wanted to publish
them, but his counsel forbade it, as such
publication would have disastrous effects on
General Grant. Fish said that thirty days
ago he was worth fully 81 900, 900, and that
it was not likely that man aged sixty
three would deliberately throw away his
competence and ruin his family. Fish
also told how Ward would come
to him with slips of paper on which
were written alleged Government con-
tracts Tor supplies. Fish would 70 to
Wards office and generally found there
General Grant and Senator Chatfee. Ward
kept telling him all the time that General
Grant, Chatlee, President Arthur and Others
were helping him by political influence to
get contracts and thus deceived him, General
Grant making the deception complete by his
letters Fish concluded by declaring that
he would produce the Grant letters and
other documents to show that he had been
basey deceived.
NEW YORK, May 27.-James ID. Fish,
President of the Marine National Bank,
who was arrested Monday, appeared before
the United States Commissioner yesterday
afternoon and pleaded not guilty to the
charge of misapplying for his own use mon
eys belonging to the bank. The bail was
fixed at $50, 900. James +. Ward, OF
Ward Il Co.'S Havana Steamship Com
pany, Francis C.. Reed, lawyer, and David
HirSch, tobacco manufacturer, were accept
ed as bail and signed tile bail -bOnd. Fish
then took his departure in the company OF
friends. Before he left the building he WAS
was shown Il statement in an evening paper,
p-lrpOrting to be a denial by General
Grant concerning the authorship OF
the letters which Fish sdid General Grant
had written him. Fish said he did not
believe General Grant had denied hay-
ing written the letters in question, as he
(Fish) now had them in his possession. He
would, however, refuse for the present to
make them public, except as to their general
scope, which he had already disclosed.
Friends of General Grant assert that he
will show in a day or two that Fish's
statements are either entirely false or
that the actual facts are so distorted
and misrepresented as to be worthless.
Mr. Seward, one of General Grants attor-
mys, speaking of Fish's threats to show
up letters received from the General, said
that prior to July /, 1882, Fish had
sent notes of Grant Il Ward to the Lincoln
Bank for discount In answer TO an in
ouiry from the President of that bank, Fish
had said that both General Grant
and himself were general part
ners in the firm OF Grant q Ward. July
S Fish wrote to Grant saying tn
he thought il would not be amiss for
them to counsel a little occasionally in re-
gard to Grant 81 Wards business, especially
since legally they were general partners.
1t was necessary that Grant IL Ward 8
credit should stand high, and Fish had dis
counted and Endorsed $500, 900 of notes for
grain and other things purchased to fll
Government contracts. To this letter Cen
eral Grant replied that Fish's understand
ing regarding the liabilities of both in the
firm were the same as his, and he
was willing to have the firms advertise
ment changed so as to express the standing
of both. Later Ward prepared letter and
handed it to Spencer to copy. Ward OBJ
tanned General Grants signature to the
copy. Grant signed it without reading it,
being assured that it was only an ordinary
business title. This said that Grant thought
the investments were safe, and he was will
ing that Ward should derive what profit he
could for the firm that the use OF his name
and influence might bring.
New YORK, May 2S.-Ex-Senator Conk-
ling, counsel for General Grant said yeSter-
day: 1.-The only statement that is to be
made on the part of General Grant was
published yesterday morning in all the
papers of this city, and also through the
agency of the Assoc ate Press, in those Of
other parts of the United States. In tn 4
statement iae letters alluded to in the re-
ported interview with Fish were given in
full, IN see no reason for further
statement on the part of General Grant"
The following are the letters of General
Grant to which Fish referred:
New YORK CITY, July Q, l8S2.- Wy dear ar
Fish: On my arrival In the city this morning
find your letter of yesterday, with a letter
from Thomas L. James, President OF the Lin
coin National Bank. and copy of your reply
ha pIar as,df i'm in rf.cy ard