Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-27
WARDS TRIAL.
James ID. Fish Called as the First Wit.
ness-He Testilies to the CrOokedness
of Wards Transaction With the Marine
Bank.
NEW YORK Oct. 26.

The trial of Ferdinand Ward continued
Monday morning by the counsel for the &C.
cused and the people examining witnesses to
fill places left vacant by Jurors Nos. IL and
II, who were excused by consent on Satur-
day last. Ward looked pale and weary as he
sat alongside his counsel looking over papers
bearing upon the case.
The Jury was completed this afternoon.
District Attorney Martin opened the case.
He said Ward had been indicted for larceny
and read the statutes covering the crime.
While the district attorney was speaking.
Jas. ID. Fish, with custodian. entered the
room He glared at Ward and was removed
10 a private room until wanted az a witness.
The district attorney said that Ward, on Nav
5, 1884, in this citv presented a check for
s7I 800 to the Marine bank. by means of a
check for S75 900 of the First National bank.
Ward received the money from the Marine
bank The $50 check was not honored
by the First National bank and Ward was
guilty of larceny by procuring S7l 900 on it
from the Marine bank The iury must re-
member that Ward was not on trial for ruin
ing Gen Grant and sending him broken
hearted to the grave, or for sending to State
Prison for ten years a gentleman highly con-
nected in banking circles, but merely on trial
for grand larceny.
Jas. ID. Fish was the first witness called.
He leaned over in his chair and glared saw
agely at Ward, who lowered his eyes Wards
counsel moved that the jury be dismissed on
account of the statement of the district at
toruey regarding Gen. Grant and Fish. The
motion was denied.
Fish said | am 66 years old; am a con-
vict at the Auburn State Prison, to which
place was sentenced for ten wears at hard
Lab
MAY 5, 1884 1t was handed me by the paw
ing teller; / directed it certified after " ent
to the telephone and rang up Ward.
Question Is your prisoner here, Ward,
you mean?
Fish, cleaning over again. would like to
see him Yes, that is the man. Continuing
the witness SAID: IL said over the phone,
Ward, have your check here for certifica-
ton, tor 81, 800, against an uncertified check
for S7l 900 Ward phoned back that it as
all right and certified it saw Ward on May
9TH, about 8 o'clock he came in Monday
morning before business hours and asked for
the withdrawal of a certified $50, 900 check,
because an SSI, 900 check against which the
former sum was drawn had been withdrawn
John c. Carr, receiving teller, was present
and instructed him to Withdraw the check.
When the exchanges came in | found the
S8l, 900 check which Ward said had been
Withdrawn had been presented and paid by
the bank. | rang Ward up and told him.
He said it was strange, but it would be all
right. He was too busy to come and see me
then.
On cross-examination he said he did not
know Wards account had been overdrawn on
Nav 9TH to tie amount of 100000. II
knew Ward often had his personal account
overdrawn, but Ward told me the money was
deposited in the Grant & Ward account On
April 18th told Ward it seemed to me that
our affairs were drifting in wav | couldn't
understand. Carr. receiving teller, had
charge of the cash account. Nav 9Th, ex-
pected Ward all dav, according to his written
promise, to make a deposit to relieve the
SSI, 900 check which did come in though he
assured me it was withdrawn, We waited
for Ward at the bank that dav till 5 o'clock
Ward had promised to raise the money, and
| understood was trying to borrow it. On
Nav 9Th was pressing him hard for money
as the bank needed it in order to get throug gh
the clearing house that Monday forenoon
On Nav Sd. | wrote Ward, "get in all you
can and hope to see better DAYS
II meant for him to get all the money he
could, and Monday forenoon he deposited the
Vanderbilt check for Sl50,OOO, which was
credited to his personal account l don't
know that at that time twas extra hard for
Ward to borrow money on the securities he
had. don't remember ever soliciting loans
for Grant & Ward on their securities, though
| believe once went to the Selipmans, 1t
was because could make better TERMS AT
that time the Marine Bank was carving a
load for the Erie Company, and I wrote to
Ward that would leave il the bank was no,
relieved of some of its securities, which the
other banks would hardly accept Ward, /
think. became director in January, and was
one at the time this bank failed. Twas a
member of the firm of Grant & Ward"
"Ward," the witness continued, "often
made deposits as late as 8 80. I believed
Ward to be a honorable, truthful man. One
to whom trusted everything | had in the
world. On Monday, Nav 5, / expected Ward
70 raise a large amount of money. a. much a.
s4Oo 900 or $500. 900. He had been trying
to raise money for 10 days before this"
At this point witness was excused until to-
morrow