The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-25

number of old checks which had been
cancelled and returned. There were no
more checks in the book, but there
were several loose checks in the drawer.
Some of these were taken, and one OF
the cancelled checks was taken out OF
the book for the obvious purpose of get
ting Mr.. Strong's signature, and also
the consecutive number of the checks.
The numbers of the forged checks were
very near the correct numbers. The
checks, however, were not cashed at
the Southern Bank, as the teller, Mr..
Munford, saw at once that the sigma
ture was not that of Mr.. Strong, and
refused to pay them.
When Mr.. Strong heard of the forg-
cries he did some detective work on his
own account. He went to Messrs. Coop
er and Tuberdy and secured an account
from them of how the checks were pass
had passed them. The description fit
ted Harden exactly. Mr.. Cooper said
that the man who passed the checks on
him gave his name as Leonard, and
purchased a dollars worth of groceries,
which he ordered sent to his room at
the Palmetto House on Bryan street
q
accompanied by a friend, and made in
quiries. He was informed that Harden
had had room there but that he had
left Saturday night for Charleston, Civ
ing instructions, however, that if any
one Called for him the people of the
house were to say that they knew moth.
ing of his whereabouts but if friend
should inquire for him they might tell
him that he had gone to the lighthouse
in Charleston. Mr.. Strong was shown |
Harden's room and he found there a !
lot of letters which Harden had torn |
up and thrown into corner. The frag-
ments were pasted together. There |
were several letters from his mother |
in Glasgow, Scotland, just such letters |
as a mother would write. The writer !
was evidently a gentlewoman, though |
in reduced circumstances. There was
also letter to Harden from some one
in Chicago signing herself Cora"
About $50 o'clock Saturday night
Harden rushed into the Morning News
office. He had evidently been drinking
and was laboring under excitement,
which was ascribed to drink.
Il just wanted to say goodbye he
81 am going to get out of
town, but had to break the law to do
it. 1t will make nice sensation for
you in a few days. Let me down gent
y, will your"
Harden said he was going to Charles
,on and intended to beat his way on
he train.
Say, do you want few letters from
he Soudan?" he exclaimed as he start
ed out the door. IF you do I'll send
you a few"
Harden'S remark about breaking the
aw was ascribed to drink and nat
lral habit of talking wildly. He had
IN a pair of new shoes and a bundle
Under his arm, evidently shirts or laun-
Try. When the forgeries became known
uspiciOn fell upon Harden at once The
description given by Mr. Tuberdy fitted
i'm exactly.
Chief of Police McDermott said last
light that no report of the matter had
'een made to him. He knew, however,
hat Harden had left the city Saturday
light, and laid the forgery to him as /:
Don as he heard of it. There would
ave been no trouble in arresting Har-
en, the chief said, if the matter had s
een promptly reported to the police as
Don as the forgeries were discovered,
nd he had little doubt that he could be !
ound now if wanted.
Mr.. Strong said that he was afraid ]
Harden would repeat the use of his ]
ame in Charleston, as he had carried '
supply of his cards along with him, I
which he might use as he did here, or, {
worse still, he might attempt to pass
himself as Mr.. Strong after getting
urther north.-The News, Savannah i
Ga.), May "a.