St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-20
EX-BANKER FISH TALKS.
He Speaks Kindly of Grant, But Not
SO of Ferdinand Ward.
What the General Told Him of His
Wall Street Business.
Interviewing the Prisoner,

Special to the Globe.
NEW YORK, April 19.-Financier James
ID. Fish seems to be quite contented in his
home. A reporter called at Ludlow street
jail and had an interview with Mr.. Fish.
He said: 81 am happier man than l was
on the Sd day of last May. [ do not think
l can be sentenced to less than ten or more
than 40 years will be so accustomed to
life by that time that it will be hard for me
to change, and so | suppose / might just
as we'll have a longer term"
After moments hesitation Mr. Fish con-
tinued, in a tone that gave evidence of any
thing but cheerful spirit II made all
the restitution in my power, but it seems to
have been insufficient. On the LIST day Of
January, 1880, | was worth $3.50 900. |
surrendered all this, besides several life in
surance policies which 1 had been paying
on for years. in hopes that my family would
be benefited by them after my death. They
were worth over $50, 600. / wish to say
SOMETHING ABOUT GEN. GRANT.
and say it in the kindest way. What | saw
about Ferdinand Ward will be said differ
emily. | was friend of Ward, and how
he could deceive me as he did is something
entirely beyond my comprehension. He
acted mysteriOusly all through the whole
business. Only July 5, 1889, sent letter
to Gen. Grant, asking him to meet me and
have a consultation about affairs of Grant
u Ward. j said that we were Old men and
that our advice would doubtless be of ser
vice to the young firm. The general
answered to the effect that he would
meet me at 3 o'clock on the following
day. In his charge to the Jury.
District Attorney Root said that Ward and
/ had conspired to get Gen. Grants sigma
ture, whereas l never said q word to Ward
about it, 1t seems, however, that Ward
wrote the reply and the general signed it,
| was never in the office of Grant & Ward
an hours time in my life" Mr. Fish
checked himself here, and said that as every
thing was past and gone now talking about
it would not help matters. After mo-
ment's silence he continued: "In the latter
part of 1888 | went up to the Office of Grant
& Ward and met the geneul l asked him
piled that it was splendid. He
said he did not believe there was
firm In Wall street which was making so
much money as Grant d. Ward. l asked
him if he ever
EXAMINED THE ACCOUNTS
Of the firm, and he said that he got state
HlCHb VHCly IhOIiill, anu lIldJ WAS I'LL no
cared for"
'The general was practically silent
partner, was he not?"
''He was an active partner in the firm. I
do not care about saying anything more re-
garding that. A year ago last winter Ward
used to visit the general at his home two
or three times a week. He frequently met
there James r. Smith, one Of the directors
of the MaKine bank, this city, Chamberlain
Tappan and Treasurer Spencer of the Erie
road. The time was usually spent in play
ing poker. / never had any talent that
way, and could never learn how to play
cards. When Brooklyn bridge was
opened in May, 1888, Gen. Grant
was not present at the festivities. Ward
told me that difference had occurred be-
tween the general and President Arthur,
and that if a reconciliation did not take
place he was afraid he would lose all the
government contracts. When the firm Of
Grant q Ward was established it was
agreed that Ward should have the entire
control and management of the business.
When the troubles began gathering about
the firm | raised ST. 400 600 for it, If had
been asked the day before the failure how
much | was worth, | should have said about
So, 600, 600 When the general went into
the firm he hadn't any money at all.