Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-29
COLEMAN OR MARVIN.
NEW YORK POLICE AND PAPERS LOOK
INC FOR THE FORceR.
Thought tho Virginia Convict Died in
Cincinnati Some Years Axo-The
New York swindlings-

Up 10 the present neither the New YORK
police nor the New York newspapers have
managed TO ascertain anything concerning
the whereabouts of David Coleman. the
forger whom they supposed to be
Thomas Marvin. who served a fouryears'
term In the Virginia penitentiary. The
story OF Coleman's rnahoeuyres in New
York, az published in yesterdays Dis
patch. was read with great deal OF in
terest, and there was much speculation as
to the identity of Coleman. Judge ). b.
witt, who prosecuted Marvin here, told
a Dispatch reporter yesterday that u was
impossible for he and Coleman TO be tho
same man. He said he knew that Marvin
died in Cincinnati a few months after he
was liberated from the state penitenuary,
in June. 1890. where he served from Sep
TENDER. 1851.
CONCURS WITH THE JUDGE.
The New York Tribune Of yesterday.
In the following article. substantially
bears out what the Richmond Jurist says:
There is no clue TO aid in the capture
OF David Coleman, who came TO Sew
York few days ago so short Il cash AZ
to ind It necessary to pawn his watch.
and who left town Tuesday with some
thing like $4,000 Ia Higgins soap Company
stock and about $500 IN cash.
a H. Hatch, a grocer OF No. 40 Green
witch street, believes that he Is victim
OF COleman's sharp tricks. over a month
ago. Mr.. Hatch says n stranger by the
name OF Chapman, answering 70 Cole
mans description IN every particular.
bought some hams of him. The bin for
them was SIS. Chapman lacked a few
cents In change and gave Hatch ceru-
fed check, purporting 70 have been made
by Mr.. Stevens, Of the Fidelity Title
and DEPOSIT Company. Of Newark. The
hams were delivered where Chapman or
dered them sent. Chapman was not known
at the address. and an Investigation re-
vealed that tho check was forged. The
smallncss Of the amount IS explained 10y
the fact that IL occurred early In Cole
mans New York career, ana that he only
wanted a few dollars then to push his
larger schemes.
Joseph W. Stray, receiver OF the Hig-
gins Soap Company. was seen yesterday
by Tribune reporter IN reference %
the published statement that the Lincoln
National Bank would attempt 10 hold
President Charles Higgins. OF tho COM
pany, responsible for the loss sustained
by the BANKS. 50O-hcCause Mr. Higgins
had introduced Coleman as q responsible
party. hr. Stray said:
illegally. Mr.. Higgins is not re-
sponsble for the Lincoln Banks loss.
The bank had a long distance telephone
in its building, and access 10 the tele-
graph, by either OF which means the bank
could have easily learned II Coleman
had an account in the Washington bank.
Mr.. Higgins. however IS "A man with
strict sense Of honor. and h lost no time
in assuring the Lincoln Bank people
that he considered himself responsible FOR
the loss. Every one who knew Mr.. Ilg-
gins well expected he would consider the
moral obligation as binding MS II IL were
legal Receiver Stray said the company
expected soon 10 get on IT'S feet again
"With regard 10 the report that Cole
man IS Thomas Marvin, or Jim. the Pen
man the forger and swndler. who
served four years In a Richmond prison
for forgery ana blsamy. the police say
nothing has boon brought out % indicate
that there IS any truth I'm the story"
AN OLD PRISON BIRD.
The New York sun Of yesterday had
the following - say Of Coleman:
David Coleman. the swinller and for
GER. who had no difficulty i'm turning
lot Of worthless checks into $500 in ca sh
IN and about New York. viii very likely.
when caught. prove 10 be an OLD prison
bird. Colonel James. OF The Lincoln Bank,
thinks that the photograph y the Rogue" =
Gallery. which bears d strong resemblance
10 Coleman, and which IS markell Wi
son. check forger' is tie picture OF
man known ms Samuel Woodward, az
'Roscy.' who, together with two others
.N D
In New York.
"Josoph y. Howard. president Of How
ard 4 Co. jewellers. an Firm avenue and
Twenty-ninth street. had been with col
onel James to see this picture lie says
that he thinks Coleman IS IDENTICAL with
James : Bishop, who tried years ago
10 defrau1 several New York firms. and
amoug them Mr.. Towards. by means -
falsely certified checks. lie got several
victims, and passed several Of bis checks
through the Island city Bank. but was
caught shortly afterward while swindhnS
a New Jersey iron firm and was sentenced
for twelve years.
d" one noticeable point about Bishop ana
Coleman. whoever they really are SAID
Mr.. Howard is the fact that they chose
names which were prominent In the places
they said they came from. Coleman Is
weIl-known Washington family name. and
in $50 thu Bishops were at the head OF
tho New Haven road, and lived IN New
Haven. from which city the man who tried
to swindle me said he came
In answer 10 his Advertisement for
something good 90 put $4,000 into Coleman
received letters which appear 10 be from
gentlemen intent on swindling him. They
didn't max 20 Of ii. although h. actu-
ally had an interview with one OF them
I'm Lawyer Barts Office