The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-16
FINANCIER FERDINAND WARD.
How Five Shrewd Yankees We're Induced to
Invest $350,O00 with Him.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK. Aug ia few weeks ago de-
scribed Ludlow-street Jail. Here is the story
from prisoner whose circumstances I knew of
in what were to him happier days.
II find it quite pleasant here, he said "There
are great many very agreeable people here
now; in fact, may truthfully say that the society
in Ludlow-street jail is better than that Of any
other institution of its kind in the country. Our
most distinguished prisoner is Ferdinand Ward;
but he lives in strict retirement and seldom goes
outside his own apartments. OF course you can't
expect such a brilliant swindler as Mr.. Ward to
associate on terms of equality with men who are
only few hundreds of thousands behind in their
accounts"
"Did he go to General Grants funeral2"
asked.
Certainly he went He had carriage, and
took couple of deputies with him. I've no
doubt they had window on the avenue and en-
joyed themselves hugely You can see him
almost any evening. sitting out the sidewalk
with a deputy, smoking and talking. That
saloon on the corner of Grand street is also
favorite haunt of his. heard a characteristic
self, and it came to me second or third hand, so
can't vouch for it's truth.
ga wealthy resident of some prosperous New
England city called OF Ward one day with
note of introduction from mutual friend. In
the course of conversation he remarked that he
had some money to invest and asked Ward If
he couldn't tell him of some chance to put it
where it would bring him in good margin of
profit.
Ward said that he really didn't know Of any
thing just then. He himself had more money
than he knew what to do with and besides he
was too busy with some big schemes of his own
to 60 into any outside speculation. OF course
this only whetted the New England mans ape
tte for investment and in the course of half an
hour he induced the famous financier to accept
his check for 900 to be used In one of the
blind pools of which Grant e Ward made
speciality. Three or four months later the New
England man appeared again. BY that time
Ward had entirely forgotten him and his check,
and it was with great difficulty that he could
recall his name and the amount of his invest
ment. believe there's something due you9 he
said, after a brief conversation. Taking down a
then observed with pleasant smile, The
amount credited to you our books is $l02, 764'
Then to the bockkeeper Mr.. Jones. will you
kindly draw check to Mr. Pcrkinss order for
$lO2, 764'
Ward calmly turned to his work again while
his visitor sat gasping for breath In the Ian
guage of the day, the visitor was paralyzed.' 1t
was some time before he could control himself
sufficiently to ask if there wasn't any chance for
him to reinvest his money and double it again;
but Ward didn't seem anxious, ard at last the
stranger took his departure, got his check certi-
fed at the Marine Bank and returned to his
native town. Three days later he walked into
Wards Office in company with four of the wealth
lest of his townsmen. He had his certified check
the same one Ward had given HMM his
pocket and his friends were supplied with
checks of their own. They succeeded in Undue
ing the fnancier - accept about $500 for
investment in another blind pool. That was
exactly one week before the failure of Grant g.
Ward"