The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-08
WILL SURRENDER,
SAYS HIS FATHER
Tells Police John H. Harding
Will Not Attempt to
Leave City.
POLICE MAKE VAIN SEARCH
Three Warrants Against Bank
Clerk Are Sworn Out by
Chief of Police.
POLICE MAKE VAIN SEARCH

John H. Harding, about twenty i've
years old. former bookkecper OF the
Commonwealth Bank. vas the object
of vain search yesterday afternoon
and last night by detectives, who held
three warrants charging him With
stealing s2,l60 of the banks funds
while his entire shortage is said to
exceed $4,000. At IL o'clock Detec-
tive Sergeant Kellam and Detective
Bertucci went TO the home OF John Il.
Harding, father OF the young man. He
gaid his son was not there, but as
sured the officers that he would sur
render this morning. He refused TO
tell where the young man had hidden
himself.
Chief Swcnrs Out Warrants.
The warrants for Ilarding's arrest
were shown out by Chief OF Police
Werner, after he had been summoned
before Judge William A Moncure. in
the Chance-y Court, which is now In
charge OF the banks affairs. a con-
ference was held between Judge Mon
cure, Major Werner, Commonwealth 8
Attorney Tolkes and John b. Light
foot, Jr, and James w. Gordon, re-
ceivcrs FOR tho bank. Major Werner
was told that Harding was short moro
than $4,000. BY means OF forcing
balances in his ledgers. destroying
cred his alleged populations from
day to day. until the books were ex-
amined by accountants Of the Amcri-
can Audit Company. Major Werner
was shown n long list of items, rang
ing from small sums to hundreds OF
dollars, which Harding is accused OF
having turned to his own use. The re-
suit of the consultation was that
Major Werner selected three OF the
! n I,1 -.,t,
case.
The Three Changes.
Though Harding's total pcculationa
aggregate more than $4,000 the three
charges which stand against him total
only S2.l6O. one warrant charges
that on June T. ,313. lie stole $1,000.
\ second that on June 10. 1918, he
stole S4lo The third accuses him of
stealing $3.50 on January 8. 1918
The witnesses named In the warrants
and who Will be called upon to testify
against Harding. are as follows: Louis
Werner. Chief of Police; Thomas T.
Howard, resident manager for Virginia
West Virginia and Kentucky of the
American Audit Company; Allan Tai
bott, accountant Of the American Audit
Company; IT, G. Proctor cashier of the
bank. and John Is. Lightfoot. Jr., and
Jnmcs w. Gordon. receivers
AS soon as the warrants were issued
by Magistrate j. y. Purdie, who had
been summoned to police headquarters
| by Major Werner, they were placed In
the hands OF kellam. With Bertucci
he went TO Harding's home. 400 Minor
Street Barton Heights. where Harding
occupies II flat with his wife. whom he
married last August From 1 o'clock
until long after they waited In vain
for him to appear. They had learned
that he only left fifteen minutes before
| they arrived
Outgoing Trains Watched.
When they We're certain that their
watch was useless the detectives ro-
turned to Richmond and hurried to the
! Byrd Street station. believing that the
former bookkeeper might board the
northbound Atlantic Coast Line train at
is o'clock. They searched each coach
while the train was travelling from
Byrd Street to Elba. but found no trace
of Harding
"Itcturning to headquarters Kcllam
and Bertuccl were instructed to visit
tho home OF ~tfarding's father.
In the meantime Captain of petec-
tIves had called In most OF his plain
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