The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-27
WARDANDTHE MARINEB BANK
The Jury Completed and the Trial Of
Ward for Grand Larceny Begun.
James ID. Fish Takes the Stand and Makes
Damaging Revelations Concerning the
Use Ward Made of an ISL 900 Check.

completed this afternoon, and District Attorney
MARITIME opened the case He said Ward bad
been indicted for larceny, and he read the stat
utes covering the crime.
While the district attorney was speaking,
James d. Fish, with his custodians. entered the
courtroom. He glanced at Ward, and was re-
moved to a private room, where he remained
until wanted as a witness. The district attor-
ney said Ward on May 5, 1884, in this city, pre-
scented check for 81, 800 to the Marine Bank,
drawn against a check for $75. 900 of the First
National Bank Ward received the money from
Che Marine Bank. The $4,000 check was not
honored by the First National Bank, and Ward
was guilty of grand larceny in procuring
ST., 900 on it from the Marine Bank.
The jury must remember that Ward was not on
trial for running General Grant, and sending
him broken-hearted to the grave, OF for sending
TO the State prison for ten years gentleman
highly connected in banking circles, but was
merely on trial for grand larceny.
James d. Fish was the first witness called.
lie leaned over in his chair, and glared savagely
at Ward, who lowered his eyes. Wards coun-
eel moved that the jury be dismissed, on account
Of the statement of the district attorney regard
ing denerai OranG ana MT. FISH, Inc motiou
was denied. Mr.. Fish said:
al am sixty-sx years old and convict at
Auburn State prison. to which / was sentenced
Cor ten years at hard labor. saw the check
handed to me on May 5, 1884. 1t was handed
me by the paving teller. l directed it certified
after went to the telephone and rang up Ward"
Question-Is the prisoner here the Ward you
meant
Mr. F. LEANING over again)-I would like to
see him; yes, that is the man (contemptuously. J
Continuing. the witness said: IL said over
the phone. Ward have your check here for
check for $75. 0O0' Ward phoned back that it
was all right. and I certified. l saw Ward on
May S, about 9 o'clock. He came in Monday
morning, before business hours. and asked for
Che withdrawal Of "a certified $4,000 check, be-
cause an $S1 900 check against which the former
sum was drawn. had been withdrawn. Mr..
John Fl. Carr, the receiving teller was present,
and instructed him to withdraw the check.
When the exchanges came in / found that the
$81, 900 check, which Ward said was drawn. was
presented and paid by the bank. | rang Ward
up and told him. He said it was strange, but
that it would be all rlght,he was too busy to
come and see me them
On cross. examination the witness said he did
not know that Wards account had been over
drawn on May s. 1884, to the amount of $l00000
81 knew that Ward often had his personal &C
count overdrawn but Ward told me the money
was deposited in the Grant e. Ward account. On
now that affairs were drifting in away Icould not
understand. Mr.. Carr the second teller, had
charge of the cash account On May 5 1 ex
pected Ward all day, according to his written
promise. to make deposit to relieve the $8l 900
check, which did come in, though he assured me
It was withdrawn. We waited for Ward at the
bank that day unit! o'clock. Ward
had promised to raise the money, and
,6s b of Nav yg to nsS
for money, as the bank needed it in order to get
through the clearing house on that Monday
morning. May l wrote Ward: Get in all
you can. and hope to see better days meant
hmm to get all the money he could, and on Mon
day morning he deposited the Vanderbilt check
for $3.50, 900, which was credited to his personal
account. do not know that at that time it
extra hard for Ward to borrow money on the
securities he had. do not remember over
leiting loans for Grant & Ward on their securi-
ties, though believe once went to the Selg
mans. 1t was because l could make better
terms. At that time the Marine Bank was
earring load for the Erie Company, and
wrote Ward that would leave if the bank was
not relieved of some of its securities. which
other banks would hardly accept. Ward.
think, became a director in January and was
director at the time the bank failed. was a
member of the firm of Grant 6 Ward"
Counsel then read the following letter:
[Private,]
OFFICE or JAMES d. FISH March %, 1883.
My Dear Ward-I4ife is short. as we have it often
quoted to This Erie business, and some other
matters is altogether too much for We carry
immense burden that other bank would for this
company, and many of their employees. and collat-
erals that no other bank would recognize. If the
bank cannot be relieved of some OF it shall leave
sure as anything in this world. see prospect of
$3.50 J. D. FISH.
t'Ward," the witness continued. ''often made
deposits as late rs $780, When heard that the
$S1, 900 check had been used, though Ward
assured me that it had been withdrawn,
faid sharply, Ward, how is 'D thisa That Fiat
900 has been used He replied, L can't
understand it, but it will be ali right be-
lieved Ward to be an honorable, truthful man,
one to whom trusted everything / had in the
world. On Monday, May 5, l expected Ward to
raise large amount of money, as much as
500 900 or $500. 000 He had been trying to raise
money for ten DAYS before that"
At this point the witness was excused until
tomorrow, to allow counsel for the defense to
examine the books Of the bank.
Benz Fish. a brother Of the previous witness,
testified: "On May and was paying teller
of the Marine Bank On May received this
$7l, 800 check over the counter for certification
passed it to the receiving teller, who showed
me non certified check for $75, 900 deposited
against Is then took the ST.. 800 check to the
president, who telephoned to Ward. and heard
Wards reply over the phone When I received
che $8l, 900 check on Monday May 5. took it to
President Fish, who phoned Ward again, and
received reply tnat IL would De all right"
On cross examination the witness said: ''On
May g. by direction of the president, certified
Wards check for 5000 600. though his account
had been overdrawn. On April 81. his account
overdrawn "a. 600; April %, $lS DOC "a; April
"a, So 006 "a; April 25 $685. 345 April &C. $73 900;
April %, $S4, 900; May g $40. 1885, rs; May 3,
$ll4, 800 70. and May 5. $59. 326. 75 / certified
oil these checks without knowing that Ward had
oyerdrawn his personal account. as the president
had instructed me that Grant & Wards checks
were always good, and believed them So The
ISL, 900 check which | certified on May 3 /
showed to the president because there was
trouble ut the Exchange and their account was
getting very low. was very careful about it !"
This closed the trial for the day. 1t will be
renewed to morrow
Fish Will Tell the Whole Truth.
Npu vo,y Oot DC The uarald eove ~ hos