Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27
LOST CASH AT FARO
Gamblers Got $780, 900 Stolen
From Cambridge Bank.
COLEMAN AN "EASY MARK"
Believed Things Were Fixed for
Him to Make Winning.
IS ANXIOUS TO TELL ALL
Would Like to Get Some of Money
Back, But Is Not Hope
full.
COLEMAN AN "EASY MARK"
IS ANXIOUS TO TELL ALL
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, March 26.-In the presence OF
his attorney. H. H. Winslow. and Capt
Patrick Hurley and Inspector Neilan of
the Cambridge police, George W. Coleman
told the story of how the money which
he took from the National City Bank OF
Cambridge went into the nav Of the
faro gang.
He said he would not try to shield
himself nor anybody else. and furnished
the Cambridge officials with the names
OF faro men VINO. he said. had tried
to make him the scapegoat. but who, in
his opinion, deserved to be punished just
as severely as he was likely to be.
Coleman says National Bank Examiner
Hahn Is mistaken when he estimated that
the total loss to the defunct National
City Bank will aggregate $25O.O0O He
says he stole $4,000. All Of this, he
says went to the faro men, He says
he doesn't expect to be able to recover
| a penny of it. although he would like to.
and wishes to do all in his power to aid
tho prosecutors.
Refused to Sign Statement.
He says that while he was occupying
a cell at the Charles street jail certain
attorney visited him on behalf OF the
faro men and tried to induce him to
sign a statement that he had lost $9O,oOo
in stock speculation and $4,000 on the
recent mayoralty election, had spent
$4,000 In riotous living and $4,000 in
Embellishments expenses.
These items he branded as pure inven-
tfons and refused to attach his signature
He was told that he would have to serve
term at Atlanta anyway, and that II
he Endorsed the statement certifying that
the bulk OF his loot had been swallowed
up In the stock market pressure would
be brought to bear and everything fixed
so he would not get any more than five
years. But he still refused and the
lawyer went away.
In his confession yesterday Coleman
admitted that he squandered $215OO. but
explained that only $4,000 of this was
stolen from the bank. The other $4,000.
he said. was his own money. In 1906 he
met young man named Frank Draper
After q brief acquaintance Draper. ne
alleges, induced him to go with him to
New York to try his luck in a faro bank.
He went over there several times with
Draper. he says, and dropped every dollar
Of his personal account OF $4,000
Draper cautioned me not to touch any
He said he would not have anything to
do with me II did. used only my own
money In my dealings with Draper.
049C DIX Dill 1ASAAACA.
About two years later q fellow named
Jack introduced me to Big Bill Kefiher
on Boston Common. It was In June.
had gone to New York with Jack sew
eral times, but we did not play faro. be-
cause he told me there was a new mayor
In and tho joints were closed. Later he
introduced mo to Keaiher.
Jack and Kelfher gave me to under
Sand that they were looking for fellow
to break the faro bank. They pretended
to be In league with some one. No. we
we'd have won now and then II we had
Jack told me Keliher would put up an
equal amount with me to play the bank.
Il went to New York with Keliher on
an average Of two or three times a week
between May and February. took from
900 to 5000 Of the banks funds every
time and lost"
How much did you lose with Keliher?"
asked Capt Hurley, ''as near as you can
place 1t on a rou4h guess"
"Keliher knew I was going to Kansas
City" said Coleman. After I got there
I needed money and he telegraphed me
$3.50. but l couldn't cash the order be-
cause I was going under the name OF G..
NJ. McTaggart. and nobody could iden-
tify me-
Coleman Kited Checks.
The methods employed by George W.
Coleman in looting the Cambridge
bank are fully described in a report by
Examiner s. M. Ham. which Lawrence
o. Murray. controller Of the currency,
made public today.
In his report the official OF the con-
troller's Office says 1t appears that
Coleman stole approximately $4,000
through a system Of "kiting checks"
with a curb broker. BY inference there
is a severe arraignment of the failure
of the banks directors to exercise
more thorough supervision over its
business.
The Examiner ascertained from the
banks directors that, while they always
counted the cash and carefully examined
all bills and notes, they never took a