St. Paul daily globe., 1885-03-06
FERDINAND WARD.
HoW the Star Boarder Of Lud{o,c Street jail
Enjoys Life.

Enjoys Life.
New York Letter
Ferdinand Ward continues to make his
residence in Ludlow street Jail, but if any
body thinks he is languishing there, the mis-
take is certainly emphatic. Excepting that
the able young financier mentioned is resid-
ing in an questionable part of the city, he
might as we'll be where he is as occupying
bis private residence. | was in the Jail yes
terday afternoon taking look at things, and
Ihad glimpse of Wards apartments. He
is housed on the lower floor of the building,
in the suit which was formerly occupied by
William NJ. Tweed, the celebrated boss of
New York. There are plenty of comforts in
Wards apartments. He has a piano., q
table full of books and papers, a number of
easy chairs and a CRATE fire. His floor is
carpeted, and he keeps stock OF good wines
and cigars where they will be handy when
wanted. A private bath and bedroom and
the privilege of having his meals served in
his room complete the ostensible advantages
of his situation. A handsome black and
white setter dog, which is much attached to
his master, sleeps on the mat in front of the
fire or wanderS about the corridors with, an
air of mute protest. The animal, so they
tell me, appears to know perfectly well that
the present surroundings of his distinguished
owner are not those to which he has been
used. and he goes about the place with de-
pressed tail and head, showing his muzzle
into the laps of the people sitting about, as
though he expected their sympathy. Mr..
Ward is
BY NO MEANS THE CLOSE PRISONER
he is thought to be by the outside public.
When he wants to 90 out of the prison he
goes. He is always accom- panied by the
deputy sheriff, who is naturally well paid for
his trouble and risk. One night there was a
good deal of scare around the Jail when Mr..
Ward didn't get back at the regular closing
time. 1t was thought that the old Tweed
farce was being acted over again. But he
turned up late in good CONDITION, and there
has been no trouble since. Mr.. Ward has
plenty of visitors in the jail, the most fire.
quent ones of the lot being his brother and
Mrs. Ward The latter spends whole days
in his rooms reading, chatting or playing the
piano. Ward himself appears to be In quite
cheerful spirits. He chats with some few
acquaintance among the other prisoners,
and has the appearance of a man who is
quite at his ease. But am assured that he
makes no intimate friends, for the reason
that he is constantly afraid some job may be
put up on him through ringing in detec-
tive under the guise of prisoner. The thing
that most surprises one about Ward at first
sight is his extreme youth. He is tall and
slender, and doesn't seem to be over twenty
five, though his years are really about thirty.
He has white, boyish face, the smallest of
blonde moustaches, and singuiarly frank
smile. If one were to point him out on the
street as the dexterous manipulation he is
represented TO be, the selection would hardly
be looked upon as accurate. | believe he
pays $35 week for his room and board,
which is not at all high, in view Of the fact
that the table is quite as good as that of any
hotel in New York.
HIS TOTAL EXPENSES IN JAIL,
including what he pays for the privilege of
his outings, run up to about $3.50 week
This. of course, isn't bagatelle to the sort
of racket he used to carry on. a friend
of mine was just trlling me of a diuner he
gave to about twenty people few weeks be-
fore the explosion. Every lady guest had a
bouquet beside her plate in vase, which
she was expected to take home with her,
The vases were bought at Tiffauy's by Mrs.
Ward, and cost s130 apiece. Ward used TO
pay S25 ton for the cannel-coal burned in
his CRATE. 1t was sawed up in blocks Of GER
tain dimensions, and was Of the finest quail
ity. All the wood burned in his house land
wood was used exclusively in certain rooms)
was of hickory Of just such diameter and just
such length, without knots or other blemishcs,
so that it looked almost as though it had
been moulded for the occasion. Mr.. Ward
was apparently ''high roller" of the high
est and rollingest cast. In Ludlow street he
is the star boarder, and he doesn't seem TO
be having very melancholy time Of it. He
expects his troubles will blow over, so that
he win have no difficulty in getting clear, and
be is not impatient about waiting for that
very happy moment to arrive.