The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-06-04
The Whirlwind Career Of a Man
With Many Wives and
Aliases.
SAID To BE AN ESCAPE
FROM MISSISSIPPI JAIL
Bouoht Banks and Sawmils and Con-
sumated Deals of Magnitude In a
Brief Time in Georgia Town.

ATLANTA, Ga June 4.-That A. D.
| Oliver, the reputed "millionaire' now
in Jail in Climax, whose whirlwind
record of financial schemes during the
past six months have astounded and
amazed that section of south Georgia,
it none other than Leroy c. Harding,
who has done time in the Ohio peni-
Tertiary, is now an escaped convict
from Mississippi, is wanted by the
United States authorities, and who Gre
ated a sensation in Atlanta in 1904, is
the expressed belief of government Of
ficials in this city.
Chief Postoffice Inspector Sutton
and Inspector Bannerman are now in
vstigating the alleged swindler and
have received information from Climax
hat convinces them that he and Hard
ing, whose real name is Charles Blaz-
err, are one and the same. 1t is learn
ed Wednesday that no action will be
| taken at present by the postoffice in
spectors but that they will await de-
! be convicted in the Climax case the
government will keep hands off until
he serves that term, but should it ap-
pear that he will escape punishment
in that case, the government will
swoop down on him.
Harding escaped on December 81,
last, from the Monroe county Jail at
Aberdeen, Miss, at which place he had
been convicted of some kind OF swind-
term of three years. A reward of
$500 is outstanding for his capture. A.
d. Oliver, unknown and unheralded,
suddenly put in an appearance in Gil
max in January, shortly after the es-
cape of Harding and promptly inaus.
urated what is said TO be one of the
most gigantic swindling schemes ever
operated in Georgia and which has fin
ally resulted in his arrest and also the
arrest of Cashier Hall, ofg the Climax
bank, as an alleged accompolice.
Olivar is said to have arrived in eli
max practically penniless, but during
his brief sojourn has bought banks,
saw mills and consumated other deals
of such magnitude as to excite the
wonderment of the community. These
operations are declared to have been
swindling schemes.
If this man is Leroy Harding he is
not only faced by this predicament and
the three-year term in Mississippi but
the government case in Birmingham is
still hanging over him.
This case against Harding was
worked by Postoffice INSPECTOR Banner
man. Harding, following his arrest,
succeeded in making bond and left for
parts unknown. He failed to show up
for trial and his bond was forfeited.
He next showed up in Mississippi.
Fight in Atlanta.
On March p, 1904, Blazer, alais
Ildl ulISs " 40 al ltGltu III lDlODh6Alllt',
Fla for the alleged swindling of the
Duhue Jewelry Company, in Cincin-
natl and it was for this offense that
he did time in the Ohio pen. 1t was
from this case that Developed Hard
ing's sensational fight in Atlanta for
liberty on a writ Of habeas corpus, in
which government, state and city au-.
thorities all took a hand and which is
well remembered here. It all came
about when Detective Dan Callahan, of
who was taking the smooth
prisoner from Florida to Ohio stopped !
over for the night in Atlanta.
Harding was locked in the police sta
ion. and in some way got hold Of a
awyer and swore out a warrant charg
lg Callahan with Kidnapping When
he detective appeared at the station
ne next morning for his prisoner, he
as himself arrested and locked up.
hen followed the habeas corpus pro
ceilings for Harding Tn the mean
me Callahan was released and Judge
E CALHOUN refused to grant the g
beas corpus. Finally another war 7
mt was taken out in a justice court u
hold Harding in Atlanta, but the 2
soner. nevertheless. was turned over
Callahan.
rhe government had stepped in by pi