The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-11
HARDING LANDED
 AT CINCINNATI Wanted There for Passing a
 Bogus Check SAYS HE IS INNOCENT Cincinnati Detective Was Sent to Flor ida for the Prisoner-The
 Eventful Return Trip
 Described.
SAYS HE IS INNOCENT

banks in and around Birmingham and parts of North Alabama, has finally been landed behind the bars in Cincinnati, where he is wanted for passing a bad check for $500 on a jewelry firm. He is also badly wanted in Alabama, Florida and other places for operating banks on paper under false pretenses, and on charges of embezzlement
 The Cincinnati Enquirer of Saturday gives the following account of his pres ence in that town
 After days of hard work. involving lawsuits almost without number and the lodging of would-be rescuers of his prs- oner, Detective Dan Callahan arrived in this city last evening having in custody 1 l.. c. Harding, alias Davis, alias Charles Blazer, who is wanted here for passing a $500 bad check on the Durhme Jewelry company several years ago.
 Blazers transactions in this city and Co., ] lumbus, where he esta blished the Viaduct bank which consisted of small tin safe in coal office, and upon which he issued the checks, attracted widespread atten- ton in this state at the time of their 
 headquarters was greeted with a great deal, of satisfaction, and he was com plimented by Chief Millikin for the pluck and intelligence he displayed in circum- venting all the endeavors put forth by Hardings friends to secure the liberty of the now famous prisoner. Harding was dressed in light summer suit of blue serge and he wore Panama hat Says He's Not Blazer. He is a pleasing taker with decided southern accent and very good-natured l When seen by an Enquirer reporter he said: It's only a question of time until the police tumble to the fact that L. C. Harding is my real name I am not Blazer. People say I resemble Blazer great deal. 1 never ran across the fellow, but I'd like mighty well to see him now l hear he is bad man. This is simply a case of mistaken identity. I am no more Blazer than you are. I want to say right now that Callahan Is a pretty wise fellow. He knew enough to keep his mouth shut. Chief of Detectives Sul- livan. you know, tried to land me in Louisville from Florida. but he failed He talked too much I have lots of good friends down there, and among them is Governor Jennings, or the state My af- fairs have assumed the proportions of political capital in Florida by reason of ! the refusal of the governor to honor re- quisitions for me from the governor of Ala bama- l am reputable business man. op- crate bank at Brooksvlle, Fla and the institution had two branches I conduct ed business along legitimate lines. I never was crooked. I own three sawmills and am interested in manufactory. the pro- uuct or which is iron arms for telegraph poles' was married year ago to Miss Hodge of Woodlawn, Ala She is the dearest little woman in this country and why should she not stick to her husband. who is an innocent man?"
 Hid in Lumber Yard.
 At this juncture Harding was shown a picture of Blazer taken with a full beard.
 Your eyes resemble Blazers" said Chief of Detectives Crawford
 Well there is nothing remarkable about that, is there? That is not my picture al though in some features there is a resem- bance''
 Callahan said that after the prisoner had been turned over to him, at Tamna he was puzzled by the conduct of tbe chief of police and the detective who assisted him. It later developed they were friends of Harding. To avoid any chance of rescue Callahan hired a car riage and with Harding drove about the country until about the time for the train to arrive. It an hour late and in the meantime Callahan concealed his prisoner in lumber yard When the train pulled in the detective hustled his prisoner into the mail car and kept him there. Harding tried to summon help by yelling 'Murder!' A blanket habeas cor pus was secured by Harding's friends, but Callahan felt secure, being under the impression the habeas corpus jurisdic- tion ended at the boundary line of the county. The blanket paper. however covered the whole state. He arrived at Atlanta and locked up his prisoner At 5 o'clock the following morning he went to police headquarters to get his man and was locked up for Kidnapping on a war | rant He was searched and placed in a cell. He had to ask for drink of water, as no one showed any disposition to give him any assistance.
 Bank With Wind Capital
 At 10 o'clock he was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Ormond and dis | missed. This ensued the different legal actions in various courts. Callahan emerged from them with flying cofors and in leaving Atlanta for the north he again resorted to the mail car At Chat tanooga several men pounded on the doors of the car for admittance and the detectiev believes they were friends of Harding. At Nashville they left the mail car and went into the smoker. From that time on he was not moested
 ] Callahan said that Harding is one of | the smartest ment he ever came in con- tact with. He located in Florida nine months ago without dollar and proceed ed to build up a banking business on pa- per. He capitalized it on wind, carried it 1 through on wind, and. to use the lam guage of Harding if he had not been molested he would have made $3Oo.0Oo this year.
 In Atlanta several lawyers became hys- | terical when Harding made the declara- l tion in their presence that he had $90, 900 and would spend 1t all to keep from go- ling to Ohio. He gave one of the attorneys l a check for $25O as a retaining fee. but Harding said last night he was glad it was not presented for collection before