The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-06
"The Case Of W. D. Coleman. .

} The most remarkable and startling recita,
OF facts and strange and fatal complication
OF events, which has ever come under oul
notice is that furnished by pamphlet before
us, entitled 1.-THE Case Of w. D. Coleman. >
Written in an easy and graceful style, close;
ly connecting the transpirancies explained
and displaying vgOr OF intellect and an
earnestness of purpose, which at once ar
rest attention, the reader is carried to the
end of the 10 pages, forgetful OF the time
consumed, and only mystified that IN
criminal proceeding in Virginia and in this
advanced day of intelligence, such gloomy
and terrible sequel should have to be con-
fronted from circum stances which might
have been clearly explained, but failing in
which, fixed the stamp of felon upon the
brow of highly gifted and generous young
man. 1t reads more like the startling intri-
cacies and closely woven plots Of the Bas-
tile, without the glamor of the pages Of the
MAN Of the Iron Mask'' or the enslaving
witchery of the romance which threads its
chapters. Mr.. Coleman deals in stubborn
and indisputabe facts, as he alleges, land from
the time a perverted judgment or obtuse
moral sensibilties allowed him to speculate
in securities that did not belong to him,
and appropriate the profits, on through the
unfortunate combination Of events which first
fixed suspicion, then allegation, arrest, trial,
and judgment, en- unfrendly fate seemed
to be directing his destiny.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Coleman
was the clerk of the Sinking Fund Commits.
sion of the State-that attention was di-
rected to his irregular habits. and the
fact that he had been seen at gambling sa-
looms with a State bond and several cou-
pons-that he was called to account, an in
vestigation ordered, and $4,000 in bonds
belonging to the Sinking Fund were found
missing. He was arrested, arraigned, tried
and convicted. upon the charge of having,
with fraudulent intent, erased and tempered
with entries in the warrant book of the
Treasurers Office, and sentenced to four
years in the penitentiary, which term ex-
pired in October last, and Mr.. Coleman was
set at liberty.
The recital Mr.. Coleman gives Of his
| frenzied state OF mind when he awoke to a
realization OF the embarrassments which sur
rounded him; the difficulty of explanation !;
the hasty examination of the warrant book !;
the discovery of a wrong entry made by
his predecessor; his correction thereof,
then erasure; the conversation with Treas
urer Mayo; his attempt at suicide by chic.
reform his arrest; the difficulty of getting
counsel; the absence OF preparation, for
want Of time, for the trial; the imperfect
and bupgling defence; the verdict; the ap
peal; the final affirmation OF the sentence !;
his precipitate transfer from the Jail to the
penitentiary, and the numerous futile at
tempts at pardon.-form chapter Of such
startling and painful interest-such har-
rowing tale of baffied hopes and oppressive
realities, that the wonder is the man
did not seek relief, in the desperation Of de-
spair, by the dagger or certain poison.
OF course, we cannot in the limits OF this
article, give even an imperfect synopsis of
the facts as detailed in the pamphlet. To all
| appearances there is a sincere purpose to
tell the truth-there is no bitterness or NAL
ice pervading the sentences, and if the
| facts are as Mr.. Coleman states them, the
reader will be forced to the conclusion that
he sis more sinned against than sinning''-
and that others far more criminal than he,
and others again equally culpabe by reason
| of perverted judgment or bad design,
should have been reached and dealt with by
the law. He was convicted upon the tes-
timony OF one who was afterwards adjudged
lunatic and declared to be such at the time
of his evidence-and that too by the perver-
sion OF friendly and confidential converse
ton into confession OF guilt-a perversion
that screened the witness and condemned the
relator. Indeed, upon the hypothesis of
the truth of the statements of Mr.. Coleman,
the judgment against him was harsh and
unjust, and the punishment which was in
llicted upon him. belonged to another.
The recital is interesting and instructive.
too, AS showing the method of procedure about
that time in the management of the sccuri-
ties OF the State, and the loose manner of
exchanging the bonds, regardles of the in
terests OF the Commonwealth Some Of the |
basement apartments, seem, from this |
statement, to have been something after the
order of brokers' shop. Indeed, the bro
kers had free access and easy liberty in car
rying out their wishes through the cooper
alton of sword officers Of the government |
and while these transactions did not Involve !
recognized criminality, they developed a |
callous disregard of official obligation and
vigilance totally inconsistent with a stern
sense of duty to the State.
Because Mr.. Coleman was convicted and |
punished,it will not do to attempt to ''whis-
tie down the wind'' his statements. He con.
tends and AYERS that he was wrongfully |
convicted and punished-that lie never COM
mitted the offence as charged-and it is the
purpose of this preparation to make clear
that fact. He is entitled to fair hearing
before the public land the physica evidences
he adduces to sustain his claim, and the ex-
PLANTATION he offers of the circumstances and
incidents which operated to his DOOM will
90 far to modify public opinion, and throw
the mantle of charity over the perverted
view of public duty he pleads guilty to,and
the irregularities which aided to fortify the
suspicious against him. With his statement
and explanations before us, we do not be-
lieve he is the guilty man his sentence
would imply, and that others far more GRIM
inal, who have gone ''unwhipt of Justice"
should shoulder the disgrace which has been
piled upon him, crushed his spirits and
blighted his hopes.
We're we uncharitably disposed and in-
clined to cynical criticism, we weuld find
no difficulty in constituting many of the
physical and indsputable facts stated, with
the necessity of having political sacrifice
about that time. There had been so much
criminal scandal rumored about the funding
operations, and the gross Encouragement
of the basement Offices, that a victim had
to be found to appease popular clamor-