The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-15

NEW YORK, June 1.-The testimony for
the defense in the case of Erastus Wiman.
on trial for forgery, was closed this after
noon and the case IS expected TO go 10 the
jury at the close of tomorrow's session.
The defendant himself was on the stand
most Of the time and made many admis-
sions, under cross-examination, of the re-
peated use of funds belonging to r. G.
Dun 6, Co. These were calle1 oyerdrafts
by the witness, and he produced letter
written by himself to Dun, January "A,
1898, in which letter Wirlan explained his
financial condition at length and informed
Dun that if he had haG p per cent of the
profits since January l. 1889, instead OF IL
per cent, the additional increase to him
would have covered the overdrawsls.
1t was on January !, 1889, that the
agreement between Dun, Wimau. King
and Douglass was made, IN accordance
with which Mr.. Wiman was to get IL per
cent of the yearly profits instead OF 20 per
cent he had hitherto received.
The letter was introduced to show more
clearly that Dun knew all about Wiman's
overdrawals General Tracey tried to
show that Dan by arresting Wiman pre-
vented a financial move on Wiman's part
which would have helped TO extricate him
from bis difficulties.
lions, saying that they had no bearing on
the alleged forging OF checks in the suit.
Mr. WeIimau then arose TO cross exam
inc the witness. He began by getting
Wimau TO say that he had been the brains
of r. G. Dun g. Co.
Way is it, then" said Mr.. Wellman.
"that of all the business IL which you
have been interested, the business of r
G, Dun 81 Co. alone has been success,
while the others were total wrecks?"
"Perhaps because | WAS better suited TO
the mercantile agency than TO any Others"
Mr. Wellmal's incisive questions caused
Wiman to brighten up and retort with
vigor.
Mr.. Wellman referred to the statement
of profits of r G. Dun & Co., submitted
by General Tracy earlier in the morning.
the statement showed that in 1885 the
profits were S345 100. They increased
steadily until in 1892 they were $685., 600
The total from 1885 to 1892 inclusive was
S3,3l3, 800
In reply to Mr. Wellman the defendant
admitted several instances in which he
had written aud teleGraphed to the firms
agents urging quick remittances on one
preteXt or another, aud then had applied
the money % his own use.
Francis B. Thurber, the well known
wholesale grocer; Robert j. Kimball, stock
broker: L. ), Cannon, s1perin tendent of
the Staten Island Rapid Transit company;
J, J. Withrow, president of the Industrial
Institute of Toronto, Canada. aud Dennis
Stafford, of Staten Island, testified to Mr..
Wimau's high reputation for honesty aud
integrity, after which General Tracy said:
THAT is our case"
Mr. Bnllinge- was then recalled by Mr..
Weilman, who asked him: us it true
that you were in the habit of loaning
money!"
II was not" answered Mr. Bullinger.
did you ever lend any money TO Mr..
Wiman?"
"Once. only"
THAT is ALL" said Mr.. Wellman, tri-
Umphantly."
Mr.. Dun was then recalled to the stand
by Mr.. Wellman TO tell the circumstances
OF the Si5, 900 note and the $4,000 check.
He asserted he knew nothing about these
until they were called to his attention by
his associates. Before this he thought
Wiman's overdraft amounted to only
So, 600
Mr. Dun admitted knowing Wiman had
overdrawn his accounts for the last two or
three years, but never suspected that the
amount involved was so large.
Mr.. Dun denied that the prosecution
was prompted by any fear of Mr.. Wiman,
as intimated Ivy Mr.. Boardmani in his open
ing address to the jury.
when the time comes to charge the
jury" said Justice Ingram, II shall tell
them that Mr.. Dun would not have done
his duty as a citizen had he not aided in
the prosecution of Mr.. Wimau."
AT this point court was adjourned until
tomorrow. Judge Ingram said he should
limit each side to ninety minutes in their
addresses TO the jury. The case must 90
TO the jury before night"