New-York tribune., 1901-11-18
TgEy SAY WHEELER IS INSANE.
HIS FRIENDS DO NOT DENY THAT HE TRIED
TO NEGOTIATE THE BAD NOTES.

To NEGOTIATE THE BAD NOIES.
oe Wheeler. ir.. who was arrested Saturday
charged with attempting to negotiate 1orseo PROM
isory notes amounting to 100000, IS stlii Prls
oner at Police Headquarters, where ne Is aiio"eu
to receive the attention of his physician Dr
Gov Ward of No go West Fifty-ninth-st.
Mr. Wheeler's friends say that he is not mentaiS
responsible and that he did not forge tine names
of Potter Palmer. Stratton & Field, D. " Purlng-
ton N NJ Duffy and other well known Chicago
non with criminal intent It is probable that he
will be examined to his mental responslolhty.
When Wheeler was arraigned before MasistfaIe
Cornell in the Centre-st. court yesterday Heiiiy -
Mccormick, who appeared for him. said he be-
loved that Wheeler was suffering from the enects
of some drug and was mentally unbalanced Wnile
waiting for his to be heard Wheeler "aiheu
nervousy about the courtroom. When ne was pe-
fore the bar his head and hands shook perceptloiy
and he was obliged TO support himself by leaning
against the rail and holding fast to l. MI McCof-
mick told the gistrate that the prisoner had Tor
a month been under the care of nurse ana asheo
that he be sent to Bellevue Hospital, where ne
could be attended by DR.. Ward Magistrate Cornell
said he felt sorry for Wheeler. whose Ill heatn was
apparent On the assurance of Detective Price VINO
made the arrest, that Wheeler could be attended
by Dr. Ward at Police Headquarters he sent him
back there.
Mr.. Mccormick told the magistrate that he be-
neved Wheeler had made all the notes himself and
had written the letters referring to the notes that
found on his person. The notes were exam
ined by Magistrate Cornell, who said they certainly
seemed to be written by the hand. Wheeers
friends say it is well known that he has offered the
notes to number of men who knew OF his disa-
bilitX and who treated his offers coming from
D. V. Purngton is his way from Chicago. and
will be in the Centrest court to-day to tell What
he knows about the affair DR.. Ward will also De
present, according to Mr.. Mccormick, to tell the
magistrate that Wheeler is mentally unbalanced
and responsible for his actions. The prison
the notes. but say made attempt to initiate
he handwriting n signed
Chicago, Nov 17-When the alleged forged notes
signed with the names of Potter Palmer. d. "
Purington and other Chicago capitalists were Of
fered for sale the Metropolitan National Bank, OF
this city, offered to purchase all the paper. The
liberal discount offered did not excite suspicion.
The Purington paper offered to local capt
talist before the bank had agreed to buy IL. This
capitalist knew Mr.. Purington well, and chanced
meet him in the street few hours after talk
ing with the brokers.
Il have received offer of some of your personal
paper and some issued by your brick COMPANY.
the capitalist remarked. What do you ynean?'
Mr.. burlington asked. The capitalist explained
II have notes out and neither has the
pany. said Mr.. Purington. In fact, we have
10000 in the bank. drawing 2Z per cent interest,
and we would not be so foolish to put out paper
calling for per cent"
Mr.. Purington went at once TO the brokers. and
there learned of the 600 in notes offered for sale
nounced the notes forgeres One of the members
of the Chicago brokerage firm which planning
to handle the paper said tonight that he did not
believe there was any such man as Duffy.