The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-03
THE MARINE Rank
And It's Sudden Fall-Fisb, In Convict Garb,
Talks AbOutIt,

Natl0nAl BANK MRde q hIaIemenL lof pul
llcation to-day. When the huge threl
pound key which unIocks the massive gal
Of the prison had turned back the oute
bolts from their sockets the IRON barrier
swung silently open. A brief note aI
prised Fish Of the visit, and few minute
later the prisoner appeared, He hesitate
on the threshold for u moment, and the
removed his striped cap and Csmeinto th
room,
ayes" he said, "here ! am in my ol
age convict. have not asked anybo
TO get o pardon for me, Were II not fo
my children would rather end my day
here, ! lead a quiet life, away altogethe
from the busy world in which once play
ed q part ! know nothing about the pt
tition for my pardon, All cared abou
was my name. have been accused Z
wrecking the Marine Bank, Some 50,
that | planned the wreck; others that
am an arch thiei and that l taught Ferdl
naud Ward his villainy,
START IN LIFE.
~ started in life with 81 900 and worke
my way up, For twenty-three years
was president OF the Marine Bank. M
reputation for integrity, think l can say
was spotless, When the crash came an
my family owned one'quarter OF tn
stock In the bank. Twas q rich man will
an unsullied name. Ward was q pennies
sdventurer. Which was the one who hal
an interest in wreCking the bank2 los
all had, My crippled son was reduced
TO beggary. My brother, 60 years old, los
$4,000, the savings OF his life, Who wa
70 gain by the failure OF the Marine Bank
l may have been Culpably negligent, but
have u right to say, and have q right Il
expect people to believe me when So!
that l never contracted dollar OF deb
that did not believe l could pay ant
that did not intend to pay.
~ never did an Intentionally dishones
or dishonorable thing In my lie. l hat
perjury and rasCallty to-day just as much
as ! ever did; hate 1t more than eve
for am victim Of 1t. do not seek tC
Justify my faults. God knows / have
suffered II l have been careless. All
want to show Is that | have never beer
anything willfully but au honest man.
"One day Ward came into the banh
very much elated. He said that Buck
Grant wanted him to go into partnership
with him In Wall Street. told him
didn't see anything out OF the way in hiI
association with young Grant. 1t was {
good thing for him, and 1t certainly woult
not interfere with my business In any
way. He proposed tnat should go ii
with him, but / said dldu't have 500,
900 lying around loose, and 1t was not 81
easy matter to raise so much. Ward theG
figured up my Evening Star Mine stock.
gave him check, and the firm started, 81
that 1t would not take much more thar
$4,000 In money to make up my $lO0, 600
At this time General Grant was making
his tour around the world, When he cant
back he used to 90 to the office Overy day
Ward told me that the General was de
lighted at the way the business was goinl
on and because Buck had done so well
GENERAL GRANT JOINS THE FIRM.
"Finally it was agreed that the Genera
should come into the firm. Isupposed We
were making a great deal Of money, but
did not-qulte like the contract business
One day asked the General II he eve
examined the books, oh, no, he sale
with wave OF his hand, i am perfectly
Satisfied with my monthly statement
"raking a key out OF hts pocket while
was in the Office Of Grant 4 Ward once
Ward called my attention to 1t. That,
said he, Is the key to General Grants safC
deposit box in the vault. He leaves i
with me all the time so l can go thert
whenever like and do what l please. HI
has got some fine things in there; he hal
some good securities there.
"0nly q short time before the crasl
came thought would stop in at Gran
& Wards to see how things were going on
l met General Grant walking up and dow
the corridor smoking a cigar. How /
business?' asked. Our success is phe
nomenal, phenomenal 7 he answered will
great emphasis and a flourish Of the hand
Ward Is one Of the most wonderful younI
men in Wall street. Why, do you know
l think Grant & Ward are doing as muCl
business as any house In the street; and
should not be surprised II 1t became tn
richest one in New York.
mot more than three weeks before tn
failure Jesse Grant came to the bank t
borrow $4,000 on Grant & Wards notes
secured by contracts, and l told MIN,
think we have done enough for Grant
Ward On this Grant seemed greatly pu
out
AVAiN APPEAL.
"After the Marine Bank collapsed an,
when the blame fell heavily upon me,
went to Genessee to see Wards father
Tho old clergyman had assured me owe
and over again, in the most aaectionat
terms, that he offered up prayers Of thank
iulness TO God that his son had such
good and kind benefactor. When he en-
tered the room l said: 'Dr. Ward, 20,
have often expressed gratitude 10 me 10
what / have done for your son. Now
want you to use your influence with Fer
To make-him tell the truth. l want hin
10 come out manfully and say that kne,
nothing about the inside affairs OF Gran
& Ward. l have lost everything l had Il
the world but my good name. want !
keep that
ali can't listen to anything against m,
boy said DR.. Ward, waving mo away
The law will hold you equally table,
"'All 1want Is that he shall do this on
act Of Justice to me. Let him tell th
truth. 1 am a beggar now, but / want h
be q beggar with an honorable name,
urged. DR.. Ward looked at me coldly.
az can't do II, he said. my son VII
liam will spend his last cent To 'deient
Fefd and | will stand by him. Goot
morning" And 30 he left me withou
shaking hands and without one word o
kindness or Of pity"
Here Mr.. Fish stood up and folded bill
arms on his chest, but he seemed 10 b,
trying TO play the man against the emo
tons which his story had called up.
Ills ierlndieal f,unnnv.