In the jar were found several settings from which some of the diamonds
were missing; sixty-nine of these were found in Coleman's home, hidden
in a small pasteboard box in the earth at the bottom of a rubber plant
jar, and one of the largest diamonds removed from the ring was found
sewn in a ready-made four-in-hand necktie. After his second arrest
Coleman acknowledged committing the robbery, and explained that a year
previous he had made a tour through several New York State counties to
locate a bank which would not be difficult to "sneak" in the daytime.
He found the Clark Estate building in Cooperstown, which he believed
was a bank. He visited it at that time, while the employes were
absent, but did not obtain anything, although he made a note of it as
an easy place to rob some time in the future.
When he did commit the robbery, and did not find any money in sight,
he picked up the tin box, little suspecting it contained a fortune in
valuable jewelry. When Coleman was questioned about the blood stains
on the tin box, he explained that, as the day of the robbery was very
hot, and he had to work quick, in his great excitement his nose bled
freely, covering the tin box as it was found. Coleman has been a
professional bank "sneak" all his life, and in times past was renowned
for entering bank vaults and paying-tellers' cages in the day time
without being observed. He never used firearms, and there is no record
of his having shed blood of anyone in the commission of a crime. After
all of his years of successful stealing, he is again in Auburn (N. Y.)
prison, without means.