New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-17
A P1INFUL CASE.
hoIlors.

Tho conviction OF Mr. Wiman II most MEAN
cboly ending of n career which has been brill
iant and might have been widely uscfnl. he
hos hosts OF friends who will share the feeling
cxpr,.sscd by the foreman OF the Jury, himself
a nersonal friend of the accused. who answered
10 thc Stern inquiry Of the Court. IL AIN sorry
IN gay we find him guilty" Well there may be
sincere sorrow that IL man 80 bright ana So
gifted was brought 10y his own error 10 such n
nolnt that he wrote the letter Of confession ana
nnrsonal oppcal upon which the prosecution
largely relied. Had not Mr.. Wiman felt that
his wrongdoing was beyond the excuses elo-
oucntly urged by his able counsel. man OF his
calibrc could never have written letter or slch
a nature.
II may be taken for granted, ~ the proS'cut-
ing attorney admitted, that Mr.. Wimnn never
intended or expected that his improper act
would ,cfraud anybody or cost anybody any
thing 1t IS only too clear that man r'cclV
Ing $4,000 year salary does not mean 10 riSK
such a position by wrOngdong lie was sure
that he could make good MI that he had taken
for his own use by improper means and IN th''
sense meant 10 wrong no one. Yer MS ac'S were
not merely n technical disregard OF law Tor 'h'S
made his wrongnS others depend upon circuh-
stances not within his control lie took. anu
subjected 10 the risk Of his own enterprises, the
proprrtv of others which be- evidently expected
TO repay. but which h. had no legal or moral
right TO take or use or risk. No harsh'r soil
fence nce,l be- passed upon him than this, that
he took the property Of others without nsh''
risl,.rl II without their consent, and found him
self unable 10 return H.
II is not out OF place for young men, 70 whom
Mr.. Wiman has addressed many wise ana
worthy words Of counsel. 10 be reminded 10y hiS
cunspicuous example that one breach 81 duiy
and Of law Ouiwci Chs many years or active ana
honorable service. Civilized society could not
exist II there were not this one restraint, fhht
wealth. distinction. or past honorable III" cannot
excuse a man for violating law. III" rrl" SOUNDS
hard particularly when II II applied In the cas-"
of one we'll known aud 10y many lowell ana yer
II IS after NIL the very basis ~ trust between
rnau and man. That law shall b" respected AMI
honor held uvolatc, al least by those whom ne
world trusts and honors. Is the condition With
oui which honor would be- empty nnd trust I'M
possible
Mr.. Wlman's weakness, and the cans" ~ his
downfall # correctly indicated by his defence.
was M bottom exactly that ~ the Socialist Win
whom he had little sympathy. II seemed ="
him that the pr,duct ~ his "ni"II'riS" or Ihdu~
try or labor was created 10y him. and that he
had some right 10 1t beyond that which the
stipulated price Of bis service gave nm. ms
idea ran through all the defence mad" by MS
eloIucnt counsel: he had created III" wealth. OF
others. and therefore was exclisable IN using
part OF Il for his emergency. IL was only for
time he argued. The ovcrdrafs would be
made good and those whom his efforts had en-
richcd. as he considered, should not In fairness
have objected 20 his temporary use OF part or
the fruits of his ability. But the price M which
he had agreed to give his best service, with all
that such service could prodncc, was the meas
ure of his right. Beyond thnt the gains II the
business belonged as absolutely 10 others VINO
had created or owned or controlled II, or FUR
nshcl The capital for II. as the harvested wheat
OF the farmer belongs 20 him, and not 10 the
ploughmln or the reaper.