Harding v. State

Francis L. Harding, the appellant in this case, is a professional bondsman in Montgomery County, Maryland. On 21 February 1967, one Hugh William Price was arrested on a charge of assault and was taken before a justice of the peace, who fixed bail at $300. Price was released on a recognizance, on which Harding was the surety, to stand trial in the People’s Court of Montgomery County on 9 March 1967. Price failed to appear; the bail was forfeited; a bench warrant was issued; Price was later re-arrested by the police, tried on 22 May 1967, found guilty, and sentenced to 10 days in jail. On 26…