Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-13
LIKENESS MAY Be THAT
OF JOHN ELLIOTT WARD
Savannah Attempts 30 Solve Mystery
Of Confederate $40
Bill.
WAS PROMINENT IN POLITICS
H. ID. Allen. of Boston, Does Not Re.
gard Evidence ~, Conclusive,
However, and Wants Further
Proof-Appeals to tho South.
~ II. d. ALLEN,
of Bonton, Mass.

patch are waiting for further develop
ments on the $40 Mystery Bill" OF
the Contederacy. and It Is tribute to
the popularity OF your paper that hun
dreds Of Richmond people arc mailing
copies OF your publication nil over the
United states. to former residents OF
Virginia Instead OF calling your
newspaper 'NirSinia's Greatest" am
not sure but what Il would be quito
within bounds to call The Times Dis
patch the greatest newspaper OF the
South
In the article you published on July
:. the solving of the mystery was put
squarely up to Savannah. and that city
has responded in no uncertain tone.
II row is stated that the portrait on
the $40 bill OF the Mechanics Saving 3
Bank. OF Savannah. issued In 1853. the
design which later was dupl!-
Gated and used as a bill OF the Con-
fedcrate States. Is a likeness Of John
Elliott Ward. the Mayor OF Savannah
III 1854 prominent in the banking in
tercsis Of the city and State. later
President OF the State Senate. and
afterwards United States Minister to
I china. The Savannah men who con-
tribute this evidence are William
Harden. the librarian OF the Savannah
Public Library: Joseph NJ Solomons
HOW ninety-one years old, and Robert
II. Lewis. seventy-nine years of age
They think that the picture OF Mr.
Ward, which Is submitted, shows him
as he looked in the sos, when he was
president Of the National Democratic
Convention. which nominated James
Buchanan for President.
In 1881 there was published in New
York City. The History of the State
of Georgia from 1850 TO 1881" The
author Was ]. w. Avery. and he gives
an interesting account OF the service
rendered by Mr.. Ward. and opposite
NJ of y
which is the same as the one used in
this article. 1t must he admitted that
mis- evidence Is interesting. and prob
ably cumulative. but am not pre-
pared to accept il as settling the mys-
terry. because there are many marked
differences similar to those which have
forced ne to discard all the other
various candidates for honors. among
which Should note the following:
SOME DIFFERENCES
IN PICTURES NOTED
The head is narrower. The hair is
parted OH the right instead of the left.
The eyes are more round. The hair
over the left car is brushed forward
toward the left eye, and, what is quite
important, the center OF the upper and
lower Up show no pointed effects,
which are quite pronounced in the pcr-
trait ON the biil. The tuCt of hair
sticking out over the right ea- seems
"a be the only thing in the whole pic
tur+ OF NJ Ward which by any means
could he ciasscd as evidence. Libra
rian Harden states that tho portrait
could not he thai OF John Richa rdson.
the president OF the bank. whose fea-
lures were much sharper than those
Of the man on the bill. lie then APP
pealed 10 Nr. Solomons. who was posi-
tive that the picture was not that Of
Mr.. Richardson. He decided that tho
semhlcd John Elliot; Ward. and his
opinion is sustained by Rober, H.
Lewis
Mr. Lewis remembers clearly when
his father, who was member of the
city Council. went TO Mr.. Wards house
for consultation, during the yellow
fever epidemic OF 1854 When Mr.
Ward went to the Georgia Senate, he
carried on brilliant eight against the
then Governor Joe Rrown" TO ALLOW
the banks 10 suspend specie payments,
but in this ne was not successful 40
cording to history Mr.. Ward was not
in sympathy with the idea OF seces-
sion and was doubtful Of the success
Of the Confederacy. and on his return
from China established himself in New
York City and built up a large and
successful law practice.
Here enters the arena OF DR.. Ward AL
len. OF Savannah (another Allen in the
case). who Is a nephew OF John Elliott
Ward. He declares that he has known
Of the portrait of his uncle Ss being
the one Or the bill for fifty years. and
also remembers distinctly that while
visiting the home OF his grandfather
at Richmond. during the war, his
mother came Into the room, where the
children OF the family were PLAYING
and said: Look. Ward. here is some
money with your uncle Johns picture
on IT,"
His mother was Miss Georgia Ward.
and she was sister Of John Elliott
Ward. While IT seems quite probable
that there is much basis in fact that
the mystery has been solved, I am not
willing to announce il such over
my signature. without being able to
find a picture OF Mr.. Ward which
duplicates the likeness on the bin.
That such q picture exists have no
doubt. and ] shall continue my search
while longer. man will sit" for
a daguerreotype. ambrotype. tintype, or
photograph. but never for an cngraver
The engraving must have been made
from picture Of som. kind am
forced to do this, because ! am re-
ceiving protests that the picture on
the bill IL not that Of Mir Ward One
letter is from a parts who has lived
in Savannah sixty-seven years. and
knew Ward personally. He states that
MIR. ward was an attorney In Savannah
ani the mead of the firm Of Ward.
Jackson & Jones Henry r. jackson
and Charles G. JonesJ lie sees no
good reason why a picture Of Mr.. Ward
should have been on any bank bill, ana
thinks il entirely inconsistent that lie
should have been on Confederate Sill,
when there were many persons who
"ere much more entitled to the honor.
DID NOT RETURN TO
CONFEDERATE STATES
He further states that 3fr. Ward left
Savannah in 1857 an appointee Of
President buchanan 1.-TWO years before
the savannah bill was issued) as Min
!ster |" CHINA. and when relieved by
President Lincoln. did not return - the
Confederate States. nor take any part
that would entitle him 10 any honor,
though the partners In his SAVANNAH
law hrm. General Jackson and Colonel
Jones, were loyal TO the confederncy
TO the end He agrees shat there ~ :,
f!isnt similarity in the pictures, bat
thinks II rs very slight. and that the
4 matter pt bni