Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-17

One of the most satisfactory developments
OF the past week has been the conviction OF
James D. Fish, president of the Marine Ma.
tional bank of New York, who hoated Ferdi.
nand Ward in his wicked scheme of whole
sale robbery, and in whose tolls Gen. Grant
was caught, his death FASTENED by the means,
and his last days made respondent and men,
tally miserable. Fish had been on trial for
month, and on Monday morning the Jury
brought in verdict of guilty on - out of
25 counts of the indictment, which WAS for
incorporation of funds, false entries, and
abstraction of funds and credit
When the Ward Fish exposure first occur.
red men wondered how this bank president
and astute and veteran fnancier could have
been beguiled by his young friend and part
ner but the revelations of the trial fully &C.
count for the whole infamous business by
showing that Fish was probably the one man
in New York who could have kept Ward afoat
so long. He simply robbed the bank right and
left in the most direct way and with scarce
ly pretence of disguise. The forms of le.
gitimate banking were maintained by such
reckless tricks as taking the note of Wards
colored porter for $4,000. Securities de-
posted as collateral were permitted to be re-.
moved in day or two by the borrower. In
other cases large loans were made without
any collaterals having been received. While
carefully refraining from awkward inquiries
concerning the alleged contracts, Fish was
drawing thirty or forty thousand dollars a
month in the shape of dividends. In fact he
was pocketing the funds of the bank, which,
after passing through Wards hands, came
back to him and when these proofs of his
guilt were pressed home to him during the
trial he put in a plea of injured innocence
and could not see or would not admit that
there had been anything wrong in his trans.
actions.
But gratifying as it is 10 see man like
Fish brought to his just deserts, the complete
exoneration of Gen. Grant which the trial
has brought about affords even greater salts
faction to the public mind The proof of
the Generals thorough guilelessness, and that
he was basely deceived and betrayed by Ward
and Fish, is complete. In the course of his
closing argument the United States District
Attorney said
"When Fish and Ward found that some
thing must be done, when they had come 10
the point that nothing else would save them
they held up the name OF Gen. Grant-as IL
were, caught hold of him to save them. This
man stands charged with misusing funds OF
the bank by fraudulent means. Did Gen.
Grant know that he (pointing to Mr.. FISH
had been borrowing money for the firm with.
out collateral? Did he know that the &C.
count had been overdrawn? Did he know
of the series of fraudulent transactions ?
And yet this man makes one feeble clutch 10
include Gen. Grant in that series of transac-
tions To inculpate Gen. Grant he swears
that letter referring TO such aud such a
transaction meant Gen. Grant. These con.
spirators knew that great heart could not
stoop to the pettiness Of their greed. His
one weakness was that of singular truthful
ness and steadfastness which gave him, in
his hrmness Of attachment and unWilliDgness
to suspect wrong, the simplicity Of a child.
In all the distressing circumstances of the
time OF the failure Fish let's Ward 20 to Gen.
Grant and borrow that $3.50, 600 TO 90 into
the same caldron, at the expense of the hearts
so dear TO him and the trophies of the glory
Of his past life. / do not know in the rec
ords of confidence operations or business
treachery anything that can parallel the treat.
ment Of this simple and great soldier by
these Two eonspiratOrs. Forever be sunk In
infamy the ignoble soul that would seek to