The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-30
DR.. LYMAN POSES
AS SPY SUSPECT
Acts as His Own Counsel
When Put on Trial for Al
legged Stock Frauds.
NINE JURORS SELECTED

When Dr. John Grant Lyman slipped
out of this city last February he had no
fear Of post office inspectors or the Gus
toners from whom he is said to have
received about $500. 900 for investment in
oil and munition stocks. His only CON
Germ was that he might he arrested as
a German spy or a bomb conspirator.
At least that is the explanation which
Or. Lyman gave for his sudden flight
before Fcieral Judge Wolverton yester-
day during the examination Of the Jurors
who are TO decide whether or not Lyman,
while operating as John n Putnam a. Co.
At 6S Broad street. used tho mails in
the promotion of a scheme to defraud
men and women who were Induced by
him TO buy stocks on easy instruments.
Before the trial Lyman threw over his
attorney. Henry :. Wise. formerly United
states Attorney. and Frank :. ONeill. and
insisted on handling his own case, al
though he had never studied law. A.
his " counsel therefore ne was allowed
yesterday to examine the talcsmen. te
began by asking on" on which side Of the
war his syInpathies lay. When Assistant
United States Attorney Stanton objected
Lyman replied that his object was 10
.show that his flight was not an indica-
'tplA VI kuilN 'H iUt IlilI ITtuu case, nut
hat the rumors OF his being implicated
IN Geiman plots were so strong that they
had aroused the suspicious uf William j.
Flynn. head OF the United States secret
service. and Capt. Gaunt. the British
naval attache here.
III such astuie detectives as these
men took stock in those rumors you can
realize how easily the ordinary man
could be deceived by them" said pr.
Lyman. 81 have in my pocket a letter
from Capt. Gaunt which | intend TO
introduce as evidence Al, the trial. II
Is true I did run away and these jurors
might think that my nigh, was pfima
facie violence of guilt. Az a matter
OF fact I thought ! was going TO be ar
rested as a German spy or for making
bombs to place on munit!on ships. I
felt the suspicion attaching TO me very
keenly. for an American has no right
to mix in that kind Of business"
The Federal authorities insist tina, az
far as they know the nearest Lyman
ever came to international complications
was when he ran away with the wife Of
a British naval officer and when he
later sod munition stock in this coun-
try. Ii IL an open secret, however, that
Lyman often consulted with Lieut..
Robert Fay in the Tomb before The
latter was sentenced to eight years in
the Federal pen.tcutiary at Atlanta for
~conspiring to blow up munition ships.
Lyman raised a laugh by asking one
of the prospective Jurors II he woul
Ice prejudiced against a stock promoter
who gave his customers a run for their
none! 80 In the middle Of the proceed.
ms he closed his eyes. clapped his hand
To his brow and after sWaylng uu,
steadily for a few seconds told the court
that lac was i'll. When ;he Judge granted
a five minute recess LYMAN walked oVei
to his wife and began conversing ear.
ncstly with her.
Nine Jurors were selected ves'erda,
and the remainder will be picked or
! Wednesday, morning
Stanley ". Dexter, special master II
bankruptcy. appointed to take ,estimou'
in the Insolvency proceedings agains'
Lyman. completed his report yesterday
IN which ne recommends that the broker
be adjudgcd a bankrupt He character
ICES him as a pure ad~Venturer.