Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-28
ADMITS THE CHARGE
John Ward Sturgis Confesses
to Bank Robbery.
IN JAIL IN new ORLEANS
Will Be Brought by q. s. Marshal
to Washington for Trial.
TALKS FREELY WITH OFFICER
Young Man Got Away With $4,000
of National Savings and
Trust Company.
TALKS FREELY WITH OFFICER

John Ward Sturgis, who Is alleged
to have confessed to the New Orleans
police and to Detective Patrick OBrten
of this city that he robbed the National
Savings and Trust Company of about
5000. will probably reach here from
New Orleans Wednesday. Detective
O'Brien, who went to the Crescent city
with papers for the prisoner, returned
home this morning. The prisoner will
be brought here by United States
marshal.
"Sturgis looks like an overgrown boy"
Detective O'Brien stated today. His
appearance also indicates that he has
been dissipating for a long time Stur-
gis said after he was caught he was
glad he was to have a settlement of
his troubles. although he made no effort
to throw himself in the way Of the po-
lice.
THE young man says he is sorry for
the trouble he has brought his father.
but does not seem very much worried
about himself. When ne was arrested
he had about $40 in cash in his pockets.
This money was turned over to me to
be brought here"
Says He Robbed Two Banks.
Young Sturgis talked freely to the de-
tective about having taken the money
from the local bank, where he was a
trusted employe, and of having taken
about $1,000 from the Peoples Stock
Yards Exchange Bank in Chicago. He
also recited the story of his hunting and
fishing expeditions and of his, travels
about the country from August of last
year until he was caught by the New
Orleans police. When he took the money
from the National Savings and Trust
ha ct0 fn1 l,a tod hxy
the desire to indulge in hunting and
fishing trip to Canada.
Sturgis had always been fond of out
of-door sports. He was a canoeist, gun
ner and fisherman. and confinement in
the bank did not suit him. His salary
was not large enough for him to save
money enough for an extensive trip, he
said. and he sought other means of OBJ
tanning it. 1t was after he had appro-
priated about. 81, 100 in small sums, he
stated, that he decided upon the larger
sum, and when he left here, he had $1,000.
He went from here to New York and
remained several days, then returned
and had draft for $1,000 cashed at the
a satisfactory explanation Of how he
happened to have it. He was to get
commission from the firm OF 'Abercrom-
bic, Fitch & Co., dealers in sporting
goods. he said. the firm having been In
terested in government contracts.
Goes to Canada.
Sturgis went again to New York and
remained there until he went to Canada.
He spent three weeks in cunning in
Canada. leaving there and returning to
New York after a brief stay i'm Montreal.
He remained in New York during the
month of October and then went to Chi
cago, where he obtained position In
hardware store, remaining there until
early in February, when ne obtained the
position in the Peoples Stock Yards Ex-
change Bank. Employment Of eleven
days in that bank, 1t is said. netted
him his first pay and nearly $1,000 which
he appropriated.
When the young man reached New Or.
leans IL is understood he sought COM
partnership entirely different from that he
had cultivated here. He had several hun
bred dollars. a motor cycle and expensive
camping outfit of rubber tents and other
property easily handled. When he was
arrested the police took charge Of his
effects.
The motor cycle and $40 were turned
over to an officer from Chicago to be APP
piled to his shortage there. while Detec-
tive O'Brien was given SO in cash and
the camping outfit to bring here. At the
time he went to Canada he bought
camping outfit. but the cost of bringing
it here was about as great as the value
of the property, SO that about all the
bonding companies will get Of the 5000
will be the SO and an outfit worth less
than 500