The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03

the flour readily so that 1t was a money making proposition at both ends.
 Had Another Plan.
 Another plan was to give depositors In his bank a eheckbook on the Collnsville bank, asking them to check out their for eign bills from there This, he said, was to keep the other bank here in Fort Payne from getting the benefit Of any ex- change.
 Later, he became still more bold. He gave man 6 certificate of deposit for $500, and took his note for it. This man was a stranger in Fort Payne. The stranger got the certificate eashed at Greensboro bank. When the Greensboro bank sent to Hardings bank for the money, the answer was returned that the gentleman had withdrawn his funds This was just before Hardlng's depart ure.
 Depositors Began to Draw Out.
 Vague rumors began to float around about Harding and depositors became suspicious. One by one they began to draw out their funds, and there was d run on Harding's bank. He paid out the money as fast as they came up, however, until they finally exhausted what he had. It was at this point that he showed his New York securities. and the key to his strong box in some New York vault, and said he would have to go north and cash some securities. He said he was going to pay every man that wanted his money.
 Practically all Fort Payne depositors got their money out, however. The de- positors in the banks at Collinsville and Attalla were not so fortunate. There was an amusing incident In connection with the run on the Fort Payne bank. A farmer living four miles out of town and having a few hundred dollars in Harding's bank came and told MT. Hard ing he had heard the rumors and wanted his money.
 MT. Harding said that was all right and counted 1t out to him. The farmer then said that if he could get the money, he didn't want It. He came back on Sat- urday after thinking it over, and said that he believed he would take his money after all. MT. Harding told him he was sorry. but they had pushed him so hard that he had no money to pay out.
 Sunday morning Harding mysteriously raised some money somewhere, and as a grandstand play dispatched a special messenger that afternoon to the farmers house saying he could get his money early Monday morning. The farmer came in and once more saw his money counted out to him. He was so impressed with MT. Harding's honesty that he de- cided to leave the funds with him and went out and told his friends that that banker was so honest that he would de- posit more money with him if he had 1t.
 It was after this run on his bank that Harding went to New York to negotiate his securities and get more funds He had loaned about ss000 in the community. He left Fort Payne, Friday, April 10 for New York. saying he would return the following Wednesday. He has not yet put in an appearance.
 His Marriage.
 The climax of Hardings audacity was reached when he wooed and married the young woman, who has the sympathy of the community. He bought her every thing imaginable, but it has since devel- oped that almost nothing was paid for He treated her with the greatest consid- ,eration at all times, and she was so hap py ;lat her prostration at the termina- tion of affairs Is all the more complete She was the victim who suffers most When Harding left he took with him the jewelry he had given her, and left her with no money at all except a little she had saved up before marriage. She earn ed this by giving painting lessons. When Harding reached New York, he wrote her letter saying that he was dangerously i'll, and to come to that city at once. He outlined a special way for her to go. stopping over at Greenfield Ohio. Mr. Zorn, one of the Louisville grain mer- chants whom Harding owed. accompanied her to Greenfield, and other detectives were hired to watch her movements.
 All were anxious for picture of Hard