National Republican., 1888-05-20
HE MARRIEs A KINGS WIDOW
Thus an Albany Youth became the
King of Cooks Island.
I\cw Work Ernnbip

In the supreme court yesterday Judge
Lawrence granted Mrs. Fanny A. Banks an
absolute divorce from her husband, Charles
w. Banks.
The romantic story that is brought to an
end by this action of the supreme court is
one Of the strangest that has been related
in many a day. A few years ago Charley
Banks, of Albany, was one OF the brightest
and most pctted young fellows in that city.
lIe was popular and good-looking aud gen
ing Knickerbockcr. When he was - he
married very cstimable Albany girl, aud
they started for the Golden Gate TO begin
their new life together. Charley never had
liked work before his marriage and his new
relations had not altered his disposition IN
that respect. Still he was capable and
talented, and when he finally found place
in the employ of Wells, Fargo Il Co. he
very soon won his way to trusted position.
He fell into some old habits that had not
been crcditable to him in Albany, and grew
to know good deal more about the poker
and faro games that flourished in San Fran
cisco than was beneficial to him. lie was a
rounder, man about town, and he handled
the express company's money as one Of its
cashiers.
One bright morning, nearly year and Il
half ago. he did not appear at his desk in
his Office at the usual hour. lie had not
been at home all night but ii turned out on
inquiry that he had frequently been absent
in the same way. No one suspected him of
any rongdoing. lie had probably gone
down the bay on q fishing excursion, and
had been delayed Unexpectedly, and then
he had been absent before for couple of
days without causing any particular COM
ment. Three days passed and Charley did
not return. Then his safe was opened, his
accounts examined, and he was found to be
a defaultcr IN sum that has never been
officially announced by the company, but it
is well known to run up into the hundred
thousands.
There was not trace Of him to be found.
The best detective talent on the coast was
employed In the search for him without the
slightest success. He had dropped as com
pletely and suddenly out of view rs though
he were lying at the bottom Of the bay of
San Francisco. Indeed, it became finally
the accepted theory that the Pacific ocean
had made grave for him under its blue
waves. The search stopped, and he was
morning the captain of a San Francisco
bark, coasting along the island of Tahiti,
stopped at little settlement on the main
land, and one of the first men who met him
after he touched the beach was Charley
Banks. They had known each other in
California, but the fugitive cXpressman was
not Oycrloyed ut the meeting or course
the story of his presence in the Sandwich
Islands soon reached home, and Wells
Fargo & Co. dispatched officers to arrest
him and bring him back to America. When
they reached the island Charley Banks had
already sailed away, and was far beyond the
reach of eXtradition, and the next that was
heard of him he had landed ut RarcntOnga,
Cooks Island, in the South Pacific ocean.
The king of the island had died short
time previously and had left charming
young widow She was Il little of color, to
| be sure, hui she was pleasant hammered
woman, and she had power and wealth,
while he was poor and in danger. lie was a
| good looking fellow and he made himself
agreeable to the lonely queen, She fell in
love with. him, and three months after he
landed on the island they were married,
| The people seem to have approved the
| choice of Queen Makia, and Charley Banks,
| the fugitive from San Francisco, Is at this
day the duly acknowledged king Of the
island, and proving, from all accounts, q
very satisfactory sovereign for the natives
| of his realm.
King Charley has written several times tc
| his former wife since the day when in
fishing smack alone with one faithful frcnC
he sailed out from the harbor of san Fran
| cisco, and dared the dangers of the ocean II
| his flight from justice. He has not dcnic,
the fact OF his new domestic arrangements
and at the same time has expressed IN,
most sincere and touching affection for hi
lawful Wife, But there is no prospect o
his quitting his island kingdom and hi
| dusky queen, and SO Judge Lawrence YES
terdNy gave Mrs Banks back her muider
name and made her Il free woman one,
| more,
| But II Is a strange story, and the ,,rangcs
thing about II is that II is absolutely true.