The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-06

~~N@~~~~~~~N~~~~~~~~~S~N~~~
His inpassioned speech made a pro-
| found impression in the convention,
and from that time he was consider
ed a strong candidate for United
| States senator from North Dakota
then about to be admitted to state
hood.
| Richardson Yields Also.
| 8. B. Richardson, mayor of Grand
Forks, a delegate to the Aberdeen con-
vention, had successfully resisted
| every attempt by Ward to borrow
| money. but after such an outburst Of
| eloquence he could no longer resist,
and turned his pocketbook over to the
speaker without solicitation. The
money was calmly accepted.
Plays Role Of Prosecutor.
The following Fourth Of July. Gen
eral Ward was the speaker at the In
| dependence Day celebration at Minto.
During the day Ed Moore, a popular
young man Of Mimic, was brutally
murdered by one James Collins. The
states attorney, Spencer, advised chat
General Ward be engaged as special
prosecuting attorney, and when ap-
preached about the matter Ward con-
| sented to act for a retainer Of $500
Excitement ran high at Mimic, and the
money was speedily raised by public
subscription.
Trial at Grafton.
The trial took place at Grafton late
in the fall. Old settlers still remember
the lmpassioned plea delivered bv
Ward for the conviction of James
Collins. The courthouse was filed TO
capacity and very few were those who
could withhold their tears as the spec
lal prosecuting attorney, proceeded to
picture the plight Of the widowed
| mother Of the murdered man, "attired
in sackcloth and dethroned of her
| rea SON"
Collins. the murderer, was convicted
and sentenced to life imprisonment.
| The extreme penalty would have been
inhlcted, had not one of the jurors
| heId out against capital punishment.
Collects His Retainer and Skips.
| Immediately upon the conviction
General Ward proceeded to Mimic
and called on James Twamley, now
Of Grand Forks. to collect his retainer.
| lt was a stormy night, a regular old
time blizzard was raging. but Ward
| insisted that he must collect the
| money and return to Grand Forks that
| night, as draft against him for $500
| would go to protest if not met the
| next morning. H. D. Church, then in
| livery business at Mimic, consented TO
take General Ward to Forest River
| where he said he would take a freight
| D.
| ley held note against General Ward
Tor 500, which amount he deducted
| from the retainer and paid over S4OO
| In cash, With this amount General A.
| b. Ward departed that stormy night
and failed to reappear at Grand Forks
he deserted his wife, took the train
! for Winnipeg and was next heard
| from at Manhattan.
| Departure fastened by Winship,
| The reason for his speedy departure
! from this region, was a mere men
tlon' In The Grand Forks Herald. then
under the management of Geo. B.
| Wlnshlp. Mr.. Winship had carried on
a quiet investigation into the past of
| this distinguished citizen Of Grand
Forks' the prospective candidate for
u. 3. senator from North Dakota, and
mad published the following item:
! "A. B. Worthington of Seattle. was
in town."
The old saying that a word to the
wise is sufficient held good in this
case, as General Ward realized that
his career in Grand Forks was ended
| as soon as he read this item.
| Six Banks in Montana.
| During the early eighties he had
travelled along the Northern Pacific
/ railroad in Montana and Washington,
pursuing his business of swindlinp
under the alias, A. b. Worthington,
Al one time he conducted no less than
six banks in Montana without one
dollar capital. General" Ward realiz
| ed that Mr.. Winship had information
about his career while operating under
this alias-and Grand Forks was no
longer a safe place for him.
The Early Career.
| General A. 3. Wards real name is
Samuel Oakley Crawford. His father
| had been for many years minister
in SaugertieS. N. Y, where the future
| swindler was born in 184S. All the
| schooling he ever received was ended
when he left the grammar grades at
| the age Of 16 to enter the army at the
time of the Civil war, through which
he served as an orderly.
After the civil war, Ward studied
law at Columbia, finishing his studies
| with the class of 1857. From Man
haitian he went to Albany, where he
| met girl working as a telegrapher
| and induced her to come to Manhat-
| tan They were married in 1858. Two
years later, in Philadelphia, he de-
serted her and their baby and went
back to Albany.
Horse Trader in Albany.
| Ward traded in horses there, but his
transactions were SO shady he was
| sentenced to serve three years in the
Albany county penitentiary. When
discharged in 1873 he went to Boston,
\ posing as bachelor, and married the
daughter of Boston clairvoyant.
In a short time he deserted his
second bride and went west In Chi
cago he called himself Major e. s. 3.
Walton. real estate promoter. On
Sept. 3. 1874, he married the daugf-
ter OF prominent Chicago Judge,