The evening world., 1894-06-12
WIMAN ON The RACK.
Termed an migrate by Assistant
District Attorney Wellman.
Defense Will Claim that He Vio-
lated No Law.
Trial Of the Staten Island Magnatc
Resumed.

Erastus Wiman's son, Harry Dunn
Wiman, a reporter. sat beside his father
before Justice Ingraham in the Court of
oyer and Terminer this morning when
Assistant District-Attorney Francis l..
Wellman, the most formidable and most
relentless Of the county's prosecutors,
told the jury the story Of the alleged
crime of Erastus Wiman.
Mr.. Wellman described forgery In the
second degree, for which a convicted
person may be consigned to prison for
ten years.
Erastus Wiman. a man Of three score
years. who has attained a reputation
that extends all over America, is
charged with the simple crime of draw
ing a check on his firm, r. G. Dun &
Co., for 5000, in favor of f. w. Bull
linger & Co., as he was empowered to
do; Of forging the signature of E. w.
Bullinger & Co.. in Endorsement, and
of then indorsing it himself and de-
posting 1t to his W private account
In the Central National Bank.
forgery is based will not be disputed by
the defense, bun, in the words of Gen.
n. F.. Tracy, of counsel for the Cana
dlan-American, the. contention will be
80 ~. NoohNy Va v W. VI VI
The defense will claim first that Mr..
Wlman was a membe of the firm Of r..
e. rirh pun m & Co; SECOND; that he had a
that the use Of the name of Bullinger, as
drawee. was nothing more than the use
or a fictitious drawee sanctioned by the
latest dec'sion of the Supreme Court of
this department. and neve disturbed by
h Court Of Appeals.
Mt; wellman told the jury that till
Icy Erastus Wiman was a member Of
the hrm became r. G.. u & CO., and
by a special written agreement Wiman
became an employee, receiving as COM
equivalent to one-sixth Of the net profits.
which Melted him $500 or $50. 900 q year.
The prosecution dilated on Mr.. Dun
having founded the great mercantile
agency nifty years ago; how he took up
Wiman, a young man. and put him for
ward. and how .Wiman had turned in
crate and robbed his benefactor, 49,,
reverses the relations of Dun and Wiman.
That Wiman had built up a splendid
business for the firm Of Dun. Wiman &
called to New York to r%ejuvenate a busi-
ness that was not making a dollar: that
he built ~ the business to its present
magnificent proportions, with an income
to Dun of 5000, 900 or more pc r annum.
Erastus Wiman listened with the in
terest OF an outsider when Mr.. Wellman
said he would show that Mr.. Wiman had
ing the year prior to Feb. 8. 1888, the date
OF the Bullinger check, one to j. N.
Fairbanks for $l6,0o0.
Gen. Tracy entered his objection here.
He said Mr.. Wiman was on trial for an
alleged crime.
I'VE will admit right here h Mr..
Wiman wrote the signature on the back
well recognized and legally established
practice in commerce." said Gen. Tracy.
Justice lngraham permitted Mr.. Well
man to go on, and holding up the check
1.-THE magnanimous admission Of Gen.
Tracy that Mr.. Wiman signed E. w.
Bullinger's Endorsement Is because they
his familiar act and begged for mercy
pioyers, And this is not Wiman's hand
1t Is disguised, Why did he disguise H.
covery of the forgery r. e.. Dun found
that there was a shortage in Wiman's
accounts, of $751; co. while the books
ing covered II UP by skIltul m~anipuia-
"a bookkecper discovered q shortage
about it and Wiman gave him a check
on his own bank for Sl35, 900. Next day
Wiman said: Don't deposit that check
yet n kept him alone from day t.
fourteen months"
"a month before that forgery Wiman
presented a check, drawn to E. w
Bullinger and Endorsed e. w. Bullinger
jr.,' The bank, didn't like the 'jr.' and
rejected the check. Then he scratched
out the Endorsement and got Bullingei
to indorse It,. telling him It had beer
presented this check. having written or
1t in a disguised hand, 'E. w. Bullinger.
He failed shortly after for 81 900 900 or
a 10 per cent. capital. which shows hi.
financial straits, the motive for thu
crime"
The articles OF agreement between r
G. Dun. Wiman n Arthur ]. King ant
Robert ID; u or Jan: !, 1883, wert
G.. Dur was and should continue to be-
the sole owner, and would pay a sun
equal 10 IL per cent. of the profits.