The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-26
IN wIMAN,s DEFENSE
His Private Counsel Makes = statsmeB
for Pubiioation.

for Pubiicatioa.
NKw YoRK. Feb. 25.-Albert l.. board
man. who has for many years been Erastus
WinGn'a private counsel. made the follow
ing statement To- might regarding Wimsn's
case; 'R. q. Dun a Co. employed Delan-
osy Nlcoll % counsel and he prepared a
careful statement Of the case for the press.
Any one would suppose on reading Ricolra
statement that WimAn was cashier or
b ookkesper for Dun a Co. and
had no Individual business relation
Of any kind either with Dan or
the parties In whose favor the checks we're
drawn. The fact IL. for years Wiman has
not only been n member Of the firm, but In
the conduct Of the business has been the
responsible head Of the concern. Isuppoee
30 per cent OF all the checks drawn by X.
q. Dun a Co. during that period have besn
signed by Wiman. Probably Wiman has
made some percentage Of oil the nrm's inn
portAnt contracts. Again NO references 10
made in Nicolps statement to Wiman's in
innate ersonal and business relations with
the dravees Of the checks described in the
Indictments, nor 10 the admitted fact
that the endorsements OF the drawees named
bear no resem blance a. all 20 the sigma
lures nor 20 the admitted fact that the en-
dorssmsnts wore not used 20 obtain credit
from any third party, but simply for the
purpose OF transferring credits in bank
from an account against which Wiman had
q perfect right TO draw. The above state
ment will suffice 10 call attention TO she OBJ
vious omissions and inaccuracies Ia .hs
statement prepared by Nicoli and pub
liahod by the firm for the apparent purpose
Of preiudicing Wiman's case with the pub
lilo before he had an opportunity 20 be
heard"
A showing the animus OF the rrosecu-
tion Boardmun recitea the peculiar circuni-
stances of the arrest and the refusal TO
accept bail profered by men worth two
million. He also refers 90 the manner in
which Miman was indicted and railtoadod
iuto the Iombs. A carefully prepared
statement to hls injury, and Dams inter
view were ready for prompt publication.
"MimAn." he rays. has handled millions
belonging TO the finn, and practically
signed 80 per cent OF the checks. From the
moment Wiman took charge OF the bus
mess the profits increased until Dams
share amounted 10 100000 per AMMAN.
The public and any falr-minded jury Will
hnd II hard TO believe that while Wiman
was making for himself $4,000 TO $lO0.000
and for Dan f400 000. he was schsminR 20
defraud the firm OF about $4,000 th, ough
the forgery OF names In no way resembling g
the genuine siRnatutes."
BOardman draws attention to Wiman's .
splendid record in public enterprises aud
charitable Wos X and TO the fact that as soon
rs 10 became evident he was insolvsnt he
transferred all his property 10 Dun as Sc
ouritJ for any sum hnally adjudced due
upon the accounts. IL these cases were
ever brought TO trial the public would have
. chance TO ascertain the metivs pi omp tin Y
the prosecution, and" says Bosrdman,
II shall be surprised itthSTs are not a mum
Ter of very estimAble gentlemen who, like
Macbeth. will tremble In vel appointed
dining halls and say with QuivoTinR lips:
shake not thy sorry locke at me; thou cAnst
not say l did IL AZ a matter OF fact,
notice some of them already doing So"