The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-14
STORY OF REDS LIFE
QUITE LIKE FAIRY TALE
From thursdays Daily.

L. I. ii@nnlngSen. cashier OF the
Ceylon \ ,.ioual bank, returned from
Fresno, Cal, on Monday, having
been to that city for the purpose of
identifying w. J. Reid, or John Carr,
the notorious bank sw;ndler. On
Tuesday Mr.. Henningsen was in
Fairmont in consultation with ]. E.
Palmer, attorney for the bank, and
when seen by a Sentinel reporter,
talked freely of the results of his
trip.
When | arrived at Fresno" said
Mr.. Henningsen. Reid had al
ready been sentenced but was still
in the Jail at Fresno. had a long
Interview with Reid at the Jail. He
shook hands with me but at first
pretended not to recognize me. Later
he fully disclosed his identity and
talked freely of the affairs at Cey-
Ion"
Change in Appearance.
When ! saw Reid at the jail he
was an altogether different appear
ing man than the one who as John
Carr operated in our village. Shorn
of all DISCUSSES he is a man of slight
build. somewhat stopped and very
bald He had among his effects the
identical disguise that he wore when
here. the pad or pillow to make his
body appear large. the gray wig and
the large clothes necessary for this
disguise.
Reid gave me much information
ana seemed willing to assist so far
as possible in my efforts to recover
the banks losses but his resources
were apparently pretty low. The
only money l could discover to his
credit is the $500 in the Martin Coun-
" National bank and 1913 in a Chi
cago bank. I am going to Chicago
at once to look up the affairs of the
Reid company and the Automobile
Protective association, Reds bust
ness enterprises, and endeavor to
disclose further resources"
Sorry for CeyIon SwindIe.
Reid expressed sorrow for the
trouble he has caused me and the
CcylOm bank. He said that of all his
crooked dealings this transaction
weighed most heavily on his mind
aud that were it possible he would
gladly make full restitution. He de-
clared that at the time he was des-
perately in need Of money but that
it was his intention. had he not fal.
len into the meshes of the law, to
procure money from other sources
and restore the stolen funds"
Regarding the reports published
in California papers that Reid is SUI.
feriuG from tuberculosis and not
likely 10 live out his six years term.
! do not take any stock in. To all
appearances he is in robust health
and stands a first-class chance Of
answering for his crime here. With
his good behavior allowance he will
be released from the California pris-
on in a little over four years"
Personal History of Reid.
The fun story of Reds life and
operations would make a large vol
ume of greater interest than the best
sellers in any "Oid Sleuth" library
He was born forty-one years ago on
a large farm near Rockford, Ia, the
oldest son Of John Reid, a respected
and wealthy pioneer of Floyd coun-
ty. There were six children i'm the
family. two SONS and four daughters.
One son and two daughters are dead.
victims of tuberculosis. One daugn-
ter is married and is the wife of
Fred c. Johnson, president of the
State Bank of Rockford. The young
est daughter. Ethel Reid, a profess
siOnal elocutionist about thirty years
Of age. resides with the aged parents
at Los Angeles.
His Start in Crime.
Shortly after w. J. Reid became
of age he engaged in the implement
business at Rockford. In 1898 he
committed his first crime. He be,
came involved in debt to the amount
of $4,000. He had his stock insured
for $4,000. One night he saturated
his warehouse with kerosene, touch.
ed match to it and all was de,
StrOyed. The man was arrested
charged with arson and tried at
Charles City, Ia. He employed able
counsel and the jury disagreed. He
was held for retrial under $4,000
bonds. This he defaulted and his
bondsman. who was his brother-in'
law. Fred Johnson, the Rockford
banker, paid the amount. This ended
Reds operations in his home local.
ity.
For several years after this Incl
dent Reid carried on extensive swim.
ding operations by a fake collection
scheme This was pulled off princi-
pally in the larger cities and extend
ed from coast to coast and netted
Reid an immense amount Of money.
His plan was as follows:
His Favorite SwndIe.
Reid would appear at a bank. say
at Minneapolis, and offer a note for
collection for perhaps $4,000 against
fictitious business man at Des
Moines. Ia The bank would write
the Des MCines party and Reid
would go to that city, receive
the letter and reply thereto, Offering
TO settle forts cents on the dollar.
In the course Of q day or two he
would drop into the Minneapolis
bank. learn of the settlement offer
and instruct the bank to accept it
He would then make another trip
TO Dcs Moines. receive the letter and
send back forged draft for $1,000.
He would then travel back to Min.
ncnpolis and again call on the bank
which had in the meantime received
the draft He would pay the cnlle".
ton fee in cash. receive the draft
endorsed by the bank, it being
drawn to their order, and easily con.
vert il iuto money Tbs sehe"ne
worked so often that it became well
known and he finally had to aban.
don it. He then adopted the plan
that he followed ,at Ceylon and
Fresno and operated in smaller
GOWNS. or course both schemes were