The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-28
THE WARD TRIAL.
Some Amu.Ips' scenes In a Serious Trial.
YssteFdAy's Testimony.

Some Amu.lDg scenes in Serious Trial
YssterdaSS Testimony.
NRw YoRE, Oct. 27.-The County Couri
House was crowded this morning viii
people anxious to gain admittance to the
court room OF Oyer and Terminer, where
Ferd. Ward is on trial.
Benjamin Fish, the paying teller OF the
Marine Bank, was recalled to the stand
and Ward listened attentively as he read
off the amount of deposits made by him
self and the Arm of Grant & Ward. Some
Of the dep,sits ranged in the hundreds Of
thousands.
General Tracy demanded that certain
books be produosd, and they not being at
hand he asked for tune to examine them.
II don't propose to delay this cast" was
the answer OF the Judge, "and you will
have to get the books the best way you
can"
In his testimony Paying Teller Fish
said: "0n April &c, 1884, Grant & Ward
had balance Of SAG, 900, and in the morn
ing OF May 2 the balance was SSO4, ,702 62.
On May 9 Ward was raising money
By consent OF counsel, the sheets from
which these statements werA given by the
witness wera admitted as evidence, there
by excluding the testamentary evidence
in regard to overdraits. Grant L Ward
had two accounts, one special and the
.ether general. Ward had an individual
account, and drew against the three. The
sheets oi the accounts we're also admitted
as evidence. Ward had spoken TO wit
ness about the purpose OF his special ac-
count, but testimony OF that point was
ruled out upor the objection, and the wit
ness was excused.
Samuel D. Cornell, ok.keeper OF the
First National Bsnk, next testified.
Wards balance on May lst, 81, 81, 4:h,
9th and Gsh was $2,2l3 vS. There were no
deposits made on any OF those days.
Wards accuuut was opened: in June, 1881.
Three checks drawn by Ward came
through the Clearing House on the
morning of May 9Th 10 the amount OF
$2I5, 600.
James D. Fish was the next witness.
He sat down, folded his hands and put on
his spectacies. Until questioned his lips
were tightly closed. He was asked II he
did not receive more than one letter
from Ward on May 9th. He could not
remember.
General Tracey then read number OF
letters from Fish to Ward, all being re.
quests for money advanced by the bank TO
Grant & Ward, and to Ward Individually.
They indicate that the bank was accus-
toned TO allow Ward TO overdrsw his &C.
counts TO large Rmounts. Some OF the
letters created amusement. One OF them
read: IL IL "a
"I suppose we can stand it day longer,
but am afraid there is trouble ahead. l
am not at all anxious to get into the Erie,
and am sorry that he said anything about
it. II you know Of GONE acceptable man
who wants 10 be President Of small bank
down the street can find place for him. "
Yours, ]. d. =.
While General Tracey was reading this
letter everyone laughed. Judge Barrett
held his hand TO his mouth, and the jury
laughed aloud.
Mr.. Fish said, smi!irgly, "It Itre!erred to
the Marine Bank"
Mr.. Fish was examined at length on the
meaning Of these letters, and also upon
the testimony given by him upon his own
trial.
Mr.. Fish said: Goa May oh had no
doubt that we could have gotten relief
from other banks had tue Government
contracts been true os believe them TO
be. A refusal to certify Grant 4 Ward g
checks would have caused rumors which
would have broken them up and then our
bank would have been foicsd down."