The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-03
The ES-Miliionsire Declares That He
Did Not Commit Forgery.


San Francisco. Aug. a. ]. Whitsnsn.
ex-oanker and millionaire Of Duluth,
MINI. MAYER az nulnth member Of the
Minnesota legislature. and recently con
victed OF forgery. made a personal R6-
dress today In the superior court IN SUP
port OF his own motion for new trial.
The new trial was demanded on the score
Of newly discovered evidence. one eharge
against Whiteman was that he had
Victimized several friends in san
Francisco by means OF forged
check drawn by Frank Dixon upon
a New York hank. All through ghe
trial Whiteman insisted that there was
such n person as Dixon. although he could
not he found. Now u is stated that Dixon
has been found and stated in the presence
of certain reputable residents Of Chicago
that he had really signed the 500 check
and had sent IL to Whiteman IN payment
Of an Indebtedness. Then Whiteman by
the permission Of the court made an olo-
quent address, reciting his social and 20
liticai prominence and his efforts TO nnd
Dixon. He begged the court not 10 put the
brand of fslon upon man who had not
been legally convicted Of crime. Judge
Wallace continued the further hearing OF
the motion for two weeks iastTucting the
special counsel for the prosecution in the
meantime to ascertain whether or not
Whiteman's story is true. The court
stated that If there is really such per-
son as Dixon. and IL he signed that check
and sent il TO the defendant, Whiteman
would have new trial.
Whiteman said: If / have committed
a forgery and have been proved guilty,
l desire no elemency or sympathy. for
have employed ell the advantages that
wealth and education give, l graduated
with honors at an Eastern college and
afterward at the Columbia law school. ]
served four years in the senate OF my
state. and at the expiration of that time
l received the unanimous nomination Of
my party for congress, was elected chair
man Of the state committee, and was sent
as a delegate to the national convention.
[ have been a director of three national
banks and vice president of one, and II
man of my experience and antecedenIs
has been guilty of the henious crime of
forgery there is nothing that can he said
in extenuation or in mitigation, but, Il
through over-contidence in the Justice OF
my cause, in the consciousness or my IN
noeence. / allowed my case TO go 10
speedy trial. and was unprepared for the
admission of extraneous matters In eVi-
dence, | humbly submit that ] should
have an opportunity TO prove my inno-
cence Your honor may recall that in
letter which wrote to the district attor-
nev. and which was admitted in evidence.
an immediate and speedy hearing was
asked. and | stated in that letter that II
| was guilty of this charge ! should be
on the road to San Quentin, and IT inno-
cent I should have my liberty at TIE
earliest possible moment; but then ] uld
not know where Frank Dixon was, ana !
did not know he was in the employ Of a
reputable firm in Chicago, and did not
know that there were reputahie men IN
Chicago who were familiar with his hand
writing and his signature and who were
willing 10 testify 10 that effect but did
know that Dixon sent me that check III
good faith. I also knew he had an ac-
count at the bank on which the check
was drawn. and I knew that If any wit
ness came hero from that bank he
would be obliged to admit as much. Dur
ing the six weeks elapsed since the trial
nv continuances kindly granted by your
honor. I had this check photographed and
sent East, and / obtained the afiidavlts
of Dixon and other reputable men or chi
cago who knew him."