The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-28
Is This MAN FORGBR MARVIN?
David Co'smaD, who is Charged With
SSindlins In Paterson, N. ].
HE MAY Be The RICHMOND CRIMINAL.
. Drv Goods Man who was Here During
tho Lattsr's visit. Believes In the Iden-
ity-Coleman's Sharp Work.

Because OF the swindlng operations of
David Coleman. whose frauds In Paterson
were described yesterday. says the New
York WorLi. the Higgins Soap Compan,
OF BROOKLYN. was placed in the hands OF
a receiver. and the banking community In
this city learned of the methods OF a new
and dangerous scoundrel. AT the same
time reports from Richmond, Va, would
seem to indicate that Coleman Is a criml-
nal who served Il term or imprisonment
there for forgery and bigamy under the
name OF Marvin after grievousy deceiV-
ing an estimable family and detraudlng
a bank What has been learned ABOUT
him I'm this city goes to snow that ne Is
one OF the most dangerous scoundreis
who have menaced the security OF the
financial and commercial world.
Well educated. a skillful penman, Ia
millar with the methods Of financial mag
mates and possessed Of All the gravy
and con aervatism OF a shrewd millionaire
Coleman apparently found it an easy mat
ter to pass himself on man OF ld'se
wealth and a desirable ACQUAINTANCE OF
those who needed cash in these stringent
times lie Us an elderly man, Win slas
ner. This, in conjunction with t9ise"
checks for large amounts ana forseu let
ters of Introduction from bankers enaDieu
him 10 undertake the most audaClouS
plans ana carry tHelu lHIOuSH ~
NO PETTY swINDLER.
There was none Of the hurry and smalI.
ness Of the ordinary petty s"lhdier IT, io3
Colevnan The story OF his frauds reNe@lcu
nv the collapse of the Higgins soap colIl-
pauv shows a self-control ana perteVI,o.'
of method that excite wonder as 10 wny
he did not deal In millions ne UVtRI'bhy Nv
}ssu}ng stock and Coleman appeared as
a possible purchaser. He produced 90
gus letter stating that he had Sznuv ue
DOsited in the National Bank AT W ASH
tngton but he required the very best kind
of references from his intended Vlt''
He was most cautious. lie insisted on
having an accountant spend several udy ,
going over the books, and then he requlf-
ed 10 be convinced by long and elaborate
statements that there was money III the
s0ap business These negotiations oStu-
pied nearly two weeks during all OF Which
time Coleman acted the part or eau
tious. conservative capitalist going INTO
the venture in busineSS-llke manner.
These tactics completely disarmed suspl-
Cion. and Coleman was taken at MS own
valuation. He was I'm no hurry TO close
the deal although IL appears that about
that time he pawned his watch FOR VIZ
on the BOwery.
Wien all was decided upon and be had
decided to put S2s.rD I'm the business, ne
said he would have 10 go 10 Washington
TO get the money He was gone two days,
returning with 4 certified check for that
amount. and another for $500 He met
Joseph W. Stray, the representative OF
the company, at the Lincoln Bank IN
Union Square and delivered his check
and received the stock. Coleman opened
an account IN his own name, deposltihs
the certified check for $1,000 and drawing
$500. which he said he needed for anoth-
er transaction. Secretary Stray. who was
Yesterday appointed receiver for the COM
Iany by Judge Bartlett, returned 70
Brooklyn. and mas mover seen the swindler
go H..
notified that Coleman's checks were
worthless.
The officers Of the company we're so
elated by the cooperation or the sup
posed capitalist that they elected him a
director and made him auditor OF the
company. This was when the negotla-
tions were about completed. on the
strength OF the cash which was expect
ed new obligations were contracted 70
expand the business and these FORCED the
suspension.
IHE LINCOLN BANKS LOSS.
The Lincoln Bank, so far as learned,
is the only bank IN this city which viii
lose money through ColernRn's opera
tons IL appears that he WAS introduced
there by one OF the directors of the
bank The check for <33. 800 which he
deposited there was drawn on the CO.
lumbla National Bank, Of Washington,
H. c.. aud endorsed ~. O. Rice paying
teller" The $500 which ne then drew
is the extent OF the loss OF the bank If
does not make good the amount
1t was reported that Coleman swim
died the Fourteenth-Street Bank out OF
S20.OOO but this is denied by the Of
ncers of the institution. The cashier
there said yesterday they had one Of
Coleman's checks on the Columbia Bank
of Washington FOR $1,000. but that II
was deposited for collection by J. j.
Richardson. Of richardson, Morgan &
Co, No. - Beckman street, who had
received the check from him IN payment
for stock in patent stove company
ON the strength Of the check Mr. Rich
ardson paid 10 Coleman in cash 81 100.
which loss will fall on Mr. Richardson
and not on the bank.
The officials OF the Nassau Bank. who
We're reported as. victims. denied all
bankers who discussed Coleman yester-
day said they had never heard Of him
before. but considered him a most dan
gerous man. VI. NJ. Ellick. a business
Richmond OF Thomas Marvin. the swim
der and forser. and said yesterday he
believed he and Coleman we're one and
the same. They corresponded as 20
method Of operation and personal ap-
pcardnce.
MARyIN's STORY.
The World then attempts to give an
account OF the marriage OF Marvin 10
Richmond lady; how he deceived her. got
a forged draft for 500 cashed. was ar
are. however. many errors IN the Worlds
account Of that alair. and II IS not repro
duced.
MARvIS's PICTURE ASKED FOR.
Continuing. the Worlds story SAYS:
The Paterson chief OF Police has sent
TO Richmond for a picture Of Marvin II
has been discovered by Mr.. Landau, Cole
mans Paterson victim. that he drove TO
Simpsons. IN the Bowery. upon his re-
turn 10 this city from Paterson. and re-
deemed a watch which he had pawned
for 81. Then he was driven 10 the Met
rOpOlitan Hotel, whore he was registered
Georgia. on July Sth. This was the day
the advertisements appeared about a gen
tleman desiring 10 invest $4,000 In profit
able business lie remained at the Met
ing on the hotel register was Identical
with that Of Coleman who represented