Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01

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name made distinguished that Of the
firm to which he mhappily belonged,
lies in his grave Fish, the banker most
intimately associated with the broken
house. wears the conyict's garb AMI
now the man whose reckless impru-
dence and, as it appears, dishonesty,
were the causes Of the crash, has been
convicted Of grand larceny. We pre-
sent his portrait exactly as he appears
at the present time, the full weight Of
his trouble upon him.
The proceedings at the trial Of Fer
dinand Ward were virtually confined
to one count in the indictment drawn
up against him. 1t was held before the
Court of Oyer and Terminer, New
York, Judge Barrett presiding, and
lasted only about fifteen hours. The
verdict Of the Jury was given in the
early morning Of October Goth. 1t
found Ward guilty Of grand larceny, in
obtaining the certliication Of a check
for 81 500, and obtaining the money
thereon by false pretences. The evil
dence upon which the decision was
chiefly based was that Of convict Fish,
who. on May 5. 1854, was president Of
the Marine Bank, New York, and that OF
his brother, associated with him in the
business of the bank. 1t showed that
Ward stood at the private telephone
which connected his Office with the Ma
rine Bank and directed that the check
presented by Mr.. ". }. Warner should
be certified and the Court ruled that
Ward did obtain the $7l.N00, when the
money was paid to Warner on Wards
check. Mr.. Warner was simply Wards
legal appointee to receive the money,
and the legal effect Of the check IN
question was q direction to the bank TO
pay the $7l.SOO to Warner for the use
Of Ward. With the evidence before
them and the ruling Of the Court. the
Jury found the verdict which will clotho
Ward in a striped garb.
The miserable man whose audaciouS
career Is thus brought to an ignomiuious
pause is apparently half way between
thirty and forty years old. Hei, slight
" built, and stand, about five feet ten
inches in height. lie has sallow com
pleXion.
Between nine and ten years ago
Ward went TO live in Brooklyn. lie
was at that time a clerk earning sal
arv of 500 a week. but managed to be-
come intimate before long with a re-
tired merchant named Green, and IN
the course Of time an inmate of that
gentleman's household. When this
step was taken ho was attended by a
colored valet, and his Semblances -
altogether betokened prosperity. Less
than seven years ago he married his
friends daughter. Miss Ella Green.
During the previou, three years he
had made influential friendships in
New York. by the death of his wlie's
father. which was soon after the mar
riase, She inherited a large fortune,
thus increasing further her husbands
social consequence. Wards financial
good luck did n5t end here. His brother
William. who at one time held the Of
fee Of Assistant Uuited States Assayer
in New York city, became interested IN
a silyer-mue in Colorado. Ferdinand
and others Joined him in purchasing
the property, which yielded well.
Thereupon our subject teok a hand
some house in Brooklyn, in the neigh
borhood Of residences occupied by
millionaires, and was subsequently
able to buy it. lie resided there
until bis fall, the head Of an eStab-
lishment which. toward the end of
his grandeur. comprised a coachman and
footman. and French cook, a French
butler, and French waiter. And his
magniliccuce extended beyond this.
Near Stamford, C., he owned property
which cost him nearly 100000. lie
bought it between four and five years
ago, and there stabbed the majority Of
his twenty four horses. Carriages,
dogs. and the other usual belonging
of a man Of wealth added dignity
to both his establishments. People
spoke Of him as millionaire.
His friends were numerous and iistin-
guished, including General Grant and
Mr.. Fish, president Of the Marine Bank,
who had night-key Of the Brooklyn
house, and was associated with him in
real-eState speculations. Wards gifts
to friends and to the Brooklyn His
torical Society were correspondent in
quality to his social pretensiOns. The
learned body named made him life
member. His religious interests were
by no means neglected, as he sat regu-
larly at the feet Of Or. Storrs in the
Congregational church, Of which that
gentleman is the distinguish pastor.