The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-19
THE WREN FORGERY CASE.

! Daniel Wren, a well known resident OF
Cheney, is on trial in the district court be-
fore Judge Reed and jury upon the
charge Of forgery, the Information con-
tanning two counts. County Attorney
/ Boone and B. l.. keenan, represent the
state and Messrs. Bentley aud Hatfield
| are defending Wren. The case attracted
quite a number of old neighbors of Wren.
from Cheney aud from Sedgwick. mt
which places Wren has lived for many
years. Wren is a we'll known horse dealer,
and has lived for twenty-three years IN
Marion, Harvey and Sedgwick counties.
/ Wren is Jointly charged with Edward
Mccoy with the forgery of several real
estate mortgage bonds and mortgages,
which securities were left as collateral Sc
curity by Wren at Springfield H., with
y. w. Ramsey, a dealer in imported
| horses. In this deal Wren received of
Ramsey car load of horses valued at
$50. giving his notes therefor, due in one
and two years. The transaction took
place in January, 1892. ut Springfield,
Illinois. Soon after the deal, and while
Wren had some of the horses purchased,
at Cheney about April 10Th of that year
over the real estate embraced in
his collateral security; at this
time he saw Wren and making
other Investigations became dissatisfied
with the trade. Nothing however was
done with the matter until December,
1892 following, when Ramsey came here
and procured the arrest OF Daniel Wren
and Edward NJ. Coy for forgery. The case
has been holly contested nj every point,
and a strong fight was made before the
examining magistrate. Notwithstanding
this the parties were bound over to the
district court for bail. Wren, being an
cid resident, readily furnished bail re-
CURED, but Coy being a stranger was I'M
able to give bond, and since his arrest,
much against his inclination, has remained
III jail. Coy Is a young man 50 years of
age, has wife and no children. Wren
has family consisting of wife and thir-
teen children. The trial was set at the
early part Of the term but on the day set
Wren was unable to be present on account
of a severe rheumatic attack, and chronic
sickness contracted by him in the army.
Additional lest and interest in this case
By a rumor early in the week that Coy
hciit tuL II SNtt6C GNiutuCe. w ttl-
nesday morning Wren WAS able
to he IN cOnrt, and jury
was empaneled with great care. The
first witness called was Esquire Frank
Zsller of Cheney. His testimony was un-
important for the state.
The next, and most important, was
Edward II. Coy, tie co-defendant.> As
preliminary to his evidence, the county
attorney arose and dismissed the case
against Coy. Coy then detailed at great
length his transactions with Wren. He
claimed that he, with Coy, concocted Il
scheme TO obtain cheap lands suburban to ,
this city; sell it to fictitious persons, exc
cute mortgages and notes in the names of !
fictitious persons for large amounts, these |
securities running to Wren. Wren WAS To
use these papers in obtaining valuable !
stations at various places i'll the east. |
The proceeds We're to be divided equally /
between Wren and Coy. This is substan-
italy the testimony Of Coy, who admits |.
that he forged all the papers, including /
the abstract-even the certificate of I. B. /
Cartwright, county treasurer, and the sig
nature of William Crow & Co, on the !
back of the abstract. The cross-examna- /
ton of Coy by MIR. HadfeId WAS close,
careful and searching. it developed the /
tact that Coy was for four years an in
mate of the Kansas penitentiary. having
been sent there from Bourbon county for ,
horsestealing.
After Coy left the witness stand |
Mr.. j. W. Ramsey WAS called. /
He detailed several conversations |
with Wren, both at his home in Spring /
field, Ills. and in Wichita and Cheney
Following Mr.. Ramsey came Mr. A c. /
Singleton and L. d. Skinner, us experts, /
who made comparison of the papers Of |
fered in evidence.
At the adjournment of court last even
Ing the state rested, and today the defense .
will be introduced TO the jury.
Every poiut IN the case is being holly
contested. The evidence will probably be /
CONCLUDED today.
II Coy's story Will stand OF cross. exam
ination it will prove one ofthe boldest and /
most gigantic forgery deals ever attempt
ed in Kansas. Ii is iutimated very strong
~ that the testimony that is TO come viii /
impicate a half dozen other men in the !
affair. The case is attracting good deal /
OF interest.