Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-23
CONVICTION OF FISH.


James D. Fish, convict, formerly presi-
breakfast in Ludlow street Jail yesterday,
and ate his dinner and supper there also.
He slept inside the Jail last night and will
remain there until he leaves for the peniten-
tiary. Ferdinand Ward, the young Napo-
leon of Wall street, formerly partner of
Fish, also resides in Ludlow street jail, but
the men are not on visiting terms now, and
as Ward is parlor boarder, while Fish is a
convicted felon,. they do not meet. The
verdict of the jury, late Saturday night,
finding him guilty on twelve different
counts, prevented his retiring to his cosy
flat thatnight, and instead he found himself
stone cell overlooking Ludlow street.
The elegant Mr.. Ward, the originator of
the schemes that brought disaster to Fish
and himself, luxuriates down stairs in q
Brussels carpeted drawing room with cosy
little sleeping apartment adjoining. The
latest novels and magazines lie scattered
about on centre table, deep cushioned
chairs form convenient lounging places for
the erratic financier's Wall street visitors,
and every morning the fastidious gentle
man has his private bath. Upstairs 'No.
Al" lives Fish in bare cell not as large as a
street car and twice as uncomfortable. In
stead of a private bath Mr.. Fish has not
yet got even wash basin, and has to travel
his morning toilet, and must dry himself
or public roller towel that is rough as
some of his fellow prisoners. A narrow cot
is the only article of furniture in the room,
except a wooden chair, and this last was
given him as special favor.
He tried the regular breakfast ratiOns serV-
ed out, but conld not 60 the coffee, so he
sent for a chop and few especial dainties,
and borrowed money from his brothers to
pay for them. .,
wave of the hand takingin all his surround
ings, sis a real surprise to me. My coun,
sci almost promised that the jury would
either discharge me or disagree, and | was
wholly uprepared for conviction. don't
quite realize yet that this is prison." pat
ting the bare walls meditatively with the
palm of his hand, "and somehow 1 don't
care very much whether I get out or stay
here. True, it isn't very comfortable"
with quizzical smile, "but everybody here
has been very kind to me, and 1 guess that
I'll get used to it,"
Great interest was manifested by the
other persons as to what turn things would
take when Fish met Ward for the first time
in the Jail. Fish, when asked how he would
greet his quondam chum, said coloring,:
GAS would rattlesnake, the cold-blood-
ed villain!"
Alluding to the prevalent idea that he
had saved competency out Of the wreck of
the bank, Fish said, earnestly:
II solemnly tell you that nothing could
be further from the truth. I gave up every
thing in my assignment-the most foolish
act of my life-and am not now possessed
ofa hundred dollars. + have even had to
borrow the money necessary for my support
during the past two years." This assertion
was partially confirmed by Fish's refusing
to pay four cents-the Jail price of the morn
ing papers-and his reluctance in accepting
the services of the bootblack at a compen-
sation of nickel.
He seemed agreeably surprised at the
courtesy and kindness with which he had
been received by the Jail officers and pris-
oners. "This is the jolliest set of fellows 1
have met in long time," he said, as he
knocked the ashes from his cigar, "and l
don't see why a man can't be very happy
in this place, even if he is deprived of his
liberty. After ALL" he soliloquized, chap
piness is regulated by great law OF COM
pensation. Often, when [ was apparently
in the full tide of success some little Incl
dent would throw cloud over the brightest
day and now here-the last place where a
lIldu "Oulu lOOh lOI I'D pllICoo- liAu q SOA
tain kind of relief which is almost content
ment."
The sentence, if it should be passed on all
the counts on which the verdict of guilty
has been found, might run up to 120 years,
and if the minimum sentence was passed
on all the counts the total might fall to
thirty-fve years. The usual course is, how
ever to pass sentence on certain of the counts
and suspend Judgment on the Others. This
would give Mr.. Fish a sentence of from
five to fifteen years in such penitentiary as
Judge Benedict may indicate. The case
will be fought, however, and long line of
litigation is open to counsel before the SEN
tence can be finally passed and put into ex-
ecution. The first application will be for
new trial on the exceptions taken during
this recent trial. This will be carried up to
the bench over which Judge Blatchford
will preside, and if necessary the case may
be- carried to the United States supreme
court. Counsel for Mr.. Fish had not de-
termined yesterday how far the case would
be carried-Ne,o York World.
FIGHTING PROHIBITION.-The proprie-