Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-16
HEIR TO $4,OOO,OOO,
BUTONLYONPAPER,,
RUSE TRIPS HIM UP
Ipreme Court Sends Wunrath Case
to New Trial Because Yer
dict Based on Perjured
Testimony.
FAKE ESTATE FURNISHES CLUE
Plaintiff Tells Story His Life to
Detective Posing as New
York Lawyer.
'IsCLosEs EYE HURT BEFORE

The $4,0OO,00O estate in Germany
which William Wunrath, an Omaha
iantior, was to inherit was just a
detective fairy tale.
The yarn was given to the news
papers about a year ago, and Wun-
rath was keyed up to the point of
swallowing It, hook, bait and all, but
now It is disclosed that IL was just q
clever ruse to get back of some sus-
picious testimony on which Wunrath
had secured judgment in the dis
trict court here for $500.
To qualify as tho expectant heir to
the four millions Wunrath told the
Imaginative detective the story of his
life. and what he told was used to
reopen the damage suit for which a
new trial was ordered, and just af-
/. firmed last week by decision of the
slate supreme court to which it was
appealed.
For proper perspective of this
Interesting story, readers of The Bee,
who have already had some of the
will have to have their memories re-
freshed. Wunrath sustained a fall
down an elevator shaft while en-
ployed by We Peoples Furniture and
Carpet company. and brought suit
for damages. The first trial resulted
ID no verdict, and the second trial in
J judgment for $500, upon which
Wunrath's attorneys Immediately
filed so per cent lien. In the trial
Wunrath had dwelt upon the per-
manent injury of one of his eyes,
and many questions and answers
turned on his loss of sight, although
that was not alleged in the petition.
II was .saftaEss.he verdict was
rendered that the detectives came fn
when a prosperous looking man appeared
on the scene little over a year ago,
and introduced himself to wunrath as
an attorney from New York r
"You are the sole heir to sI0O0,0O0
estate In Germany" he told him. you
can have the estate as soon as we make
an Investigation to satisfy us that you
arc the right man"
The New York attorney was operator
No. 1O3 OF the Pinkerton Detective agency.
What wunrath told him is related in
the report made by No. 100 dated March
Z. 1914:
What the Detective Learned.
.'At 2:sO p. m I went to residence. board
49, II a nd n
si29 Pacific avenue. where I meet William
wunrath. He was walking down the
street without a cane or crutch.
E II went to his residence. where in
Reviewed him. He stated that he was
born in Holstein. Germany. and that he
was So years old his last birthday, and
that he came to the United States in 1897
He stated that he had number of acci-
4ents during his life; that his hand was
injured in a. railroad wreck several years
ago, and that one of his fingers was lett
stiff as a result; that he was once kicked
by horse In the head, and that he lost
the sight of one of his eyes
HE stated that he received s1,25o from
the Iowa Commercial Travellers Insur-
ance company and that they cancelled HIS
policy.
'Ie said that he is now employed as
ianitor in the building located at 3119-29
Pacific street"
After another visit or two the New
York attorney left Omaha A few days
later the newspapers printed long ac-
counts of Wunrath's supposed inheritance
OF a 100000 estate. bur nothing more
was ever heard of II.
But enough information had been OBJ
tanned to furnish the clue which ran
down and uncovered the application for
and payment Of indemnity on a policy
issued by an accident company in Des
Molnes to the amount of s., go for the
permanent injury of Wunraths eye by
the previous accident when he was kicked
by horse. Strangely enough the same
doctor who had certified TO the insurance
company had also testified in the damage
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