The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-09
USED FIRM NAME WRONGLY.
J. III. HARDEE CHARGED WITH EN-
PLOYING THE MAILS TO DEFRAUD.


Firm Had Dissolved, But He Is Al
legged to Have Used the Old sta
tionery and signed the Old Firm
Name-The Case on Trial Before
Judge Speer-scarIett Bros. Get n
Verdict Against the Florida Gem
trail and PeninsuIar Railroad.
Money to BE Paid the Central of
Georgia.
]. H. Hardee was put on trial In the
United States court yesterday on charge
of using the United states mails in the
furtherance of scheme TO defraud.
1t appears there was a partnership
formed some time last summer
known as Woods, Hardee & Wheeler.
The partnership lasted only three
or four days after which it was
dissolved, and notice to that effect
was published in the newspapers. Those
forming the partnership had had some
stationery printed which fell to Hardee
after the dissolution.
1t is now charged that Hardee used this
stationery, and signed the firm name TO
letters written upon it, ordering goods
from other parties for which goods he re-
fused to pay. The firm which, in the in
dictment, he is charged with defrauding
is Pope & McLaurin of Jacksonville, Fla
II is alleged that he bought bill of goods
from that firm paying for it the amount
Of $22. Afterwards, il is stated, he ordered
goods from the same firm to the extent
of SSS, using the tationery and signing the
name of Woods Hardee & Wheeler, and
that he has refused to pay for these goods.
Mr.. McLaurin, of the firm named, was
on the stand yesterday and testified sub
stantially to the facts stated. He said he
would not have let Hardee have the goods,
except for the fact that there appeared
to be three members in the firm and he
thought it was all right. Both Woods and
Wheeler were on the stand and testified
that the partnership had been dissolved
at the time the letters were written amt
that they had given Hardee no authority
to use their names. Both of them stated
however that they were not worth a dol
lar, and had put no money into the bust
ness originally.
There are two or three merchants here
who state they have received similar or
ders from Hardee. One of them went on
the stand yesterday, but MIR. w. Z. Morri-
son, the attorney for the defendant, object
! ed to his testimony on the ground that the
indictment charged Hardee specifically
with defrauding Pope & McLaurin, and
not with defrauding other persons or the
! public generally, by the use of the malls.
/ This point was being argued by the dis
trict attorney when the court adjourned
| until this morning.
| The jury in the case Of Scarlet Bros.
against the Florida Central and Peninsu-
lar Railroad. in the United States Court,
! returned verdict just a few minutes be-
fore the court adjourned. The jury's find
ing was in favor of the plaintiffs for
| 81, S40.S2 with interest from Jan. J. 1884, This
suit was brought to recover for some
crossties said to have been furnished the
| Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad
| Company by the plaintiffs, which they val
| ued at $766.8. The attorneys for the
| defendant are not satisfied with the verdict
and it is understood there will be a motion
| for new trial.
An order was granted providing thai
S6s53.56, now in the registry of the United
States Court paid by the Southern Express
| Company for transportation charges to the
Central Railroad in 1892, about the time the
road went into the ands of receiver, shall
be paid over to the Central of Georgia
| Railway Company, TO which all the assets
! of the old Central Railroad and Banking
Company, with several exceptions, have
gone.
The suit of the receivers of the Contra
Railroad and Banking Company against
the tug Maggie and scow No. 26, HAVING
been settled, was dismissed from the dock.
ct.
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