Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-08-03

frYon a. q r,.l $3.50, /,

indiyisinal. : stranger. evidently. and from /
popularity 10 his dress. generally known y
The Man In the Velvet Coat" He usuallv
wore eoft Of violet colored velvet coat
anu carried cahe-his whole cut some wha,
savoring Of fancy sporting man. ar upper
crust gambler. To the few who mana Red by
accident % become acquainted with him, hs
80 known - the "H0n. John W. Harris,
formerly OF Texas. and . gentleman ol
great wealth. stopping II the international
with his wife. This apparently quiet and re.
spc1aDse man, however, Ii the hero Of {
Strange story Of crime-the perpetrator of Z
series Of villainies rarely equalied for bold.
ness and depravity, which we will endcavor
70 naTrate. commencing q the beginning OF
his career Of fascality.
| ~ 1917, man caue TO the city Of Spring
Held, Ohio, calling himself Benz w. Allen.
lie was destitute Of means, but in some way
I managed to get hundred dollars, when lie
disappeared. Alter time he returned, bring.
Ing with him considerable money. How L
was obtained, no one ever kncw-nor WAS
anything known about him or his past his
tory, indeed. He started a small brokers'
shop, and managed TO secure the confidence
Of the people OF springfield to such an extent
that small deposits were made with him, aud
finally he extendeda and enlarged his business,
until he came to transact considerable bank
ing. He was we'll known IN the bankers in
Cincinnati, having dealings with some OF
them, and being considered by them AS
sound" and good" His banking house
was called the Exchange Bank" OF Spring
field.
In the winter of 1864 he proposed for the
hand ofan estimable and accomplished young
lady, Of Springfield, daughter of man ot
wealth, and very respectable As his charac-
ter and standing seemed what they should
he, he was accepted and they were married
in February, 1864 They lived very happily
for a few months, when the first step in crime
was taken by Allen
| The Bank OF the Ohio Valley" located
nj Cincinnati had occasion To send package
Of about II 900 u Allen, and on the same day
to send package Of 10000 TO a bank at
indianapolis. by An error Of the clerk who
made up and sent the packages, the larger
| amount was sent to Allen and the smaller
one to the other bank This was in June,
| 1864
Whether Allen was q depraved and bad
man at heart previous to this we cannot
saw. llc told an officer afterwards, who
asked him why he did it, that when he found
the mistake the bank had made-that he
could make $1,000, he was overcome by the
temptation, and fell Men do not always
fall so suddenly and SO easy, however The
heart and conscience must have been pre-
pared in some way for it. But Allen did
yield to it, though. He gathered up all the
money Of his depOsitors, forged acceptances
on his father-in law and other wealthy bust
ness men Of Springfield for large amounts
With these he made hurried visit 70 Gin
cnnati and got them cashed at banks where
he WAS acquainted, and with the iil-gottcn
booty, decMnped between two days. 1t is
not known how much nc took with him
but it is reported at $SO,OOO. This is proba
bly, too large an estimate, but II must have
been a considerable sum. His wife and her
family were overwhelmed with shame at
the affair They nov live in Cincinnati, we
learn.
forger, a thief, vagabond, fleeing from
Justice, "Allen," WAS now adriit on the
world, seeking only to escape detection
The Valley bank and other parties swindlcd
by him. had accomplished detectives on his
track, but, although under various DISCUSSES
and aliises--cght in all, we learn-hc was
traced at st. Louis, and Chicago, and in the
oil regions, and Saratoga and other places,
they did not 90 to where he might have
beer easily nabbcd-and that was--St. Paul
He came her. some time during last sum
mcr MS an invalid OF pleasure seeker and re-
manned some time lie subscribed for the
New York Hertd at Combs, and that gen
tleman managed through his daily visits to
become quite well acquainted with him, but
Allen kept up his assumed character quite
cleverly.
He stopped at one Of our first class hotels,
sssociating with the multitude of pleasure
seekers and invalids who thronged St Paul
spending much Of his time with the tender
| scx--much Of his money for wine, indulging
! frequently in am, rous dalliancc upon the
shores of Lake Como" where, it is said he
and his charmcr (another mans wife, were
| wont to rccline meath the sylvan shade,
gambol on its messy banks and lave their
imbs.in its limpid tide.
His next appearance was last " inter at the
Fifth Avenue hotel, New York, where, under
the name of the "Hon Jno. W Harris. late
of Texas man rcputed to be worth mil
lion, he readily made his way into society
Ills manners, his protuse expenditure Of
wealth, and his style, all tended to support
his assumed character and it was not diff
cult to be introduced from one to another.
Among those with whom he became ac-
quanted. was young lady of great personal
attractions and accomplishments, and very
young. To this young lady he laid siege,
with such success, that ON the oath of Nav
last, they were married. His preferences
were among the circle of acquaintance he
had made at the hotel, but seemed unim.
pcachablc, and no doubts Of his honor were
entertained.
lie ut once started for St. Paul with his
bride, and arrived here on June ID, engaging
from friend Belo,c, of the international
; Hotel, the most elegant apartments he couo
secure regardless of expense vi cours.
mine host iSelote paid all attentions to II mar
worth million, and who spent his money
| SO freely, and among the few acquaintance
he made, the lion. Mr.. Harris was regarded
| as fortunate man. Friend Combs sOlt
him the Herald again and Harris IBID fair Il
remain here all summer. But he didn't.
. He had openeda bank account at the FRS
National, and besides some money, deposit
I'd small tin safe or "cash box" which
lie labeled and said contained SOL 900 il
$ United States bonds All his dealings will
them were intended (ior apnrposc explained
heraiteD to impress them with a belief tina
he was man of great means. He once o.
twice drew on the First National, or som,
other bank in New York, and his draft wa
duly honored.
Ii Allen expected to escape detection an.
punishment after he committed the crimes Il,
stands charged with, he must have been
fool and knavc. II was impossible. keel
detectives were following him, and in spit
OF his shif,ings and DISCUSSES. one of then
ran the willy fox to earth Il week since, end
ing Mr.. Harris splendid career, but bringin:
desolation and misery upon tile innocen
bride who had linked her fortunes with The
| base man.
The detective who discovered Harris,
was armed not with warrants for his arres
, on criminal charge, but with civil process
3 ses for money emhezzled by Allen from hi
depositors and others His instruction.
were, to recover the money from Harris
The claims were placed in TIN. hands Of Nor
ris Lamprev, Esq, for Election, and he a
once commenced SUIT against Harris in tn,
United States circuit court, the writs bein,
served on him by the United States marshal
BY good management on the part of Mr.
Lamprey and the detective, Allen disgorget
three thousand dollars. the amount Of tn,
claims, and seemed To have plenty ofmoney