The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-28
THE MAN WITH THE VELVET
COAT. ~ e
The History Of q Grand
ltlrOois w. sln.

haSCdl. an
A STORY OF BIGAMY, FOR
I GERY AND EMBEz-
ELEMENT.
Our citizens may have noticed for few
weeks past in the streets, genteel.looking IN.
diyidual, q stranger evidently, and from pc
culi.ritv in his dress. generally known as The
Man IN the Velvet Coat" he usually wore o
sort of a yiolet-colored velvet coat, and carried
. cane-hfs whole cut somewhat savoring OF
fancy sporting man, or upper crust gambler.
To the few who managed by accident to be-
come acquainted with him, he was known as
the" Hon. John w. Harris" formerly of
Texas, and gentleman Of great wealth, stop
ping ct the International with his wife. This
apparently quiet and respectable man, how
ever, is the hero of . strange story of crime
the perpetrator Of . series of viliainies rarely
equalled for boldness and depravity, which we
beginning Of hb career Of rascality.
In 1858. . man came to the city of Spring
field, Ohio, calling himself BENZ. w. Allen.
He was destitute of means, but in some way
managed to get about hundred dollars, when
he disappeared. After q time he returned,
bringing with him considerable money. How
1t was obtained, no one ever knew-nor was
anything known about him or his past history,
indeed. BE started small brokers' shop, and
managed to secure the confidence of the peo-
pie of Springfield to such ais extent that small
deposits were made with hina, and finally he
extended and enlarged his business, until he
came to transact considerable banking. he
was well known to bankers in Cincinnati, hav-
ing dealings with some of them, and icing
considered by them as "sound end good"
His banking house was called the Exchange
Bank" of Springfield.
In the winter Of 1864 he proposed for the
hand of an estimable and accomplished young
lady of Springfield, daughter of man Of
wealth, and very respectable As his character
and standing seemed what they should be, he
was accepted and they were married in Febru-
Dry, 1864. They lived very happily for few
months. when the first step in crime was taken
by Allen. - iN"
The I" Bank of the Ohio Valley, (" located at
Cincinnati, had occasion to send package of
about 410o to Allen, and on the same day to
send q package of 41o,o 900 to 4 bank ct Indian
apolis. By an error Of tho clerk who made
up and sent the packages, the larger amount
was sent to AllSh and the smaller one to the
other bank. This was In June, 1864.
Whether Allsn Was depraved and bad man
ct heart previous to this, we cannot Gay. He
told IN oeacer Afterwards, who asked him why
he did It, that when he found the mistake the
bank had made-that he could make 49, 900, he
was overcome by the temptation, and fell.
Men do not always fhll 90 suddenly and 50 easy,
however. The heart and conscience must have
been prepared In some way for it. But Allen
did yield to 1t, though. he gathered up all
tho money of his depositors, and forged &C
ceptances on his father.in-isw and other veal
thy business men Of Springfield for large
amounts With these he made hurried visit
to Cincinnati, got them cashed at hanks where
he was acquainted, and with the iligotten
booty, decamped between two nights. II ID
not known how much he took with him, bat
It IL reported q 480, 200. This l. probably too
large an estimate, butt must have been con-
siderable sum. His wife and her family were
overwhelmed with shame ct the affair. They
now live In CincinnaA, we Learn.
A forger, . thief, . vagabond. fleeing from
justice, '.Allen was now adrift on the world,
seeking only to escape detection. The Valley
Bank and othey parties swindled by him. had
accomplished detectives on his track, but al
though, under various DISCUSSES and aliases
eight in all, we learn-he was traced at Sain
Louis. and Chicago. and IN the Oh regions. and
Saratoga, and other places, they did not 60 10
where he might have been easily nabbed-aad
that was-Saint Paul ss43 sea
He came here some time during last summer,
as an invalid, or pleasure seeker, and remained
some time. he subscribed to the New York
Herald .. Combs, and that gentleman managed
through his daily visits, to become quite well
acquainted with him, but Allen kept up his as
sumed character quite cleverly. IA
he stopped at one our first class hotels, as
sociatlng with the multitude ofpleasure seek.
ers and invalids who then thronged St. Paul
spending much of his time with the tender
sex-much Of his money for wine, indulging
frequently In amorous dalliance upon the shores
Of Lake ssComo, whore, it Is said, he and his
1 charmer (another mans wife) were wont to re-
cline meath the sylvan shade, gambol on its
may banks, and lave their limbs in Its limpid
tide.
His next appearance was lastwiuter ct the
Filth Avenue Hotel, New York, where, under
the pAme Of the Hon. Jno. w. Harris late Of
Texas," naa reputed to Be worth million.
he readily nads his way into society. His
nannerA his profuss expenditure Of wealth,
and bis STYLE attended 70 support his assumed
character. and Il WIS n6t dinaeult 70 Be intso-
duced from ono = another. Among those
with whom he became acquainted, was young
LADY Of great personal attractions and accom-
plshmentA and very ysung. To this young
lady Be laid siege, with sch success. Chat On