Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-06
THINGS or CURRENT INTEREST


A New York despatch Of last Saturday even
ing says; Ferdinand Ward, smiling and per-
fectly self-possessed, came into the crowded
courtroom this morning 10 receive sentence
of the law for one of the many crimes be
had committed in the world of finance. The
sheriff and warden of Ludlow street jail ao-
companied him. Throwing of his overcoat
with an easy air, he bowed to and shook
hands with his counsel. II was noon when
the preliminary business Of the court was
through with and Ward was told 10 stand up
to receive his sentence. He arose firmly, his
eyes wandered about the room, and then he
dropped them upon the floor Every eye was
on him, but he didn't show trace of nervous
ness. Judge Barrett said
Ward, you have been convicted by an in
telligent and conscientious Jury Of the crime
with which you have been charged. You
have certainly had a fair and impartial trial
The jurors were most carefully selected, and
came TO the trial of your case with apparent
ly unprejudioed minds. The court guarded
all your rights and privileges from infringe
ment to the best of It's ability. You we're
convicted because you had no defense. You
offered no defense to the facts. II is only
matter for conjecture why so intelligent
jury should have taken so long time 10 de-
eide your case.
II your case had been that OF a person en-.
tirely unknown, the jury need not have left
their seats. On the contrary, your case has
had the benefit Of more than careful con-
sideration. You have been ably defended by
your counsel, aud an address as brilliant and
scholarly as any ever heard In this courtroom
was made In your defense. You we're not
convicted on popular olamor. The Jury
probably delayed in their judgment because
they were afraid that in some way they might
be accused of being Influenced by popular
clamor, which tended 10 make that conviction
doubtful
81 have nothing to say to you in the way Of
homily, because think it would be wholly
useless. You have shown yourself TO be Who'll
ly Indifferent throughout this trial 10 the
charges which have been brought against you.
You seem to experience no remorse whatever
over the ruin and sorrow which you have
brought TO hundreds Of people In this coun-
try. You have done more to unsettle public
confidence in moneyed institutions than any
other man OF this generation. Aud yet
through this entire trial you have shown your
self to be wholly unrepentant for the sins you
have committed. This being the fact, must
simply content myself with pronouDcinR the
sentence of the court which is that you shall
be confined in the state prison at hard labor
for the period OF ten years"
Not muscle of the prisoners face changed
while these scathing remarks we're being made
He bowed his head, but did not tremble or
show any evidence Of feeling. Ward was
quickly surrounded by his friends He put
on his overcoat, took his Derby hat, and left
the courtroom, accompanied by his keepers,
for the sheTiff's office. 1t was decided that
Ward should be taken 10 Sing Sing by the
first train from the Grand Central depot. The
time for the departure was 2:3O. During the
time eintervening-nearlyt three hours-W Wards
movements were kept secret but it was un-
derstood that he was being accorded the priv.
ilege Of attending to some private Affairs.
The prisoner left for Sing Sing at the appoint
ed hour, in charge Of Sheriff Davidson and
Warden Kiernan.
The technical charge on which Ward has
been sentenced to prison was grand larceny.
He drew check on the Marine National
bank, which was presented for certihcation,
but Wards account being overdravn, Presi-
dent Fish Of the bank called him 10 the tele-
phone and after some conversation consented
to the certihcation Of the check. It proved
that Wards representations were q pack Of
lies calculated to deceive the bank II ap-
peared in evidence that Wards words through
the telephone we're heard not only by the
one whose ear was at the receiver but by an.
other who stood neal, and that both recognized
the tones Of his voice 30 as 10 identify him.
Another man who is being looked after in
connection with this gigantic swindle is W.
s. Warner, q young man, who, beginning
with less than $1,000, received and retained
as profits during two years more than 81 ,OO0,-
900, and when the crash came held the obi.
cations of Grant 4 Ward to the extent of
50, 800, 900.