Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-02

A. @. Harding, supposed to be from
Philadelphia, was arrested last night week
BY Detective j. l.. Hawkins on the charge
OF obtaining money under false pretense.
Harding's trick was to advertise in q
morning paper as follows
WANTED--MAN TO ACT AS
w wetchman; state age and where last
employed. Address A. c., the Morning News.
On receipt of replies he would make
arrangements for meeting obtain pay
ment on account, and then the applicant
would have 70 wait until he received noti-
hcation of appointment. The total fee
Harding claimed for his services as GO
between was So. He asked for 81 or 50
before moving in the matter.
One of those answering the fraudulent
advertisement was James Wogan, No. 607
Orange, street. Mr.. Wogan did not feel
inclined to pay money for something he
had not received, and being suspicious of
scheme informed Detective Hawkins of
the incident. The detective arranged
neat plan by which Wogan and he should
meet Harding at Wogan's house. The de.
tective was present at the meeting as an
old g. A. r. friend of Wogan, which hap
pens to be the fact. Wognn handed over
the sum OF sl.0O to Harding, when the
latter made out the following receipt.
WILMINGTON. DBL. May 2s, 1904. Received
OF Mr.. James wogan one dollar (slOO,. Money
returned II position Is not accepted on May
18th, 1892. Should said James Wogan accept
position he Is to pay balance Of 500.
A. c. HARDING.
Detective Hawkins Immediately arrested
Harding and took him to the police sta
ton. Numerous letters were found in the
prisoners pockets answering the advertise
ment. A number of them were marked
good" 1t is supposed that they are the
people who have been victimized by Hard
ing and have each paid the man certain
sum on account. These good men are !.
James Clark, No. go Madison p. o.
Sparks. No. 5S2 Walnut; Frank Perry, No.
Ill Lincoln; GeofgcC. Hendrickson, Eighth
and Monroe; Thomas W. Mccullough, No.
203 West Sixth; James Wogan, No. 607
Orange; W. Nickerson, No. Sl7 Pine $. w.
Schultz No. 523 West Eighth; j. W. Nor
ton, No.2il4 West Second; William Gamble,
No. 30i East Eighth; Harry |. Dashen, No.
6l5 East sixth; W. u. Grimes, No. I'LL
East Fourteenth; William w. Newton. No.
HOO West; X. James Green, No. 5l7 West
Sixth; John p. Pierce, No. 1906 Lincoln.
Looking over the advertising columns of
EVERY EVENING of yesterday week A. c.,
was found there also.
The advertisement is as follows:
WANTED.-A YOUNG MAN FOR
w outdoor work. Must be good penman.
~ 'SSh- .ffNAN,o ~ t.s
may2a-lts Every Evening Office.
The reporter interviewed the business
managerof EVERY EVENING upon the mat
ter, suggesting that the advertisement is a
fraudulent one
"oh,. no, that official quickly replied,
the advertisement is all right"
Are you sure?'' the reporter asked; do
you know that A. c. is under arrest for
obtaining money under false pretense?'
That may be-" the business manager
replied, but the person who inserted the
"A. O. advertisement in EVERY EVENING
is thoroughly responsible. | know him
personally and it is bona iide advertise
ment.n
Just at that moment the mornings mail
came in with score or two of letters from
all parts of the city addressed to A. c.,
EVERY EVENING office.
Curiously enough, at the next moment.
the gentleman, himself a well-known city
official, who had put the advertisement in
EVERY EVENING, entered the office, and
asked fol, his letters marked "a, CT The
big bundle was handed him.
There's your man. said the business
manager, smiling as he addressed the re.
porter, adding, there's nothing wrong
about that "A. c. anyhow
The official had already become con-
versant with the story He could only ex-
plain it as u remarkable coincidence that
he and Harding should have selected the
same advertising initials.
AT city court on Thursday morning
Harding was arraigned on two Indictments
OF obtaining money under false pretense,
and was ordered held Under $500 bail for a
further hearing Saturday morning.
The prisoner is below the medium height
and probably not over ~ years of age. lie
IS slight built with full black beard and
black hair. He is intelligent looking and
RnnaEG in "a InpE e1l,d,faI 4.
quick address, suggesting a New Yorker
or man from the Hub"
He seemed ready witted and well posted,
Wen" he SAID, addressing the court,
may ask your honor what jurisdiction
this court has in u case of this kindpi
Judge Ball informed him that the pres,
ent is only preliminary hearing and that
the result win determine whether The case
VIII 60 TO the grand Jury or be dismissed.
May ask your honor, Harding CON
enued, when will the grand Jury meet ~
"a september" the court assured him.
harding then turned towards City Solici-
TOT Curtls indicating that he was through
with his questions
IL Is understood that Harding is in CORE.
spondence with Philadelphia friends ac-
quainting them with his Inisfortunes.
>, IN municipal court Saturday morning
Harding was arraigned on the charge Of OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
Harding SAID that owing TO certain cir
cumstances he would like the case post
roned until Wednesday. City solicitor
Curtis objected to any further POSTPONE.
ment on the ground that the prisoner lad
been already granted a continuance
Judge Ball sustained the objection aud
Lee Sparks was called He testified that
he answered the advertisement IL rib.
lished IN morning paper and was re-
quested by mail to call between the hours
NJ 1I aaly ,N ltE i 1
street, lie did SO aud met the prisoner
there. Harding told him that his SER
vices in obtaining the position for him
would be 20, and requested him 70 meet
him at the same place in the afternoon.
when the balance of the arrangements
would De made AZ the afternoon meeting
Harding informed him that the ptsition
he had obtained for him was as salesman
in one Of the leading Market street cl0th.
ing establishments. He then paid Hart.
ing S2.50 and received a receipt for the
amount.
AT this juncture the prisoners wife re-
guested an interview with LAWYER Walter
IL Hayes, who was in the court room, and
Inc nearing was postponed for Il few min
utes. Mr.. Hayes returned after a short
absence and addressing the court said that
while he had not as yet been retained in
the case he would ask. on behalf Of tho
prisoners wife that the hearing he sus-
pended until after she had an interview
with her husband, which was granted
After the interview between husband
and wife, IN Chief Of Police Black burn 5
room, Mr.. Hayes returned to the court
and stated that he had been just retained
as counsel IN the ease, but not knowing
the line Of defence would like con-
tinuance until Wednesday morning.
This was granted the prisoner being held
under S50O bail.
Detective Hawkins holds two warrants
for Hardlng's arrest, from Philadelphia
authorities. sworn out by William Thomas
of No. AZ Wood street, Philadelphia, Oh a
charge Of like character. The name on
the warrant reads W. II. Andrews. alias