Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-31
COLEMAN THE SWINDLER.
Captain Peasants and Sergeant Hall Dis
credit the Marvin Theory.

Captain James L. Pleasants and Detec-
tive-Sergeant John r. Hall. as well as
others conn ,cted with the Richmond Po-
Ice Department, totally diScredit the
statements that David Coleman. the
clever New York swindier and Thomas
Marvin, who served nine-years' term in
the Virginia penitentiaTy for forgery and
bigamy committed here. are one and the
same person. The only communication
concerning Coleman that has come into
the Office of the Chief Of Police 80 far
was the letter rec lived some days ago
from the Chief OF Police OF Paterson, \.
j., asking for a picture OF Marvin The
likeness has never been sent, for the rea-
son that one could not be found. Ser
geant Hall says he has three photographs
Of Marvin. taken at different periodi
but has not as yet been able to lay his
hand upon either.
MARVIN WOULD BE OVER 80
Captain Peasants yesterday said he had
read "A grea; deal OF the Coleman Marvin
matter that had been published. ana that
from what he could CLEAN about Coleman
he was different man from the swindler
and bigamist SO well known here. The
Acting Chief said he was sura that Mar
yin, II living, would be more than 80
years Old and that he noticed the reports
as to- Coleman gave his age as about 20.
Captain Peasants thinks IL more than pro-
hable that Judge Wit was correct when he
said Marvin died in Cincinnati shortly
after being released from the penitentiary
here
Sergeant Hall says emphatically that he
DC sn't see how Coleman can be the
swiudler known 10 Richmond people as
l.. that il.. laffDr
was sent 10 prison here his hair was
white with age, and when he came out
nine years later it -. like snow and
very thin. The Tepvs 20 New York
papers concerning - - appearance
state hat his hair i: o.. - ..I;y.
Mr.. Alex lnder Broyr~.. vino arrested
Marvin in Lynn, Mass. "a! S.Nc knew
probably as much about htn ~ ~ one
else here. has been out of the c'.y for a
few days. and could not be interviewed
concerning his captive of old.
a NEW HAVEN STORY.
A special from New Haven. Conn. to
the New York World has this 10 say
about the case:
1T is believed that David Coleman,
whose swindling operations in New York
and New Jersey have recently. been eX-
posed, once honored this city with an
extended visit. 1t was about fifteen years
ago. Frank A. Hermance. who is one
of the Oldest conductors on the New
York, New Haven and Hartford railroad.
remembers the occasion very well. He
says he believes that Coleman is the
same person who paimed himself OFF on
New Haven people as General Bud
long y. Morton.
Mr.. Hermance describes General Nor
ton as very slick confidence man. Nor
I.r nil b. ~
woman. whom he introduced as his wife.
lie claimed TO be man Of wealth and
said that he was interested in a project
for building railroad from the coal
fields of Pennsylvania TO New England.
lie frequently rode TO New York on Mr..
Hermance's train. lie confided 10 the
popular conductor that he was very
close to Jay Gould. and intimated that
Mr.. Gould was behind the New England
project. These stories being industriously
circulated in the city. the General
became very popular with every one
but the bankers They fought shy OF him.
This was great misfortune for the
General Without the cooperation OF
the banks his schemes were all USE
less.
THE RICHMOND PART
After he loft New Haven IL was
learned that the General was wanted
in Richmond, Va, upon charges of biga-
my and forgery. lie was subsequently,
arrested In Lynn. Mass. whittier he had
gone To lay seige 10 the heart of Lydia
Plnkham. of patent-medicine fame. Ma
Hermance appeared as a witness against
the General who was arraigned for trial
under the name of Marvin. and was SEN
fenced to the State prison.
''In 1892 Mr.. Hermance was In Rich
mond. He made inquiries regarding his
old friend, the General. and learned
that he had recently been released from
prison. Mr.. Hermance says he could
never forget Mortons face, and from the
description he has read of Coleman ne
feels satisfisi that they are one and the
same"