Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-30
GRANT AND WARD TRIAL.
LEGAL SCRUTINY OF THEIR METHODS
Testimony of President Fish, Mr.. Warner
and Others--Gen. Tracey Sums Up for
the Prisoner-The Jury Retires
A Dramatic Scene.

New YORK, Oct. 2S.-The Ward trial is
the one absorbing topic in this city and
every day crowds stand in long rows out
side of the court room waiting for an op-
portunity to get in. Fish looks ten years
older than when he was sentenced to Ar-
burn State prison. His fringe of white
hair is thinner and he looks haggard
He retains, however. his old decision of
manner, and in giving his testimony never
lets slip Il chance to give Ward u rap
The testimony on Tuesday consisted main
ly of the Introduction Of letters written
by Fish TO Ward. in which the former
continually refers to the condition of the
Marine bank rs bad and to the necessity
of raising money. The bank was always
debtor at the clearing house iii various
sums up to $lG10OO. As early as Septem-
Der, lSS2. Fish wrote in substance 81
cannot 90 away from the bank this morn
ing We are debtor 1878, 900 and | have
all | can do to keep things straight
Where is General Grant. Can get some
money in the United States bank on your
notes Endorsed by me ?"
Three months later Fish wrote:
eve are SIP 600 in debt this morning,
and need all the money we can get to-day
by hook or by crook, or by any other hon
est MEANS" and on November O. 1882, six
months before the failure, Fish wrote {:
81 suppose we can stand it "a day longer,
but am afraid trouble is ahead. If you
know of any man who wants the position
OF president of small bank, | can find
a place for him. This letter sent u smile
over the court room.
The object of the defence in introduce
ing these letters Is to show the unsound-
ness of the bank and Wards efforts to as
sist it. but Fish maintained, whenever he
could get word in, that the continuous
need of money was due to the help the
bank WAS giving Grant q Ward.
Benjamin Fish, paying teller was re
called and in his testimony he said On
April 26, 1854, Grant d. Ward had Il bal
ance OF $4,000, and on the morning of
May 2d the balance was 1904 ,702. On May
2d Ward was raising money for the bank
and he managed the deposits. Grant q
Ward had two accounts, one special and
the other general. Ward had an ndivid-
ual account and drew against the three.
Samuel ID. Cornell, bookkeeper of the
First National bank was the next wit
ness. He Kept Wards account, he said,
on May ,, 3, ,, 1854. Ills balance on May
l,2, 3, /, ,, and 6 was S22l ,30S. There
were no deposits made on any of those
days, The amount was paid to the re
ceiyer of the Marine bank on October -,
and the account was closed. Wards ac-
count was opened in June 1881. Three
checks drawn by Ward came through the
clearing house on the morning of May q
to the amount of S2l5 600.
President Fish's Testimony.
EX-president Fish was recalled and his
cross-eXamination was resumed by Gen
eral Tracy. Il don't know" he said,
chow many letters | received from Ward
on May >. 1t is not true that my bank
was IN financial difficulty since January.
1882, and that Ward kept helping to save
it. We pressed Ward to return to us the
money which he and his firm had bor-
rowed. On redirect examination,
Fish said - knew of Ward in 1876, and
was personally acquainted with him in
the Summer of 1871. January l. 1882,
was associated i'll business with him in
the firm of Grant & Ward, the latter alone
conducting the BUSINESS. In January or
February, 1882, there was Il change in the
relate Is between the Marine bank and
Grant Il Ward. Ward told me that the
business of Grant * Ward would be
changed : that they would give up ST ock
business. and that through the influence
of Cen Grant, senator ChafIce, Stephen
b. ElliHs and others they had been
offered government contracts for corn,
hay, feed etc, and that if Gen. Grant
received the nomination for the Presi
80 Wv "'"'" "O ''0'O i''Ni"
Vo,,i.,, co,,r.aI ,,o,.od ia ,t,il,o ont all
,ho,It ' W ~, ~ ou' a.
LAWYER "that tine dead hcro's name
would not be dragged into this case. and
that he would be allowed to rest quietly
in his grave
81 have had enough OF that" said Judge
Barrett. The name YOU mentioned is
not beSlnlrched at all, aud the evidence
given Is competent
flsh continued Wy ME III Cuba III
repIl"rY, lSS@, | received letter from
Naru Hal.hg lhat ne had GoVerhlnent
or r III Whlch ne h"peu 10 make proh'
OF 3i'VV2I' put GA hot WiSh 1t known as
1t might inquire the prospects ol the gene
RAJ ana l"'h he would not act WITH tht
Hrhl' III orlef 10 RAISE money TO MI INC
So-W!IcI oIuGr, NOES were maze by uraii
y alIi' endorsed ny me ana discounted
at the Marine DahR or olher places ward
ioIt me lhal the money was used TO- buy
peel corn wheat, etc, WIN Whlch tc