Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-11-05
FISH ON THE STAND.

Bank, New York, On the Stand In the
Ferd Ward Trisl-A Little Light On Some
| of the Latter's Queer Transa lions Judge
Barrett Protects the Witness.
NEW YORK, October 27.-At 8 p. m.
yesterday the twelfth Juror in the Ward
trial was obtained. He is Simon Weel,
a fancy goods dealer, District Attorney
MARITIME opened the case for the people.
while he was reading the statutes, defn.
ing grand larceny, James ID. Fish was
brought into court by his custodians and
was given seat within the bar.
| Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Marines
| definitions, General Tracy, for the de.
| on the ground that the District Attorney
had made an Illegal and unwarrauted
statement In regard to what the prosecu-
| ton intended to show regarding Wards
guilt. Judge Barrett denied the motion,
and Mr.. Fish was called to the witness
stand for the prosecution. When told to
look upon the prisoner, Fish turned and
| glanced savagely at Ward, who lowered
his eyes and grew red in the face and
nervous.
| Assistant District Attorney Purdy pre-
scented check OF $7l,S00 to Fish and
asked If he recognized it. The witness
| identified 1t as a check made by Ward
and certified by the Marine Bank. He
said that when he received the check he
telephoned to Ward.
"How about that check for $7l, 800?"
| Ward replied, otis all right; send 1t
through; the money is In the First
| National Bank"
Fish thereupon ordered the check to be
certified. This was May 5, 1884, about
Up. m. Witness also identified a check for
| $4,000 which Ward had deposited May
| 3D., against which he had obtained
certified check on the First National
Bank, and which he had then withdrawn,
telling Fish that the check had not been
used. An hour later the certified check
was presented for payment, showing
that Ward lied, and used the check,
Fish telephoned Ward, who replied:
sit is very strange; can't understand
It."
| General Tracy cross-eXamined the wit
ness and endeavored to show that he
must have known that Wards account
was overdrawn at the time these checks
| were certified Fish stated that Ward
held an exceptional position, statements
of overdrafts were not made In his case
as in those of other customers. Witness
had no doubt he knew that the account
was overdrawn $4,000 on April 18th;
that overdraft was never made good;
witness could not remember having on
his own trial given different exnana-
ton of the certifcation of the $7l 800
check; he admitted that Ward promised
10 come over to the bank and make the
check good. Also, that Grant & Ward
checks were sometimes, by his instruc-
tion, carried as cash and made good on
the next day.
General Tracy produced letter from
Fish 10 Ward dated March goth, In which
he says:
We carry an immense burden that no other
| bank would, and collaterals that no other
bank would recognize; IL the bank can not
be relieved of some of 1t, l shall leave.
Witness declared that he never thought
the load of collaterals absolutely danger
Gus. By, 81 shall leave" he meant, re.
tire from the bank, because the business
was too annoying. Ward told him there
was S75, 900 in the First National Bank
to meet the ST., 800 check.
NEW YORK, October 27.--Judge Bar.
rett took his seat in the crowded court.
room at ten o'clock this morning, and
the trial of Ferdinand Ward was re.
sumel. James d. Fish, ex.bauk Presl.
dent, was seated In the room. James H.
Fish, stenographer OF the United States
| Circuit Court, who acted asSStenograph.
err during the trial of James d. Fish, was
sworn. He testified as to the reports of
that trial and as to the authenticity Of
reports shown him which are to be used
In evidence.
lie sat down, folded his hands aud put on
his spcctacles. Until questioned his lips
were tightly closed. lie was asked II he
did not receive more than one letter
from Ward on May 9th. lie could moi
remember. General Tracy then read q
number of letters from Fish to Ward. all
being requests for money advanced BY
the bank to Grant & Ward and to Ward
individually. They Indicate that ths
bank was accustomed to allow Ward tc
overdraw his accounts to large amounts
Some of the letters created amusement
One OF them said:
| 81 suppose we can stand 1t a day longer
but ain afraid there is trouble ahead. l an
not at all anxious to get into Erie, and an
! know of some acceptable man who wants &c
be President of a small bank down street,
can find place for him.
| Yours, j. ID. F."
His testimony as to the Marine Banks
strained condition preceding the failure
was another important part Of his ex
animation. Every movement of the wit
ness was watched by the spectators will
intense interest. When, as on severa
occasions, his anger was aroused by
questions put to him by The counsel fol
the defense, it was plain that public
sympathy was with him, and when in re
ply to the question what his occupation
was he spoke up sharply and defantly
ga convict" there was sensation
throughout the room.
The day was important in the case a.
weaving more closely about Ward tn
net which is fast closing upon him, TIL
examination for the people was conduct
ed by Assistant District Attorneys Nicol
aud Purdy. In the cross-examlnation
General Tracey conducted the case TO
Ward.
During Fish's examination Mr. Coch
ran made reflection upon the witnes
which evoked an immediate rebuke fron
Judge Barrett. The Judge said that tn
witness was ent:,led to the full protec
ton of the court, no matter what his pc
sition was. General Tracey, just befor
recess, asked the question::
"Mr. Fish, where do you reside?"
''ln State Prison."
81 mean your temporary residencef
"Murray Hill Hotel"
The witness said an assistant Distric
Attorney had called on him at the hotel
and had discussed the case with him.