The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-03
ADMITS HE is HARDIN
THE DIAMOND ROBBER TELLS THE
POLICE HE WILL PLEAD GUILTY.
Patrolman Leet, n Former Express
Messenger, Identifies the Man-Was
in a Southern Prison.

John J. Henderson, agent OF the Adams
Express Company, yesterday positively
identified the man arrested for stealing a
tray of diamonds Tuesday as Charles A.
Hardin, of express robbery notoriety. When
Mr.. Henderson saw MIN at the jail he ad-
dressed him as Hardin. MY name is not
Hardin. 1t is wilson, he replied. Mr.. Hen
derson has photograph of the man left
with him by Pinkerton detectives. He held
1t out TO the fellow, saying. did you ever
see that man?' Hardin, with a smile, ad-
mitted he had seen the man, but said ne
could not recall the face" Mr.. Henderson
mentioned a number of employees of the
Adams Express Company at Cincinnati and
Hardin admitted knowing them, but in
sisted his name was not Hardin. Later
in the morning patrolman Robert Leet saw
Hardin at the Jail. Leet AMI Hardin
were employed by .he express COM
pany and made their headquarters at Gin
cinnati. Leet was on the Chicago and Gin
cinnati run, while Hardin ran from Gin
cinnau to Nashville. Leet addressed him
as Hardin yesterday. AT first Hardin re-
fused to recognize Leet, but when he re-
minded him Of incidents that had happened,
said: Il see you know me, Bob. / remem-
Der you perfectly. They have got me dead
10 rights on this diamond robbery business
and L guess L will plead guilty" He told
Leet the express company detectives had
followed HIM from place TO place and
hOunded MIN into a life of dishonesty. 1t
is said, however, hardin cerved time in a
Southern prison prior to the time he was
employed py the ADAMS Express Company.
Mr.. henderson said yesterday his company
had hardins complete history and the facts
would be known mere in few days.
During the day. number OF persons
called at the jail for the purpose of identi-
Tying Hardin. Clerks from Ia ). Ayers S
dry goods store were positive the man
and woman had been at that store about
the time the sealskin cloak, which was
found in their apartments, was stolen.
Patrolman Leet said last night he be-
lieves Hardin is one OF two men who
worked the change racket" on a saloon
keeper at the corner of Delaware and
Merrill streets last week. The saloon man
will look at the prisoner this morning. Sew
eral other people recognized the couple as
having been at their places of business.
The manager of the Worlds Fair said the
woman had been acting SuSpieiously at
his store several times lately. 1t is be-
lieved the woman is an accomplished shop
litter, but SO far nothing is known as TO
her history. She said yesterday she and
Hardin had been married thirteen years.
Clerks from the New York store tried TO
identify her as one of the women who
were implicated in the theft of a $325 cloak
Christmas week Yesterdays Courier-Jour-
nal said:
Louisville. 1t will be recalled that he fig
ured about two years ago as defendant
in a case involving one CT the most sensa-
tlonal robberies ever committed in this
part of the country. He was accused of
stealing $4,000 from an express package
which was said to have been intrusted TO
his care as messenger of the Adams Ex-
press Company in its transit from New
York to Galveston, Tex. The money was
taken from the package and brown paper,
cut the size of bills, was so cleverly sub
sti.uted that the exchange was not diScpv-
cred until the package was opened at Gal
weston. Pinkerton detectives worked on
the case, and finally arrested him. The
case was tried in Nashville and the man
was acquitted. Great interest was mani
tested in the trial by many people all
ovsr the United States.
80 relentless were the detectives and
so firmly did they believe In his guilt that
they followed him from place to place.
ARE sting him many times on various
charges. One of these was that of forgery
in Missouri lie was put in Jail in this
cit. but before the Missouri officers could
take him back habeas corpus proceedings
were instituted and he was released. The
man was arrested later on the same charge
in another State. Hardin was born in this
city