Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-28
LOOKS LIKE MARVIN.
SOAP sWINoLeR COLEMAN BE.
LlEvED TO BE OUR ex-coNvicT.
The Manner and Methods Of the New York
sharper Very Like Those OF the
Bignmist Forger.

getting In his work In New York, and
either he. or man very much after his
order. In in trouble In the metropolis.
The manner and methods described In
the following article from the World oil
yesterday will be recognized by those
familiar with Marvin's record here as
very similar to those employed by him:
Because OF the swindling operations
of David Coleman, whose frauds In
Paterson were described yesterday. the
Higgins Soap Company. Of Brooklyn,
was placed In the hands OF receiver.
and the banking community In this city
learned Of the methods OF new ana
dangerous scoundrel. At the same tim
reports from Richmond. Va. would seem
TO indicate that Coleman II criminal
who served term Of Imprisonment
there for forgery and bigamy under the
name Of Marvin after grievously de-
ceiving an estimable family and defraud..
ing bank. What has been learned
about him in this city goes TO show
that he is one OF the most dangerous
scoundrels who have menaced the Sc
curity Of the financial and commercial
world.
WAS A SKILLED PENMAN.
Well educated. a skilled penman. famil-
far with the methods OF financial mag
mates, and possessed OF all the gravity
and conservatism of a shrewd million
aire. Coleman apparently found II an
easy matter TO pass himself off as a man
OF large wealth and desirable acquaint-
ance of those who needed cash In these
stringent times. He is an elderly man.
with gray hair and deliberate, business
like manner This In conjunction with
forged checks for large amountI and
forged letters OF Introduction from bank
ers. enabled him to undertake the most
audacious plans and carry them through
TO success.
There was none OF the hurry and small
ness OF the ordinary petty swindler about
Coleman. The story Of his frauds re-
vealed by the collapse of the Higgin.
Soap Company shows self-control and
perfection Of method that excite wonder
as 10 why he did not deal in millions.
The company was DESTROYS Of enlarging
fits capital by issuing stock and Coleman
appeared possible purchaser. lie
produced a bogus letter stating that he
had 100000 deposited In the National
Bank at Washington, but he required
the very best kind of references from
his intended victim. lie was most eau
countant spend several days going over
the books. and then he required to be
convinced by long and elaborate state
ments that there was money in the soap
business These negotiations occupied
nearly two weeks. during all OF which
time Coleman acted the part Of eau
tious, conservative capitalist going into
the venture in business like manner.
These tactics completely disarmed sus-
picion. and Coleman was taken at his
own valuation. He was In no hurry To
close the deal. although II appears that
about that time he pawned his watch
for $l2 on the BOwery.
HAD A CERTIFIED CHECK.
When all was decided upon and he
had decided to put $500 in the business
ne said that he would have TO 90 10
Washington to get the money. He was
gone two days, returning with certi-
fed check for that amount and another
for SO. 800. He met Joseph W. STRAY. the
repre- sentative OF the company, AT the
Lincoln Bank, In Union Square. and de-
livered his check and received the stock.
Coleman opened an account in his own
name. depOsiting the certified check for
81. 600 and drawing $500. which he said
he needed for another transaction. Secre-
tary Stray. who was yesterday appol,ts,u
receiver for the company by Judge Bart
lett, returned 10 Brooklyn and has never
seen the ewindler since. Within twenty
four hours he was notified that Coleman
checks were worthless.
The officers of the company were so
elated by the cooperation OF the sup
posed capitalist that they elected him a
director. and made him auditor OF the
company. This was when the nesoua-
tions were about completed. ON the
strength OF inc cam Which was tNp'N'N'
new obligations were contracted TO ex-
uand the business, and these forced the
suspension.
GOT ONLY ONE BANK.
The Lincoln Bank, so far as learned.
is the only bank in this city which Will
lose money through Coiemans opera,
there by one OF the directors or the
bank The check for 1850 which he
deposited there was drawn on the Co
lumbia National Bank; Of va, washington,
teller" The $500 which he then drew
is the extent of the loss Of the bank II
the director who introduced Coleman does
not make good the amount
IL was reported that Coleman swindled
the Fourteenth-Street Bank out of 500
coo. but this is denied by the ofhcers
of the institution. The cashier there
said yesterday they had one OF Cole,
mans checks on the Columbia BANK Oh
deposited for collection by j. j. Ken
ardson, OF Richardson, Morgan Co;
No 81 Beekman street. VINO had received
the check from him in payment Tor
the strength of the check Mr.. Richard
son paid To Coleman in cash sl,loO. which
loss will fall on MIR. Richardson. ana not
on the bank.
The officials OF the Nassau Bank, who
were reported as victims. denied all
4 n
ers who discussed Coleman yesterday
said they had never heard OF him before,
hut considered him IA most dangerous
man. NJ. NJ. Ellick. a buslness-man IN ~
Paterson, attended the trial In klch-
mond OF Thomas Marvin, the swindler
and fOrger, and said yesterday ne pe,
lieved he and Coleman were one anu
the same They correspond as to method
| of operation and personal appearance.
SENT FOR HIS PICTURE.
The World gives a brief. though IN
accurate review OF Marvin's operation
trial and conviction here. and concludes
The Paterson Chief OF Police has sent
to Richmond for a picture OF Marvin, IL
has been discovered by Mr.. LANDAU
Coleman's Paterson victim. that he drove
| to simpsons, in the Bowery. upon MS re-
| .urn 10 this city from Paterson ana re-
deemed a watch which he had pawned toI
| $l2 Then he was driven 10 the Metro,
| politan Hotel. where he was registered
under the name OF "W. i. Coleman.
from Georgia, on July sth. This was the
| day the advertisement appeared ABOUT
| a gentleman desiring TO invest sn'vD III
| a profitable business. He remained al
| the Metropolitan Hotel one day. The
handwriting on the hotel register was
Identical with that OF Coleman, who repre-
scented himself to Mr.. Landau as "a
| friend of Chauncey NJ. Depew."
Marvin was discharged from the Nir
| GINA penitentiary in June. 1890. his tern
| of ten-years' sentence having been con
| siderably shortened on account of soo'