Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-27

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pointment for Coleman to meet Keli-
her and the two met him on Boston
Common. Jack introduced Keliher tc
Coleman as a man of means, who
would let him have money to use in
playing faro, Jack told Coleman that
kellher had promised that out of the
first winnings Keliher made Jack was
to have $4,000 to repay Coleman fol
all he had previously lost.
Attorney Coakley for the defence oh
Jected to this testimony but the court
allowed it with the understanding that
District Attorney French should later
show connection between Keliher
and Jack Mr.. French said he would
show that Keliher and Jack We're
members of gang of gamblers who
made conspiracy to fleece Coleman
Coleman then testified that some
months previous to meeting Keliher.
he had told Jack that he was taking
money from the bank but he never
told keliher of it. Soon after his meet
ing with keliher, the witness said that
keliher telephoned him and made ar
ranGements for "a trip to New York.
They went over to New York at night
and met Jack. All three went to a
gambling club on list street. Cole
| man said he had none of the bank
| money hut had $50 of his own Keli-
her lent him $1,000 and $4,000 which was
lost at faro, together with some money
which heliher had put up for himself
on every occasion, Coleman explained
| JACK was the leader and instructed
| them what cards to play.
| A few days later Coleman said he
and l<eliher made another trip to New
| York, Coleman taking ABOUT $4,000 of
| the banks money, which he lost at
| faro. Numerous trips of a similar ma
| tire followed, the money being lost
! every time.
| Once" Coleman said, eve We're sure
| of winning. There We're three cards
| We We're supposed to know the bottom
| one. | bet on one of the other cards
| and keliher on the third One of us
| was bound to win. Blu, we lost
| The gambling club moved to Niagara
| Falls for the summer and Coleman
made several trips to Buffalo with Kel-
| iher. While Coleman remained at a
| hotel in Buffalo, Keliher took Cole
| mans money to the club end lost it all
at faro. This money had been taken
| from the bank.
| Several times, Coleman testified,
| Jack sent him messages through Keli-
her to get some more money and come
over" This was after Coleman had
| told Jack that he was taking money
from the bank Finally Coleman de-
| cidcd to quit the game. He said he
| talked over this decision with Keliher
| and Jack several times, telling them he
| cclil6
ed him to try again and wanted him
| to get $40 600
About the first of the year Coleman
| told Keliher that he could get no more
| money and that the Jig was up" as
| the bank examiner was coming round.
Coleman said that when the bank ex-
| aminer found nothing wrong in the
bank in January he resumed his steal
| lngs and more money was transferred
from the National Bank to the faro
bank without comment
The followed tales of high life at
| 122 West 4lst street, New York, where
| Coleman said he met Miss Mamie
| Hightower and Miss Atwood. the latter
| friend of Kelihers. At last Coleman
told Keliher that another bank exam
| incr was about to make a careful ex-
| animation of the books and he must
get out. Kelher gave him 800 in cash
| and paid the bill at the hotel where
| Coleman and Miss Hightower were
| living. with check. and on Feb. Is
| Coleman and Miss Hightower fled. The
! exposure Of the robbery, the closing
| of the bank and the exposure of the
whole affair followed, while Coleman
was in Kansas City and on Feb. Is he
| returned and gave himself up.
| Coleman declared that Keliher made
| several attempts to obtain q settlement
after the arrest and even went so far
| as to say that the son of the proprle-
tor of the gambling house as "Tne
| Colonel" would get 100000 to have
| the matter hushed up.
| Miss Atwood was brought into the
case at this point, when Coleman saiC;
| that she attempted to make a settle
| ment with him. The Keliher wanted to
know if Coleman was going to ''squeal''
on the gang" and said that the Judge
| could not give him more than 10 years
| at Atlanta which keliher described as
| a millionaire's, club, where anything
could be obtained with money.
| But Coleman stated that he refused
| these offers of settlement.
| Coleman described the methods by
| which he covered up his speculations
| from the bank. He said that since last
May he had taken $4,000 of the
banks funds. He had destroyed checks
representing S1SO.000 and he was able
to give account of the rest of the mon-
ey, tracing it's course through broker
| age Offices He exchanged his checks
for one brokerage firms checks to the
| extent of S167 900.
Coleman said that when he was about
to disappear just prior to the closing
of the bank in February, Keliher ad-