Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-25
THE ELUSIVE MR.. HASTINGS.

the Observation-Disclosures Bank of Fargo, and one
of the principal members of the department. of high
finance of the Nonpartisan League, has not been an
easy man to lind. and he has developed a disposition
not to stay found when his whereabouts has once
been ascertained. 1t is not always true that flight
is to be interpreted as confession, but it is a difficult
thing to reconcile Mr.. Hastings sudden departure
from Seattle after having been placed under techni-
cal arrest on a charge Of embezzlement during his
activities in North Dakota with his full and complete
and integrity. Leaving aside the matter
of the particular charge Of enlightenment against
him, the career of Mr.. Hastings in North Dakota
was one of those meteoric things which dazzle for
a moment to subside in darkness and ashes. Is,
Hastings had a few months experience as a SUI
coordinate bank clerk. On the strength of that he
became a banker. He had acquired a little of that
technique of banking methods during his short en1"
p%loyment, and he was able to present a front which
impressed some people with a sense of his wonder
full ability and Importance: Without banking ex-'
perience other than the most primitive kind, with
out business training, with no equipment. whatever
for the handling OF any business, he did actually
handle some millions Of dollars worth Of business
in North Dakota in the nature of the purchase,
transfer and reorganization Of banks. His exploits
were i'll many cases exceedingly. picturesque. as III
the case of the bank which he purchased and paid
for with money which he had borrowed from the
bank itself for that purpose. His movements i'll that
case were SO rapid and his. explanation so apparent
~ innocent and plausible that the people who had
let go OF their property were not aware OF what had
been done until after it had all happened. Hastings
developed the ability of the confidence man anG
faker with supreme effrontery. Without any sens,
of reserve, his movements were SO remarkable as to-
deceive those who did business with him and lulled
them into a sense of security. 1t was Incompetent
sible that a man should make proposals such as he
made unless they were made in perfect honesty and
good faith. The idea of a man undertaking to carry
out a deception while his every movement was in
full view could not be entertained.
1t seems that Hastings has for some time been
operating some sort of bond selling enterprise in
Seattle. Doubtless his methods have been spectac-
ular, though in a smaller way, than they were in
North Dakota. At any rate, he was located in Seat.
tie, placed under arrest on the request of North Da~
kota authorities, and allowed to go free pending his
furnishing bonds, which he blandly and pleasantly
agreed to do. That seems to have been the last seen
tof Mr.. Hastings. 1t is rumored that he went to
British Columbia. Whether he did so or not no one
seems to be quite sure. The chances are that he will
[be very inconspicuous for some time. British Column
bia or any other Canadian city will not be a comfort
able abiding place for him if he makes his where
abouts public, because under our extradition treaties
with Canada he can be arrested in that country on
an embezzlement charge lodged here and brought
back.
1t is more difficult now for a fugitive to avoid
arrest in this hemisphere than it was some wears
ago. Embezzlement was not at one time an extra
ditable offense. That detect has been remedied and
Canada is no longer a safe refuge for persons charg-
ed with enbezzlement in the United States. Mexico
is more hospitable. as are some Central American
countries. 1t is possible that Mr.. Hastings may be
planning on a run down the coast to Mexico when
the authorities are not looking. Those who have
had business dealings with him arc doubtless not
very greatly surprised to learn that when confronted
with a charge of ernbezzlement he did not choose to
return and face his accusers. There are many, how
ever, who have not come into personal contact with
him who may still regard him as a martyr to the
cause and an honest and loyal supporter OF the pro
Gram - The fact that he haS .rhnser, to ohsen+ him
self when the public authorities were looking ear
nestly and diligently for him may cause some of
these to wonder if their beliefs may not have been
misplaced.