Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-02
CAREER OF a sWIEDLER

e1 recently for creating a disturbance in
the Grani Central Hotel in New York, and
WAS held in 500 bail to keep the peace for
six months. proves to be one Of the Con
! federate captains who, with Kennedy and
! Beala, was concerned in the plot of NoVem-
Der IS, 1861, to burn the principal hotels in
| that city. He was arrested at the time of
the conspiracy aud, by order of Governor
| Dix, was confined for four months at police
Headquarters aud was afterward taken
South, where, through the aid of friends, he
was released. 1t has since been suspected
| that Ward planned the burning OF Barnum's
! Museum, which was destroyed in July, 1860.
The Central Office authorities have been
| locking for Captain Ward lately, and pro-
longed spree at last brought him into their
net. He was discharged on charge of dis
! orderly conduct, but was Immediately re
arrested upon !. number of charges of OBJ
tanning goods and money by worthless
checks aud by representing himself as the
| captain Of the Eclipse, q mythical steamer.
Early last fall Inspector Byrnes directed
| his detectives to be on the lookout for 81
Southerner, over six feet tall, of slim build,
with pale face, high cheek homes and
several Of his front teeth missing. Not
withstauding the fact that the commander
CT the Eclipse was hunted high and
low he managed to leave the city and
fled to Providence, R. 1. From there he
crossed to Boston, and thence he made his
way to Chicago, where all trace of him was
for Il time lost and afterward it was report
ed that ne had breathed his last. 1t is now
believed that Captain Ward circulated the
story of his own death to prevent pursuit
and TO cover his return to New York. AS
far back as August 10, 1884, it is alleged,
Ward, under the name Of w. II. Morgan,
sheriff of Wilkinson county, Miss, succeed
ed in iuping the firm OF Leonard, Kraus,
Lawer & CO.. New York, out of suit OF
clothcs He represented that be had come
OIL in pursuit of noted desperado, and
| meeting the outlaw in the street struggle
ensued, during which his clothing was torn
into shreds. The Captain ordered the
clothes TO be sent to the Cosmopolitan Hotel,
and when the messenger arrived with the
bundle he met him in the Office, and Instead
of going up stairs to try on the suit passed
out of the West Broadway door. A few days
later Captain Ward, in his apparently
favorite role, that Of the commander and
part owner Of the steamer Eclipse, visited
the crockery establishment of James Nj.
Shaw & Co. He represented that his vessel
was running between New York and New
Orleans, and after displaying note for
So 600 on the Park National Bank selected
$4G2 worth of goods. He visited the store
again late that afternoon and with great
unconcern asked the book keeper to draw
| up check for $500. He signed the check,
| which was on the Park Bank, and with it
settled the bill for the china, receiving $50
in change The Eclipse was not at the
berth Capt. Ward said, and as the vessel
could not be found the firm was in few
days, aud after long search, satisfied that
they had had a lucky escape and the cool
swindler had dealt kindly with them.
On the same day that Ward had victim
ized the crockery dealers he called at the
billiard warerooms of Collender q Co.
| There also he was the commander Of the
of the Eclipse, and said he was about to
open billiard saloon at New Orleans. he
selected ten billiard tables and was invited
| to lunch While passing along Broadway
Capt. Ward once and while bowed to
some solid looking man whom he passed
and then be would tell the salesman that
the man was SO and so and an old friend OF
his. During the talk over the sale Of the
billiard tables Ward discovered that the
salesman was well known at the store OF the
i
Ward induced the salesman to accompany
him to that store. After looking over
the stock Captain Ward at last selected
slyerware worth 1865 "for the cabin OF the
Eclipse." To the salesman who sold him
the goods Ward limited that he was related
to Collenders salesman by marriage. Ihls
threw off all suspicion, and when Ward
offered another check for 81 ,1l5 which, 1t IS
alleged, was worthless, it was pronply ac-
cepted and he was given $3.50 in change:
Pettis & Curtis, tailors, were next called
unop by Captain Ward. He ordered a $50
overcoat and directed it to be sent 10 the
Grand Union Hotel. The package was lett
for him there, and soon after the Captain,
it is charged, called at the hotel and rep
resented himself as in the employ OF Pettis u
Curtis, He said that a mistake had been
made and that the package was misdirected
and should have been sent to the 1ranu
Central Hotel. The bundle was given him
and that was the last heard of the overcoat;
At the establishment of Chickerng q
Sous the captain of the Eclipse next put in
On appearance. He purchased two pianos,
worth 81 $50, for his vessel and, it is averred,
Maid for them with worthless paper.
toyers for the pianos were obtained
from F. +. Kramer & Co., and that hrm
gave him 500 change on worth
less check. Mr.. Lincoln, the salesman
for Chickering and Co., took Ward out to
lnuch. and the Captain, it is alleged, swim.
did the proprietor of the dining room out
nf 800 Ward took Lincoln with him to
Lord & Taylors store, and while there dis
n,syed reeeipted bills from the Nerds n
company ard other firms. He also hlateo
at lorr uu~in.ance with his companion
W.; ,,t:.l.:,-,d linens worth ss75 for the
! E. . !, paying for them, as the charges run
Win o check for $1,000 on the Park Bank
lie was given S125 in change, and the Cap
,.SS4aa ttot tho 6rn mead NOT gend the