The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21
Especial to The Statesman. I

DALLAS, Dec. ia clever case of
swindling was brought to light this
morning, the victim being the City
national bank of this city. The Off
GERS of the victimiZed bank furnish
your correspondent the following
statement: On November % the
cashier of the City national bank of
Dallas received letter from Geo. NJ.
Balm, Jr., cashier of the Exchange
national bank of Norfolk, Virginia,
stating he had issued draft on the
Hanover national bank of New York
for $500, in favor of George Coleman.
AS Coleman would be stranger in
Dallas, Mr.. Balm enclosed Coleman's
photograph and signature, by means
further means of identifying the
cashiers signature to the letter and
draft, Coleman gave new ten-dollar
bill on the Exchange national bank
with Mr.. Bain's signature freshly
written. The bill was in Cole
mans possession, but the fact
of such bill being intended for
the purpose of identification was fully
set forth in the cashiers letter. Cole
man in u day or two made his app
pearance at the cashiers desk of the
City national bank of Dallas. His
documents were closely examined and
everything pronounced to be in regu-
lar order. The photograph cores
ponded with the appearance of Cole
man, the signature was the same, and
the money was paid on the draft. AS
Coleman expressed a desire to have
further relations with the bank, hav-
ing come to Texas to engage in the
sheep business, he was asked to leave
his signature for future reference.
The draft was sent to New York in
the usual course of business, where it
was duly honored by the Hanover
national bank. On Saturday last
Coleman stalked into the City nation
al bank between the hours OF and 3,
when usually the heaviest rush of
business is had at the counter, and
went straight forward to the cashiers
office. He was Immediately recog-
nized by the cashier, E. j. Gan
non. He asked the cashier
to cash draft of the same Norfolk
bank on another of its correspondents,
the National Park bank of New Y ork.
for $500. The signature to the draft
was compared with that of the letter
first brought, and the two conceded
perfectly. His identity was clearly
established and his endorsement to the
draft was an exact reproduction OF
that left with the bank. The man
only wanted $500 in cash, and want
ed the balance, which he would call
for in eight or ten days, placed to his
credit. Six thousand one hundred dol
lars, consisting mostly of $50 and 500
bills, was paid over to him, and he was
invited into the directors room to
verify the count there. He went In,
and it was only when he was handling
the bills that the cashier discovered a
blue mark on the back of his hand.
Mr.. Cannon endeavored to draw him
into conversation, but could get no
satisfactory answer. Coleman saying
.See you later" He appeared very
nervous. This aroused the suspicious
of the cashier, who Immediately tele-
graphed to the bank of Norfolk. The
answer came, NO such draft has been
issued. The man must be forger."
A second telegram closely following
confirming the fraud, and acknowl-
edging the correctness of the first
transaction in November. The city
was searched for the alleged sheep
man and trains were watched but fur