Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-06-11
THE WARD INDICTMENT,

In New York, on the Sd instant, the grand
Jury found an Indictment for grand larceny
against Ferdinand Ward, late copartner in
the brokerage business with Gen. U. S. and
Frederick Grant The evidence on which
it was found was that submitted to Referee
Cole, to the effect that Ward carried bag
full of securities from the vaults of the Ma
rine Bank prior to its collapse. The in
dictment when first presented was handed
to the recorder of the Court of General Ses-
lions, who immediatly directed the chief
clerk to issue bench warrant on which
Ward should be brought before him forth
with. Soon after, however, the district
attorney made motion that the case
be transferred to the Oyer and Terniner
Court, to which the recorder consented.
The indictment charges Ward with grand
larceny in the first degree in carrying away
from the Marine Bank a bag containing
81, 100000 worth of bonds and securities.
Commenting upon this indictment, the
Ne,cs and Courier says:
sIt is one Of the mysteries Of the law that
it should be so easy to indict Ferdinand
Ward for grand larceny, and so hard to in
dict him for sWindling. Many months have
passed since the failures caused by Wards
rascality, and it has been proved beyond
controversy that he was swindler of the
worst kind. Yet he has not been indicted
for fraud, which, in his case is far worse
offence than common stealing"
We suppose that if the Indictment had
been for fraud it would also have included
the Grants as particeps criminis, they, as
Wards partners, being bound by his con-
tracts as members of the firm of Ward &
Grant. Hence the mysterious subtlety of
the law in this peculiar case.
It is understood that the younger Grants
are to resumet the brokerage eand banking bus
mess in San Francisco and New York next
fall Why they have not resumed before
now was the difficulty to contrive some
means to prevent their capital from falling
into the hands of Ward & Grants creditors
and thus being swallowed up. After much
consultation of lawyers, it is said device
has been framed which will prevent this and
allow the Grants to go into business again
without any fear that they may be COM
PEELED to pay any portion of their late part
ner'S debts.
CLUYERIUS CONVICTED.
The jury in the case of Thomas j. Cluve
rius, charged with the murder of Fannie
Lillian Madison, in Richmond, on the 18th
of March, brought in verdict on Thursday
night of murder in the first degree, after a
trial lasting twenty-six days. The jury was
out only half an hour. The closing scenes
of this memorable case are thus described:
Mr.. Meredith occupied the afternoon ses-
sion in going over the questions of identity
of the movements of the prisoner and the
deceased on March 13, day and night, the
torn note and its connection with the prls-
Oner and commenting upon, detailing and
criticising the testimony of the witnesses at
great length, to show that it was not coin
cidence alone but circumstantial evidence
of the strongest kind. He concluded at $50
p. NJ, having spoken nearly nine hours.
His summing up and deductions were Of
the most forcible character, and his perOra-
ton was powerful and effective. He closed
his remarks by asking for verdict of MUIR
der in the first degree.
The case was then given the jury and
they retired. During their absence a squad
of police filed into Court and was station
ed in line Immediately behind the pris-
Oner. This precaution was deemed neces-
sary by the Court to prevent any demon
stration in the event of verdict being
arrived at. The Courtroom was more
densely thronged than at any time since
the commencement of the trial. An i'm
mense crowd filled the hallway of the build
ing, and the street was almost impossible.
A subdued hum of voices could be heard
throughout the Courtroom and much specu-
lation was INDUCED in regarding the result
of the iury's deliberations, sentiment being
divided between verdict of guilty and the
inability of thejury to agree. No one SEEM
ed to believe in a verdict of acquittal.
At 925 o'clock City Sergt. Lee in a low
tone informed Judge Atkins that the jury
had agreed and were preparing their YER
dict. This was soon known throughout the
Courtroom and almost every eye was turned
on the prisoner, who was sitting quietly in
his usual place near his counsel. At $50
the Jury filed into the Courtroom and took
their seats. A deathly stiffness pervaded
the crowded room. Clerk Layton polled the
jury and then put the question: "Gentle-
men Of the jury, have you agreed upon
a verdict?" Foreman Keppler replied that
they had. The prisoner was then told to
stand up, which he did, looking straight
ahead and seemingly unmoved.
"Gentlemen of the jury, what say you?
Is the prisoner guilty or not guilty of the
felony charged in the indictments"
Foreman Keppler-"Guilty."
The clerk then took the indictment and
read the endorsement thereon:
1--WE, the jury, find the prisoner guilty of muir
der in the first degree as charged in the indict-
mont -