The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-06
DEFAULTER WARDS DEFENSE.
HE CLAIMS HE WAS GUILTY OF NO
CRIMINAL ACTS.

He Also Boasts That the Only Way
He Can BE sued is Through the
Civil COurts-Left Home With SIS. 900
and Returns with S75-Ham sand
witches Cost Him 81 Each in Cen
trail America-He Claims to BE
Rich.
New Orleans, Dec. 5.-The steamer City
of Dallas, having on board A. X. Ward,
the Memphis defaulter, did not arrive yes
terday as expected, but she got in about
midnight and this morning at 3 o'clock
Chief Mosley of Memphis left with his
prisoner for the Bluff City.
Chief Mosley says there is no truth in
the story that Ward surrendered volun-
tarily. Ward claims that he went aboard
the City of Dallas intending to surren-
der. Chief Mosley and his men had traced
Ward until just before Ward boarded the
steamer. A man named Belden, Chief
Mosley said, threw Ward down. When
the officers arrived at Port Cortes, Bel
den sought them and proposed to turn up
Ward for $1,000. Mosley ascertained that
Belden really knew Wards whereabouts
and succeeded in learning that he was
in hiding on the City of Dallas. Belden
made considerable money out of Ward.
Chief Mosley states he would not live
in Central America for all the world. He
says he would prefer states prison in
the United States to liberty in Central
America. Perhaps some such considera-
tons influenced Ward to surrender.
Mosley tells a story of how he was COM
PEELED to pay S. a sum of Central Ameri-
can money, equivalent 10 $3.50 in Ameri-
can coin, for two ham sandwiches.
Ward is glad to get back to Memphis,
ana seemed perfectly contented in the car
The prisoner apparently did not realize
MS position. He kept UP a grin as he
talked OF his doings and appeared to con-
sluer them everyday occurrences. He, of
course, denies being guilty of all the
things charged against him. He was sec
rotary and general manager of the Mem
phis Barrel and Heading Company, and
was part owner in the concern. He de-
MES that he committed a forgery to OBJ
tain money and that he fioated worthless
paper. he says that he acted within the
law in all his transactions and the only
way he can be sued is through a civil
court. He claims no criminal proceed
1ngs can be made out. He saws he never
negotiated a loan without proper author
ity, and all the money was expended in a
legitimate manner
He claims to be worth 100000 in his own
name and that fully $4,000 is due him bv
dlnerent persons. The Memphis Barrel and
Heading Co. Ward saws was on the VERGE
of ruin on number of occasions and he
placed S64 900 of his own money 10 its cred
IT. This sum he says is now due him. He
says she told the board of five directors
mat the outstanding debts of the concern
amounted to $685. 900 when they really
amounted to Sl55,000. He did not have the
moral courage to wait for the crash and
left Memphis. He intended to 90 10 his
plantation in Mississippi but was advised
10 90 TO Central America. When he and
his wife left Memphis, he had on his per-
left ''"
When he boarded the City of Dallas he
was in disguise. He wore a native cos
tune and had handkerchief over one eve.
Tie says he is very glad to get back to The
United States