Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-03
c0LEMAN's CAPTURE.
His Identity Established BY Marks Of
India Ink.
Rather than Return to Texas he Cuts
His Throat.
Interesting Story of His Exploits While
in New York.

ing IL published In the Herald con
corning the capture Of George Cole
man of Texas:
A circular which Inspector Byrnes,
chief Of detectives, received late ia De
cenber from the authorities Of Dallas,
Texas, contained a description Of an
elderly maR, who, under the name o.
George Coleman, of Norfolk. Virginia,
had duped the City National Bank Of
that city. EARLY In the month, out Of
six thousand and one hundred dollars
on worthless draft on the Park Ma
tional Bank Of this city. Detectives
Dusenberry and Radford, while max
ing the tour OF the downtown saloons
frequented by professional forgers and
thieves, came across man whose
description answered in many
particulars that Of the lay
er-domn'' at Dallas, Texas. The
stranger when first seen was ia the
company of Philip Hargraves. When
Inspector Byrnes learned OF the dis
s-overy he instructed the detectives To-
watch the movements of the suspected
person in the hope of obtaining some
information about him. shortly after
New Years the man suddenly dlsap-
peared and could not be traced iiar-
graves was then Swallowed aud week
or so later was found again Ia the com
pany OF the man from Dallas. In the
circular from Dallas Mr.. George Cole
man OF Norfolk, Virginia, was de-
scribed a. being between forty-iiVeand
fifty years Of age. five feet ten inches
tall, OF horid complexion and
having n full, black beard, prom
inent nose, snaky and nervous
eyes, slow in movements, and with
dark clothes. III was also mentioned
that his fingers were furrowed proba-
bly, by hard work, and that on the
back Of his right hand were half "A
dozen India ink spots.
Upon looking closely at Hargraye's
friend Detectives DusenburY and
Radfofd found that he had pr0ni-
nent nose, and that his eyes were deep
set and restless. They were satisfied
that the supposed Mr.. Colcmal had
trimmed his whishers, but were on
several occasions unable 10 see his
hands, ~ he always kept them gloved.
Not desiring 10 arouse any suspicious,
the detectives Thought ii wise 60 allow
MIN full liberty That the stranger
was interested In some unlawful affair
was apparent 10 them 10y the company
which be kept. and ii he was not the
Dallas sWindleI he would in course OF
time, they thought, attempt 10 victim
izc some one here, and thus ftii into
the trap.
Inspector Byrnes was daily con
suited az TO the movements of Har
graves and supposed Mr. Coleman and
by his advice Kadford and Duscnberry
were relieved of the tedious watch by
Detective Scrgeants Cosgrove and VII
hanson. Less than IL week ago til,
stranger believed 10 be Coleman het
II long consultation with Georg,
Wilkes, who il will be remembered
was arrested December %, 1880, II
Florence, Italy, and attergud loiterc,
about the corridors of the genera
postoillce. He was frequently foun,
in the saloon In Twenty-third stree
kept by John, alias "Red" Leary, ant
made the liquor store of Eddie
Matthews, at Twenty-seventh stree
and Second avenue, his headquarters
Although the detectives were at tn,
suspects heels almost night and da,
they were unable To catch II view o
his hands, on account of the gloves
which he constantly wore. Anothe
strange point was that he wa,
known only To "a few mon, and the,
were criminals of distinguished
grade, Inspector Byrnes ut last tele
graphed to the authorities of Dallas
Texas, informing them that he was sal
isiied the man Coleman was In this cit y
and that II some one who had met hin
would come on here to Identify hin
lac could be arrested.
On Thursday night last Eddi
Matthews and the suspicious strange
attended the performance at Harriga]
Il Harris Theatre, on Broadway. ID,
tectives Williamson and Cosgrovo tol
lowed them aud bought seats direct
back of those occupied by Matthew
and his mysterious friend. The thea
tire was close, and the two men re
moved their oyerconts, and for Tia
first time In public the suspect" tool
Off his gloves. Not thinking the d,
tectives Were watching his ever
movement, Matthew'S friend, duriu
tho evening, placed his han
on the back OF his neck to arrange hi
collar. AS he did so he exhibited hi
furrowed fingers and India ink staine
hand 10 the detectives. That NOV,
ment convinced the detectives of tn
identity OF the man. When these fact
We're made known To inspector Byrne
he sent another telegram to Dallu
stating that he was positive that Col,
man was here
In response TO the kilograms fror
Inspector Byrnes, Mr.. Connor. pres
dent Of the City National Bank ,
Dallas, arrived in this city on Monda,
In conversation with inspeoto
Byrnes, President Connor states Tia,
ON November -, 1852, the swindle
called at the bank and introduce
himself as Mr.. George Coleman {,
Norfolk, Virginia. He brought wit
him ~ letter with his photograph al
tached, bearing the signature of Cash
Ter Bains OF the EXchange Nations
Bank of Norfolk, and new .dolh,
bill of the same institution, /
prove that the signature of Cashie
Bains on the note of identification
was the same MS on the currency G
the bank. On these representations
draft which he deposited with th
bank for $500 for collection from tn
Exchange National Rank OF this cit
was accepted. This transaction prove,
To be correct, and the subsequent tel,
grams concerning deposits led Pres
dent Common 10 think that Coleman
standing was above suspicion. On tn
18th of December, In the regula
course of business bp napnsitnl xNit