The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-03-12
DIR. H1RKNESS Il FORGER.

/. Montpelier was thrown into a state
of intense excitement last Friday
afternoon when the news spread like
wildfire that DR.. Waldo r. Hardness
had been arrested for forgery, and
from that time to now the chief topic
of conversation has been the story of
his fall.
The story of the affair is as follows:
On Tuesday. March 3, DR.. Hardness
called at the Montpelier Savings Bank
and asked Treasurer A A. FerriD if he
could secure loan of SO, 600, provided
he gave note endorsed by Hamilton
S. Peck and Walter B. Gates of Bur-
ligton, and Nellie Barstow of Shell
burne. Mr.. Ferrin Investigated the
financial standing of the parties named
and on the Friday following told
Hardness, when he called again, he
could get the loan with those endors-
ers. Hardness said the parties were
then in his Office and he would at
once get the note. Just before three
O'Clock he returned with a note for
So, 060, on six months time, endorsed
with the above names. He was paid
81, 600 in cash and cashiers check
for 81, 600. Soon after, l.. Bart Cross
vice. president of the bank, came in,
and on examining the note questioned
the signature of H. S. Peck, with
which he was familiar. Mr.. Ferrin
Immediately telephoned about town
and then to Burlington and learned
that Mr.. Peck had not been in Mont
pelier on that day. A county court
body writ was at once issued and
given to Sheriff c. B. Evans, charg-
ing Hardness with forgery. The
whole sheriff department was put on
the move and about five O'Clock Hank
ness was arrested as he was returning
from a professional call. He was
taken to the sheriff's mouse and there
the bank officials were closeted with
him all that evening. Hardness, while
| he did not in so many words say so,
left the unquestionable inference that
the note was forged.
Then there were further develop.
ments DR.. Hardness is young maj
and located in Montpelier about foul
years ago. 1t appears that ever since
he came here he has from time tt
time secured loans at the Capital Saw
ings Bank on notes endorsed by Ii
S. Peck. President T. j. Deavitt had
seen Mr.. Peck and knew the early
notes at least to be valid. In October
of last year Hardness presented note
for 81, 700, endorsed as usual, tool
up various smaller notes amounting
to 81, 200, and received further LOAF
of $500. On Monday, March 3, a sim
liar note for $500 was presented, som,
small notes taken up and $135 III casl
received. This note was presented il
the absence of Mr.. Deavitt but bore
the written initials CT. j. D." unde
the printed word approved " Late
in the day Mr.. Deavitt saw the note
and, not having approved it, at once
went to Hardness office. There
Hardness admitted he had forged TIN
initials and also the endorsement o
Mr.. Peck and was at once giver unit
Friday night to pay both notes, witt
prosecution as the alternative. Their
followed the transaction with thu
Montpelier Savings Bank after which
and just before the closing hour at thu
Capital Savings Bank, Hardness ap
peared and paid the notes with TIN
cash and check.
Hardness friends and relatives
among whom are those whose name
were forged, were interested in hi
behalf but no settlement of the matter
was effected. Last Monday Afternoon
States Attorney Bailey took up tn,
case and Hardness was arrested ant
taken before city court charged will
the crime of forgery. Acting on tn,
advice of his counsel, W. A. Lord, HI
waived examination and was bounC
over to the September session of TIN
grand jury. Bail was fixed at 81, 600
which up to the present time he ha
not furnished Until his arrest by
the State he was lodged in the sher
if S house but now he occupies Gel
in the Jail proper.
Hardness has had many friends ant
has been in the best of society, Will,
his practice as a physician has steadi
ly increased. He graduated iron
Goddard Seminary in 1895 and iron
the medical department of the Univer
sity of Vermont four years later.