New-York tribune., 1885-03-28
GEN. GRANTS TESTIMONY.
HIS RELATIONS WITH GRANT WARD.

THE VERBATIM REPORT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE Ar
HIS HOUSE ON THURSDAY READ IN COURT.
The announcement that the deposition Of General
U. s. Grant, taken as witness the trial of James
ID. Fish, would be read before Judge Benedict in
the United States Circuit Court, yesterday greatly
increased the attendance of visitors, who had
become somewhat tired of the long examination Of
Assistant asher Daboll on details of the business
of the Marine Bank. The testimony of the defend
ant himself made another break in the monotony Of
the proceedings. The testimony of General Grant
had been copied from tho notes of Stenographsr
Fish and typewriter copy was taken to General
Grants house in the morning 1t read over by
the General and signed by HIM and reached the
hands of Lawyer Clarke early in the afternoon. He
retained possession of it until toward the close Of
the session, when it was read to the jury.
Mr.. Fish was on the witness stand while the dep
ositon read and he called on to identify
four letters which were referred to in General
Grants testimony. These letters have previously
been published. They are letter from Mr.. Fish
and General Grant dated July 5, 1882 and letter
from Mr.. Fish to President James of the Lincoln
National Bank. inclosed with the communication to
General Grant, and two letters from General
Grant in reply to Mr. Fish, both dated July
o, 1882. one of them in the handwriting Of Ferdi-
nand Ward, but apparently signed By General
Grant. Mr.. Fish had received from Mr.. James
inquiry as to the business OF the firm of Grant S
Ward and the relation to it of General Grant and
Mr.. Ward In answer to Mr.. James, Mr.. Fish said
that both he and General Grant were really full
partners in the firm. which had an unimpaired
capital of 100000. This answer he incosed to
General Grant with a letter in which he asked the
General if that did not agree with his ideas of his
connection with the firm. In the letter Mr.. Fish
says that he has indorsed notes to the amount of
1000 OOQ which wer given o raise money tho
payment of grain, etc.. purchased to fill the Cow
ernment contracts" Two answers reached Mr. Fish.
The autograph letter of General Grant said that he
had the same understanding as Mr.. Fish of his re-
lations with the firm. Another answer. signed by
General Grant but written by Mr. Spence from q
draft in Wards handwriting said:
would say that think the investments are safe. and
| am willing that Mr. Ward should derive what profit he
for tue firm that the use OF my name and influence
may bring
The letters from Mr. Fish 30 General Grant and
Mr. James were read from letterpress copies in Mr.
TIsh's letter book. Distr.ct-Attorney Root made in
qulres as to the accuracy of these copies. Mr. flsn
said that lie sent the letter to General Grant by a
messenger early on July 2, to the office OF Grant ~
Ward he answered, No, slr" to each Oh tne
following questions of Mr. Root:
Did you this letter directed to General Grant to
Ferdinand Ward before you sent itf .
Did you show press copy Of It to Mr.. Ward after
wardr'
"Do you know any means by which Ferdinand Ward
could obtained information that you had sent such
. Do You know how Ferdinand Ward could have
obtained frmatOn draft reply to that letter
before it reached General Grant, to whom IL was
directedP
Mr. Clarke rial the direct and redirect examina-
ton of General Grant to the jury, and DIstrlct-
Attorney Root read the cross-eXaminatlon. The
reading was interrupted by the qeustions to Mr.
Fish. and nearly an hour interviewed between the
beginning and end of the reading. S9blolned Is
the Official report of the deposition taken by the
court stenOgrapher, James Horace Fish.