St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-04-04
TIE MARINE SANK.

Testimony of james d. Fish and tieneran
Grant at the Trial of the Former.
NEW YORK, March 28.-Mr. Fish took
the stand, and was examined as to the re-
lations between the bank and the firm of
Grant & Ward. He said that he first
met Ferdinand Ward in 1876. He
was introduced by Wards father
in-law, Mr.. Green, Vice-President
of the bank. Ward told Fish
he was a young man OF limited acquaint-
ance and small capital, but ambitious to
succeed in business, and he solicited
Fish's advice. At the same time Ward
told Fish that he had opportunities
through acquaintance to speculate prof
itably in certificates of membership in the
Produce Exchange, buying them for 1920
and selling them at from $3.50 to
$3.50 each. Fish lent Ward money
from time to time to carry
on these speculations, and he afterward
got Fish to go into various schemes.
| Ward atterWard got acquainted with u
S. Grant, jr., and introduced Fish to him..
| The firm of Grant & Ward was formed in
| 1880. Grant, Ward and Fish each sup
possibly contributed 100000 to the
capital After this Ward wrote to Fish.
| The letters were read in evidence. In
them Ward assures Fish that
he has secured Government
contracts and expects to get
| larger ones. The letters almost invaria--
bly, suggest that Fish send certain
amounts to aid in working up these in
yestments. Ward also sent Fish each.
month a statement of profits and a check
for Fish's share, ranging from few hum
dreds up to $41, 900. Many of the letters
are personal, and speak of Wards sue
cess, which he attributes to Fish's giving
| him start He calls Fish his second
| father.
On March I'd, 1882, Ward wrote: "The-
general contract business progresses
well, or the papers will give us fts.'
Referring to large grain contract he.
had taken he writes: "We may not be in
favor long, SO take these orders when.
| can ret them. There is to be a large
order in April, which may try for If you
say so. Now word as to the.
General. If some of these fellows down
there Gin Washington who opposed the
bill for his retiremenD should get wind
of our having these contracts they will
use it as tool to defeat the bill, so | am
very careful, and have cautioned Smith
against saying anything. As long as we
keep quiet and do this business Ill out
side names, and in quiet way, the Cen
eral will stick by us"
i After recess the deposition recently
made by General Grant was put in evil
dence. In answer to questions put by
counsel for Mr.. Fish, General Grant, ac-
| IN the 6PnoSitiO0. said.
81 am informed that | was partner in
the firm of Grant & Ward at the time the
failure took place. / never knew that l.
was anything else than special partner:
have dim recollection of receiving O.
Eletter from Mr.. Fish about July, 1882, and
of answering that L had good deal to,
do that day; that it was doubtful
when l could 60 and see him, but that j
believed the matters his firm were en-
gagged in were all right. The letter OF
which photographs were published l do
not believe was the letter / answered. l.
don't suppose ever saw the one thatWas
published. I suppose Mr.. Ward took very
good pains that | should not have it.
have searched for the letter did receive,
but am unable to find it. I have not been
, in the habit of preserving private letters"
The General was shown another OF the
letters purporting to be written by
him. He said the body OF.
the letter was obviously not written by
him, He did not remember the letter az.
all, and could not identify the signature
as his, though he was not able TO say IL
was forgery. He frequently signed
t letters when very busy for Mr.. Work
, and Mr.. Ward and others connected
] with his companies without reading.
Y icL,+ this
without knowing its contents.
The direct examination extended only
! to the Identification of the letters. The
! General then made brief statement to-
; the effect that at the time he Went
! into the firm he had very small ln-
! come. but had some money that his son
. had managed and added to Tor hlm
, while he was abroad, and at his sons
:, SUGGESTION he went into the firm ana
, was to have half his sons share to
! live on, There was afterWard an
income raised for him, and after that the
firm generously concluded to let him In
I as q special partner, as he understood .
: On cross-examination General Grant
:, nositiyely denied that the letter from
! Fish 1.-THE reply to which has been photo
: nraphed) contained any reference TO
Goyernment contracts. He had told
: Ward. when Government contracts were
. mentioned, that there must never be any
# engaged in. He had been President on
q the United States, and did not thlnK II
: suitable for him to have his name con
/ nected with Government contracts
II He knew there was no large pro,
n fit in them except by dishonest
i measures. He never knew o.
= but one Government contract held by tne
! firm, and Ward told him that consisted
= simply in buying $1,000 bushels OF oats
/ on the Chicago market. He saw nothlns