The record-union., 1897-05-18
A DECEMBER "REMINISCENCES.
The Trial Of ]. W. Dunbar is Now in
Progress.
Accused of Defrauding John Breuner
Out of One Hundred
Dollars.

The trial Of ]. w. Dunbar on the
charge of obtaining money by false
pretenses was begun yesterday before
Judge Gaddis of YOlo County, who is oc-
cupying Judge Harris court.
Dunbar is the man who cut consider
able of a swath here last December as
the ostensible lessee of the Interna-
tional Hotel, which he said he was 60
ing to furnish anew from top to bot
tom and open as a first-class hosiery.
He wen SO far as to negotiate with the
Breuner Bros. for carpets and furni-
ture, and the act for which he was
held to answer and is now being tried
grew out of that transaction.
District Attorney Ryan and Assist
ant District Attorney J. Charles Jones
are conducting the prosecution, and
Dunbar is being defended by Hiram
w. Johnson. A jury was secured yes
terday in the persons of w. H. Hugo
r. Hughes, NJ. Duffy, A. L. Warren
Alex. Harbinson. j. Dias, D. j. Sim
mons, James McCaw, S. Stein, II. C.
Frick, Frank Rider and J. ID. Lock
hardt.
The first witness called was John
Breuner. He testified that on the 14th
of December last, after having had
previous dealings with Dunbar regard
ing the latter's order for a large supply
of furniture, carpets, etc, Dunbar Wis
tied his store and deposited with him
a receipt from the California State
Bank for a draft of 81, 800 drawn on
the First National Bank of Chillicothe
Mo. This receipt was intended as a
guarantee for $1,000 worth of furni-
ture.
Breuner further testified that Dun
bar requested that the money be not
called for for a few days. He also ask
ed for and obtained from the witness
| 500 with which to make some small
purchases about town, Breuner draw
ing a check for LOO against Dunbar
supposed bank deposit of $500.
The next day, Breuner testified, he
went to the California State Bank to
satisfy himself that the transaction
was a safe one, and had the bank tele-
graph an inquiry to the Chilicothe
bank regarding Dunbar's alleged de-
post there. Learning that Dunbar had
no money there, he went in search OF
him, but could not find him, and did
not again see him until after his arrest
j. Henry Miller, Teller in the Cali
fornia State Bank, testified to Dun
| bar having called at that institution
and deposited the draft on the Chilli
Gothic bank, and to giving him a receipt
| therefor. The bank subsequently com
municated with the Missouri bank and
| received the information that Dunbar
had no money on deposit there.
| This latter testimony was admitted
against the strenuous protest of Attor-
ney Johnson, who argued that it was
not proper and had nothing to do with
the question as to whether or not the
defendant obtained money from Breu-
ner on false representations.
| Another point of similar character
was argued at some length but went
over temporarily. District Attorney
| Ryan sought to obtain from Mr. Breu-
ner a statement as to what he learned
| when he went East last February and
called at the Chillicothe bank This
| Mr.. Johnson objected to, and it was
| finally agreed to argue the point later
on when the jurors We're not present
| ExPolice Captain Ash was called tC
| testify concerning the facts as tC
| Dunbar'S arrest in San Francisco.
| The case will be resumed this morn
! ing, and as there are not MANY wit
nesses it will probably be conclued to-
day.