The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-09
RASCAL
IN THE TOLLS
Titled BritOn and His Question
able BO0ms.
HOW He WRECKED A BANK
HAD PLANNED GREAT SWIM
DLING SCHEMES.

WhatcOm, Wash. Nov. 8.-H. St
John Dix or a. St. John. as he was
known here, who was arrested in Lon
don this morning for wrecking the
scandinavian-American bank of this
city. and the Bank Of Blaine at Blaine,
Wash, has a history seldom found out
side of fiction. According to his own
story, related to confd 1tial friends
here, he is the eldest soI. of a British
peer and entitled to succeed to the
peerage upon his fathers death. He
was one of the principals in the Itata
affair, when that ship left the harbor
of San Diego, Cal, during the late civil
war in Chile, loaded with munitions of
war for the insurgents, after the Amer
lean government had prohibited her de
paTture. She was chased and cap
tuTed by an American man of war and
st. John was thrown into prison at
Valparaiso, from whence he was re-
leased through the influence of the
British minister there.
The next affair of prominence in
which he played a leading role was in
the march of Coxey's army from Mas
sillon, O., TO the national capital. He
.
missaTy general, acting at the same
time as correspondent of one Of the
leading Chicago papers. Afterwards
he became mixed up with some irriga-
ton schemes in Arizona.
Prior to any of the events hereto
fore mentioned, he was a tOwnsite
boomer in Kansas. where he ran all Of
the principal institutions, including a
bank.
Was Newspaper Correspondent.
He first appeared here in the capacity
Oe a newspaper correspondent. Shortly
afterwards he borrowed $4,000 from a
Seattle bank, with which to buy a con-
trolling interest in the scandinavian
American bank of this city The bank
records show that he paid $4,000 for the
use Of this money for eight days. He
then took the deposits Of the Scandina-
Wan American bank and purchased the
Bank of Blaine Then he bought the
Citizens National bank of Fairhaven,
Wash He had formed a plan for the
esta blishment of a string of banks to
reach from Vancouver. b. c., 20 San
Diego. Cal Negotiations had been en-
tered into for banks in Seattle, Tacoma
and Everett, and some Of these had
nearly reached the point of cOnsUmma-
ton.
His expensive style of living. how
ever. had alarmed many depositors who
had withdrawn their accounts Seeing
I that the end was near he fed from the
city. telling his associates that he was
going to get help and that he had a
S10u, 900 insurance policy in London that
had Just matured. His attorney be-
came suspicious and followed him to
New York. where he turned over TO him
some pictures, representing them to be
/ priceless works of ancient Italian mas
tiers. but which have since proved to
be practically without value.
His Associates Arrested.
The men whom he left here in charge
of his Institutions were arrested and
are now awaiting trial under heavy
bonds Thirty days ago his attorney
went TO England to try and effect a
settlement with his family. Last Mon
day q letter was received from 81. John
offering to settle with the depositors on
a basis of % per cent cash and the
remainder in three equal quarterly pay
ments.
The failure Of his institutions with
out dollar being left in the vaults.
! caused the most intense indignation
among the depOsitors who formed a
/ committee to effect his arrest, and who
/ have spent much money 90 accomplish
/ it. The receiver of his institution has
called a meeting of depositors for next
Monday to adopt suitable resolutions
! CT rejoicing at his capture.