The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-16
THE CAPTURE OF
A BANK WRECKER
Adolphus Cohen Coles Nabbed by Off.
GERS 10 Philadelphia.
FORMERLY A NEW YORK BANKER
But in 1894, 1t Is Alleged, He Skipped
Out with the Available Funds Of the
Bank and Sailed for Italy..ltecOg.
nized by His Old Partner. Who
Is Now q Day LabOrer.

Philadelphia, Oct. 15.-Adolphus Co
hen Coles, at one time a banker of 211
Canal street, New York. and an al
legged absconder with $150,O0O was ar
rested this afternoon by Detective
Donaghy in the Broad street station of
the Pennsylvania railroad. The detec-
tive was assisted in the arrest by AL
fred De Mayo, of this city, an Italian
interpreter; Leonard Morrelli. the late
partner of Coles, and John Diu, an
Italian citizen.
Morrelli was in Il cigar store when
he was surprised at seeing Coles en-
ter. He had not seen him since De-
cember "a, 1894, when he alleges Coles
got away with $500, 200 which belonged
to las Italian banking houses in New
York and Pennsylvania. When Coles
left the cigar store Morrelli, being un-
able to speak English tluently, followed
his man to the railroad station in COM
pany with Interpreter De Mayo and
John Diu. DE Mayo then hurried to
the city hall. where he secured the SER
vices Of Detective Donaghy while the
others kept Coles in sight. 1t was but
the work OF a few minutes to place him
under arrest. When searched $3.50 were
found in Coles pockets.
Coles was arraigned before Magis-
trafe South and was committed to
await the arrival of requisition papers
from New York. He said that the only
thing he will have to defend Is that
he failed for $4,000. He denies that
he embezzled the 100000.
MORRELLPS STATEMENT.
Through Interpreter De Mayo. Bank
er Morrelli made this statement: |:
Coles and myself had been in the
banking business on Canal street in
New York for almost two years. and
no idea of anything wrong concerning
him ever occurred to me. AS We were
doing good business with our deposit
tors and correspondents in the towns
outside Of New York. things began to
look very promising for US. He was a
shrewd man of business. and the
smaller merchants of New York had
as much confidence in him as l had.
1t was on the eve of Christmas, 1894,
that l last saw him. On the next
banking day l went to our place of
busire ess, and was completely shocked
on the discovery 1 made, that l was
almost tempted to take my life. All
the safes We're empty of cash and
| negotiable securities, and the bank
| was wrecked. The amount missing
was little over a half million dollars.
/ / waited for some time for my partner
to make his appearance, and thinking
that he was sick, sent a messenger to
| his house to ascertain the cause of his
absence. l awaited with much impa-
tience the answer to my message, and
| when it came was still more greatly
shocked.
But after awhile the truth dawned
upon me, and then l believed that my
partner had become an embezzler. AS
LI
In the hands of the proper officials,
that he had sailed for his native home,
Italy.
80, when saw him on Ninth street
| today, l was very much astonished
and followed him to the depot, where
l supposed he was going to take a train
to get away from me again. My friends
have helped me, and I succeeded In
| helping to have him placed under ar
! rest"
VICTIMS OF COLES.
| The victims Of Coles alleged perfidy
| extended through all the little towns
In New York and Pennsylvania coal
| regions, as well as many Of the Italian
bankers in Philadelphia. All the little
fruit sellers lost their deposits In the
crash, as well as those outside Of New
York, who had collateral dealings with
Coles and MOrrelli.
| Greble Youngson. of New York. lost
$4,000 in cash. and later failed for $1OO,
OOO Felix Boofon &Co., of Hazelton,
Pa, was compelled to assign for $780,
900. The other heavy failures caused
by the absconding of Coles were An
gelo Deminto, 10000; NJ. Lamy, $40 1000;
p. Polonius. $4,000; Felix Bendillio
| $50 900: all of New York and Frank