The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-31
THE MAN IN A VELVET COAT.



che streets genteel looking individual stranger evil
IDENTIFY, and from popularity in his dress generally
wore sort Of violet coored velvet coat and carried
eane-hs whole cut somewhat savorng Of fancy sport
Ing man. or upper crust gambler To the few that man
aged by accident TO become acquainted with him. he was
known as the Hon John W. Harris formerly OF Texas
and gentleman Of great wealth. stopping at the Inter
national with his wife. This apparently quiet and re-
spectacle man. however is the hero Of strange story of
crime the perpetrator Of aseres Of villanies rarely
squaec ior Dodness ana depravity which we will
oeavor TO narate commencing at the beginning Of his
oareer OF rascality. ..r13 -
In 1853 man came to the city of Springfield Ohio,
Sening himsef BENZ. W. Allen. He was destitute Of
means put In some way managed to get about hundred
soiars when nc disappeared After time he returned
bringing with him considerable money How IL was OBJ,
AIMED no one ever knew-nor was anything known
Aoolt MIN or bis past history, indeed He started
ANAL or M SHOP and managed to secure the coma
small deposits were made with him, and finally he
tended and enlarged his business until he came to trans
act considerable banking He we'll known to bank
IN Cincinnati having dealings with some of them and be-
Ing considered by them 'ssound" and sgood.n His
banking house called the exchange Bankn or
Springfield
In the winter Of 1864 he proposed for the hand of an
e1maole and accomplished young lady of Springfield
daughter OF man Of wealth and very respectable. As
MIS- Character and stand ng seemed what they should be-
ne was accepted, and they were married in February
1854 They lived very happily for few months, when
tho first step in srime taken by Allen.
The Bank Of the Ohio Valley, located at Cincinnati
and on the same day to send package Of $40 600 to
bank at Indianapolis BY error of the clerk who
made up and sent the packages the larger amount was
sent TO Allen and the smaller to the other bank This
was In June, 1854
Whether Allen was depraved and bad man at heart
previous this cannot say. He told officer after
wards who asked him why he did IT, that when he found
the mistake the bank had made-that he could make
g. oOO he walovercome by thetemptston, and fell Men
DO not always fall suddenly and easy, however
The heart and conscience must have been prepared
way for it, But Allen did yield to it. though He
gathered up all the money OF his dpostors and forged
acceptances his father In law and other wealthy bust
men OF Springfield for large amounts. With these
Aas aAo hnr Avict Ar
q banks where he acquainted and with the i'll gotten
booty decamped between two ghts It is not known
how much he took with him. but 1t Is reported $50 OO0
This sprobably too largo an estimate, but must have
been considerable sum. His wife and her family were
overwhelmed with shame at the affair. They live
A forger, thief vagabond, fleeing from justice,
SALEM was now adrift the world seeking only to
escape detection The Valley Bank and other parties
swinded by him had accomplished detectives on his
track but although under DISCUSSES and aliases
IN AL we isarnMne was traced at st. Louis and
places, they did not go to where he might have been
easily nabbed-and that was St. Paul
He came here some time during last summer as an
invalid or pleasure seeker and remained some time He
to the New YORK HErALp at Combs and that
quits we'll acnuantea with him h"t x Se NJ @ h;
assumed character quite clevery.
he stopped at Of our first casa hotels associatng
With the multitude Of pleasure seekers and nvads who
chen thronged st. Paul, spending much Of his time
with the tender sex, much Of his money for
wne. INDUCING frequently in daliance upon the
charmer another mans wfe were wont to recne meath
me sylvan shade gambol on Its NOISY banks, and lave
His next appearance was last winter at the Fifth Ave-
nle Hotel New York, whore. under the name Of the
sHon John W. Harris, late Of Texas" reputed
y worth million, he readily made his way into society
Hts manners his profuse exp ndure of wealth. and his
WAS not difficult to be Introduced from one to another
Among those with whom he became acquainted, was a
young lady Of great personal attractions and accomplish
ments and very young To this young lady he laid
siege with such success that the oath Of May they
we're married. His sreferences were among the circle
81 acquainances he had made at the hotel but seemed
0ained
He at once started for st. Paul with his BRIDE and ar
rived here on June engaging from friend Beote Of
She International Hotel the elegant apartments he
sould secure, REGARDLESS Of expense" or mine
hoet Bcote paid all attentions TO man worth million,
and who spent his money so freely and among the few
acquaintanccs he made, the Hon. Mr.. Harris
HERALD again, and Harris bid fair to remain here all
summer. But he didn't
he had opened bank account at the First National
and besides some money deposited . small tin safe or
cash box" which he labelled and said contained sixty
ene thousand dollars In United States bonds. All his
dealings with Thorn were intended flor q purpose
planned hereae 70 impress them with belief that he
Mas man Of great means He once or twice drew
ehe First National, or some other bank In New York,
md his draft was duly honored
II Allen expected 70 escape detection and punishment,
after he had committed such crimes he stands charged
with, he must have been q fool we'll q knave II
was impossible Keen detectives following him,
and In spite Of his shfings and DISCUSSES OF them
S Cox 20 M
misery upon the innocent bride who had linked her for
tunes with the base man.
The detective who discovered "Harris'' was armed,
nSt with warrants for his arrest criminal charge,
but with civil processes for money embezzed by Allen
from his deposors and others His instructions were
% recover the money from Harris. The claims were
placed in the hands Of Norris Lamprey Esq., for coec-
zion, and he at once commenced suit against Harris in
Che United States Circuit Court the wrts being served
him by the United States Marshal BY good manage
ment on the part Of Mr Lamprey and the detective.
Allen digorged three thousand dollars the amount Of
Che claims, and seemed to have plenty Of money
ENCOURAGED by their success and supposing that he
would pay other claims, the Bank Of Ohio Valley
autographed to and Instructions received TO
suit against Allen, which Mr. Lamprey at did.
Colonel Belote garnsheed but returned that
there was nothing in his hands The First National
Bank then garnsheed, and 5000 returned being
deposit due TO Allen alias harris, aud special de-
posit Of SCI, 900 in bonds.
Allen SEEMED unprepared for so large claim-s 275 10
IN a-and 1t may be that he did not have the money.
He, however, said he had So 900 In drafts the First
First National Bank here to cash. and would pay the
claim. The drafts simar 10 others dashed for him pro-
vieusy were placed in the hands Of Thompson Brothers.
but before cashng them they teegraphed to the First
National Bank Of New York. and were answered, ~ W.
d.rris has no money in this bank"
There be doubt but that Allen, alias Harris had
Gust prepared these drafts in order induce the bank
cash them and thus defraud them out of the amount
fhe bold scheme failed, fortunately.
Finding that he could get the money and that his
drafts must como back dshonored besides finding that
he was discovered and liable TO DO arrested criminal
uotermine0
lay 70 himself by light Hiring team from Lang.
ey he gathered up all the money and jewelry In his
room hastily babe his conndng wife adcu and drove
Oh, telling Langley who asked his destination, 'none Of
your business" He has not been heard Of since, al
though Langley has elegraphcd and sent word In every
DIRECTION Where he could have gone Is mystery
HIS young ana lovely wife did not know Of the state of
che until the villain had lied As may be expected
she is almost broken hearted aud greatly to be pted
The tin box deposited by him at Thompson Brothers
opened on Saturday by the bank officers, and the
sxtyone thousand dollars In bonds found 70 consist u
.AIpe bought q G2mbs, probably. - So.
- Ihcs 6afG6r Of vany has been terminated for time
but, II Allen escapes he will Undoubtedly open again
elsewhere. He mutt BE- bold and thoroughly depraved
rascal and the above recital OF his crimes and opera-
sions forms chaptr Of vilany az revolving a. any We
have ever been called on 10 write.
Decorating . Sacred spot.
TO THE KDIToR OF THE HERALD.
Every dag particularly In the afternoon, Trinity church
yard Is overrun by worthless rabble Of ragged boys
la Qal nh