Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
WARDS CONFIDENCE BETRAYED.

huleS.
1t has just leaked out, says The New
York Tribune, that F. Ward, graciously
known as the Young Napoleon of Finance,
a short time after his incarceration was
caught in a scheme to send letters to
friends outside the walls of the Sing Sing
state prison, was betrayed by supposed
accom- plice, and when hauled before
Warden Brush made the most remarkable
excuse on record for his infraction of the
adamantine rules of the institution-that
he did not know he was doing wrong.
When Ward, in the cleaning of an
autumn day, made a solemn promise in
the presence of Principal Keeper Con-
naughton, the chaplain of the prison, and
members of the press, that he would obey
implicitly the rules of the prison, he spoke
in so solemn and serious vein, held his
hand in such mock humility, and looked
such picture of patience, permeated
with heroic fortitude and the spirit of
righteousness, that everyone present felt
in his heart that Ward would keep his
promise, if for no other reason at least
than that his ten years. term might be
committed by one-third, as the chaplain,
with dignifed and benevolent mien, as
sured him. When Thanksgiving, with its
brown and luscious mince pies, its chicken,
and its pudding, rolled around, Ward as
sured the officials and the public through
the press that he would faithfully obey
the rules and continue bowling in meek
humility to the mandate of his lot.
While still voluble in promises, it now
appears that the man who inveigled
others into the mythical contract profit
labyrinth, unable to escape the demon of
unrest, was tempted of the serpent in the
form of a fellow-convict named Morgan,
who was serving term for grand larceny.
At the time Ward was in gallery No. 10
and Morgan in gallery No. Z. The two
galleries backed on each ather, so that
whispers conld float through the ventila-
tors of Morgan's cell into the cell of the
former member of the firm of the Grant
and Ward. Whether Morgan thought
that Ward still had around him some of
BILLY" Jones, 81 900 bills or whether from
evil purpose pure, he whispered to Ward
one evening, when quiet reigned through
the corridors, that the grand larceny
adept being the older in Sing Sing life
and special means of communication
with the outside world, and could, if he
wonld run out letters surreptitiously for
the young Napoleon who had met his
Waterloo before Justice Barrett.
&c Is that so?" asked Ward in his nervous
English.
Fact" was Morgan's reply.
Morgan explained that Ward could write
to any friend he pleased and could push
the letter through the ventilator to
Morgan; who would supply the envelopes
and who would then pc responsible for
the arrival of the message at the post
Office.
Ward pondered over his Sunday-school
experience in Brooklyn. over his rehy-
pothecation E of securities, and his whole
career up to May 6, 1884, and, forgetful
of Justice Barrett's monologue, but think
ing this golden opportunity for his pc
culiar bump of genius, resolved to hazard
the die. He had plenty of paper, sup
piled for his monthly writing as permit
ted by the rules and in use for making
up additional Grant & Ward schedules,
aad he began his correspondence. The
first letter he wrote was to a lady in
Brooklyn. It was not Miss Ward; it is
supposed to have been a relative. Ward
passed the sheet, folded neatly through
the ventilator to Morgon, who put it care
fully away. This letter was not emotion
al. 1t simply gave history of Ward in
Sing Sing prison, how he liked black
coffee, bacon, and a six-by-eight cell,
with no poker parties and no margins for
profits. Lhe other two letters, one writ
teen on brown paper, were of imilar ten
Or.
Morgan kept the letter while Ward was
making his professions of faith as a de-
votee of the rules of the prison. Morgan
after due waiting, saw no $1,000 bills
dropping through the ventilator, and so,
base deceiver that he was, he went to
principal Keeper Connaughton and "gave
the whole snap away"
Mr.. Connaughton is staict discipliner,
whose experience has made him chary of
mankind, especially as manifested at
Sing Sing. Yet he had been blinded by
Wards docility, by his zeal in shoveling
ashes until he nearly fell in a swoon, and
had declared Ward to be the most prom
Using pupil he had he'd in long time.
He was at first incredulous, but Morgan
handed him the letters. There was
Wards chirography, neat, small, incisive.
The principal keeper promptly placed
the matter in the hands of Warden Brush.
Ward was summoned to the presence of
the portiy warden, who loves not to be
fooled with.
''Ward, what does this mean?" asked
the warden, coldly, calmly, cruelty, hold
ing out the letters.
Ward tumbled to the situation quick
y as on the Hateful evening when James
D. Fish whirled chair around his head
over the old Marine bank building. He
"caved" like Buddenseik death-trap. He
was dazed, but he finally managed to say:
II did not know that I was doing any
thing wrong" The warden recalled the
rules which had been read to Ward when
he entered the prison, and pondered on
the uncertainty of memory and the fleet
ness of ebliuion. Yet he admired Wards
frankness, when caught, and he took in
SEPARATION from Wards vehement promises
the portly warden read Ward such les
son as he never had heard before, pictur-
ed the ten years yawning before him in
stead of ''six-and-six," and sent the
abashed letter-writer crestfalIen and
crushed to his cell.
Mr.. Connaughton said yesterday: From
that day to this Ward has obeyed the
rules implicitly. I don't know why Nor
gan put up the job, unless it was in the
hope of money. The warden has the
letters. Had we had the new rules