Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-01-27
how AFORGER WAS DETECTED,


The following particulars Of the arrest of
George Coleman, i'll New York, for swindlng
n Norfolk bank are taken from Wednesdays
Y. J. Her"id:
"A circular which Inspector Byrnes, chief
of detectives received late in December
from the authorities of Dallas, Texas, con-
tanned Il description of in elderly man. who
under the name Of George Coleman, of Nor
folk, VA. had duped the City National
Bank, Of that city. early in the month, out
OF 81, 100 on Il worthless draft Oh the Park
National Bank, Of this city Detectives Du-
&enherry and Radford, while making the
tour OF the down town saloons frequcnted
by professional iorgcrs and thieves, came
across Il man whose description answered
in many particulars that of the '!Iayer
down" mt Dallas, Texas In this circular
Coleman was described as being between
lorty-ilvc and fifty years ofage, five feet ten
inches tall: of tlorid complexion and having
iull, black beard, prominent nose, snaky
and nervous eyes. slow III movements. and
with dark clothes. it was also mentioned
that his fingers We're iurrowcd. probably BY
hard work, and that on the back of his
right hand. there were half dozen India
ink spots.
Upon looking closely at the suspicious
man the detectives found that he had Il
prominent nose and that his eyes were deep
set and restless They were satisfied that
the supposed Mr.. Coleman had trimed his
whiskcrs. but were on several occasions un-
able 10 see his hands, as he always kept
them gloved. Not desiring to arouse any
suspicious the detectives thought il wise to
allow him full liberty. That the stranger
was Interested in some unlawful affair was
apparent to them by the company which he
kept, and if he was not the Dallas swindler
he would III course of time, they thought.
attempt TO victimi&c some one here, and
thus fall into the trap.
| Although the detectives were at the sus-
poets heels almost night and day they were
unable TO catch Il view Of his hands on ac-
count Of the gloves which he constantly
wore. Another strange point was that he
WAS known only 10 Il few men, and they
Were criminals Of a distinguished grade. In
Spector Byrncs nj last telegraphed to the au-
thorities Of Dallas, Texas, informing them
that he was satisfied that the man Coleman
was in this city, and that if some one who
had met him would come Oh here to identi-
| f. him he could be arrested
ION Thursday night last the suspicious
stangcr and Il friend attended the perfor-
nance at I[arrigan & Hart;s Theatre on
Broadway. Detectives Williamson and
Cosgrove followed them and bought seats
directly back of those occupied by them
The theatre was close, and the two men re-
moved their oycrcoatS and for the first time
in public the suspect took off his gloves
Not thinking that detectives were watching
his every movement, during the evening the
suspected party placed his right hand Oh
She i,.:@i: OF his neck 10 arrange his collar
As hcd'd so he exhibited his fllrrowcd fin
.cr~ and India iul: stained hand to the de-
tectives. That movement convinced the
detectives of The identity Of the man. When
those facts were made known to Inspector
Byrnes he sent another telegram to Dallas
stating that he was positive that Coleman
was here.
In response to the kilograms from Inspec-
tor RyrneS Mr.. Common, president of the
City National Bank OF Dallas, arrived in this
city on Monday. In conversation with In
spcctor Byrncs President Connor stated that
on Nov. -, 1882, the swindlcr called ut the
bank and introduced himself rs Mr., George
Coleman, OF Norfolk, Va. He brought
with him a letter with his photograph
attached. bearing the signature of
Cashier Bains, of the Exchange National
Bank OF Norfolk, and a new ten dollar bill
Of the same institution to prove that the
signature OF Cashier Bains on the note Of
Identification was the same rs on the cur
rcncy oi the bank. On these representations
4 draft which he deposited with the bank
for $500 for collection from the Exchange
National Bank OF this city was accepted
This transaction proved to be correct and
subsequent kilograms concerning deposits
, led IrcSdentConnor to think that Colemans
standing was above suspicion On the 10th
OF December, in the regular course ofbus-
ness. he deposited with the Dallas bank Il
; draft for 50 900 for collection from the Park
: National Bank Of this city. As Coleman
was considered Il reliable person, S. 100 was
paid 10 him on account until the draft was
forwarded for collection. After receiving
; the money Coleman disappeared and the
draft was returned by tho Park Bank in
dorsed worthless Inquiry was then
, made ri Norfolk, Va. and the letter of in
PRODUCTION. believed TO have been written
by Cashier Bains, was declared to be skill
ful forgery. Then the character Of Coleman
; became plain, and the circulars describing
= him were sent to the police of the principal
cities of this country.
son Monday night nspectorByrnes order
4 ed Coeman:s arrest, and he was accordingly
r taken into custody in Eddie Matthews
saloon President Connor who on several
occasions had conversed with Coleman,
' positively identified the prisoner, who gave
his name as John Stewart. He said that he
was fifty years old and refused to tell his
residence. When taken before President
R Connor, Stewart. alias Coleman, remained
i perfe c.ly cool, and by his conduct convinced
Inspector Byrnes, that he was an old of.
fender. He was yesterday taken to the
' Jefferson Market Police Court, and at the
c request of his captors Detectives Won
Gerichteu and Williamson, was remanded
TO the Police Central Office TO await the
@ arrival Of the necessary requisition papers
Coleman, it was afterwards ascertained
had served a term Of Imprisonment in the
+ pententiary for thieving, and has only beer