The evening world., 1894-04-20
.NEGLEV HIS OWN DETECTIVE.
Didn't Tell the Police Of the Theft
of Those $4,000 Bonds.
They Discovered II by Accident and
Are Looking for Coleman.

BY a mere accident on the part OF the
police, Gen. James 8. Negley, of 1856 LIB
erty street. hopes to recover bonds rep
resenting $76. 900. which were stolen from
him a month ago by dishonest gar
dener.
A few days ago the Tenderloin police
were notified by woman residing on
Madison avenue, that her butler had
disappeared with u gold watch.
Detectives Jeroloman and Kash were
sent to the house, and in examining the
room occupied by the man found n can
vns-covered valise, which they opened
They were astounded to find ii con-
tained bonds representing $50. 900. a COM
mission signed by Abraham Lincoln, q
life-insurance policy, and n package Of
annual passes over nearly every road In
the country. made out to James S. Neg
ley.
Inspector Mclaughlin looked over his
list OF complaints to ascertain IL the
robbery OF any such bonds had been
reported. but found none.
Gen. Negley resides at Plainfeld, N.
j., and has an office at 1876 Liberty
street. where he was seen by an Even
ing W orld reporter to-day.
II have been on the track Of the fell
low that stole those bonds from me for
twenty days" he said. II did not re-
port the robbery to the police because
was afraid the man would get wind of
it. but l have been quietly working on
the case myself.
The mans name Is Michael Coleman
He came to see me in answer to an ad
vertisement inserted by a friend of mine,
who wanted some gardeners. My friend
saw the applicants here in my office,
and this fellow came along after all the
men wanted had been engaged. He
seemed bright. and impressed me very
II gave him line to a neighbor, who
l thought, wanted a gardener. but he did
not get the position, and came back to
ME, ME SO ma engaged eng, him myself He
charged him for stealing some studs and
carpenters tools.
One day, I had occasion to look at
yalise on q shelf in my library. The
valise, was not there. but l found that
1t had been put up in the attic while I
for it. and not finding it at once sus-
pected Coleman.
II did not even tell my suspicious to
my wife. hut started on a quiet hunt.
saloon as security for a bill and had
showed others to different people. The
servants Informed me that he had dis
played to them roll of bills amount
Ing to 5000
About this time the President OF an
uptown bank notified me that one OF the
bonds had been offered to him for sale
at very low figure. Now that the mat
ter is out l sincerely hope the fellow
will be captured, for want to make an
example of him."
Gen. Negley thinks the man is a pro-
fessional crook, and was fully aware OF
the value OF the bonds. although his
actions in showing them to various
people would seem to directly contradict
| this theory.
The bonds are per cent. interest bear
| Ing bonds OF the New Castle Northern
Railway. issued in 1889. and maturing II
1923. Gen. Negley Is the President o.
! the road. He said he could not plac,
an accurate valuation on the stoler
bonds and would not give a list of them
Gen. Negley was formerly a lawyer o.
prominence In Pittsburg and somewha
of a politician. He was elected to Con
gress there and was next term defeated
In the Convention by Congressman Dal
zell.
Detectives from Police Headquarters
are looking for Coleman.