The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-09
HARDING RAILEl
Continued from First page


OF the banks shortage traced to
young Harding.
AT the Office of the chief OF police
young Harding and his father and
DR.. Winn remained for some time,
awaiting the visit to. the Hastings
court room, where bail was arranged
and where the young man was re-
leased to appear two weeks from the
day in Police court
Decline TO Talk.
At police headquarters and in the
Hastings court room the young msl
retained his self-possession and an
swered all questions put him. At po-
lice headquarters efforts were made
by newspaper reporters to interview
him and his father, but both declined
to make any statements at this time.
John A. Lamb. attorney for Mr.
Harding and his father. met Judge
Richardson as soon as the latter
reached his Office, adjoining the Hust-
ings courtroom In the city building
and arrangements for bail were dis
cussed. Judge Richardson arrived at
his Office about IL o'clock, and after
short time entered the courtroom
and assembled the bench.
In the meantime, Mrs. Sarah v.
Harding, wife OF John e. Harding, the
mother OF the prisoner. John H. Hard
ing, appeared In another automobile
She was accompanied by friend
When formal application was made
to Judge Richardson In court for bail
Mrs. Harding. heavily yelled and WIS.,
IDLY affected by her sons plight, ex-
planned the nature OF the property
she possessed and. aided by her hus-
band, showed to the courts satisfac-
ton that the value of the property
presented as security was sufficient.
1t was stated that the bond re-
CURED would be 5000. this amount
appearing to the court to be a reason
able sum. and yet one large enough
to reasonably assure the appearance Of
young Harding before the police JUS
tice for preliminary examination In
two weeks. The property covered by
the bond Ia worth in excess OF the
amount fixed. $1,000. it is declared.
The bearing Of the young man yes.
terday. and his actions during the
last three weeks. since the discovery
was made by the bank examiners and
the receivers OF the bank. James W.
Ga rdon and John H. Lightfoot, Jr,
thUt the shortage Of more than $1S,-
600 was due to his manipulation of the
books and records and adding ma
chine on which clearing house lists
were checked up, have been such that
all who have been brought in any
manner into contact with the case be-
lieve the youth Is prepared to meet
the consequences of his, actions and
that he will make no effort to evade
appearing before the courts to face
the charges.
While the examiners were working
over the bank records to locate each
of the forced additions, the young
man, who had promptly admitted his
guilt, though he expressed the belief
the shortage would not amount to
more than $1,000, gave them assist
ance In finding each item. As he saw
the total mount up to and pass the
thousand dollar mark he made
no denial OF the accuracy OF the
figures though he appeared noticeably
affected at their cumulative enormity.
Disposal of Money.
He also told the bank receivers that
much Of the Money had been expend-
sonal property, title deeds and memo
randa to which he would turn over to
them that they might be converted
into cash for the benefit Of the bank.
His father, John r. Harding, who
was also associated with the Common
wealth Bank, as cashier OF the Fulton
branch of that institution, Loyalty
stood by him and expressed a desire
to make good his sons shortage.
Though the mother OF the youth had
agreed with his father to stand by
him and to make restitution to the
bank for heir sons shorage. she did
no appear publicly In the casa until
yesterday when she went into the
court room ana described the property
she and her hutband would ~ -
b..