Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-23

general, Will leaVe IueSUdy HlSNl AOI
Seattle, WASH, to bring J. J. Hast
Scandinavian-Americ bank Of Far
go back to North Dakota to face
trial on a charge of embezzlement.
Copies of Complaint Sent.
Hastings was taken into custody by
the Seattle authorities last Saturday
and Is being held there pending the
arrival of the North Dakota officers.
Certified copies of the complaint
against him have been forwarded to
Seattle from the office OF The states
attorney in Fargo.
It is not definitely known as yet
whether or not Hastings will fight ex-
tradition, and the officers sent from
this state will be provided with re-
QUESTION papers for use in case he at
-temptstto put up legal battle against
being brought back. \ t
Arrested Saturday.
:. u J " Hastings, wh0r besides belhg
American bank, was the chief finan-
cial agent ofaA. G. Townley and the
other Nonpartisan league leaders, was
taken into custody in Seattle Satur-
day. The complaint against him
charging embezzlement was sworn
out by W. C. Green, states attorney
Of Cass county, as the result OF evil
dence unearthed by the department
Of Sveinbjorn johnson, attorney gem
eral, which has been carrying on an
investigation Of the affairs Of the
Scandinavian-Ameri bank of Far
go for several weeks past. -
Hastings activities in the Scandi-
navian- American bank of Fargo have
been under investigation by the at
torney generals office for several
weeks past. .ao to- =
The specific embezzlement with
which he is charged in the complaint
consists of deal in which Hastings Is
alleged to have borrowed $4,000 from
the Scandinavian-Ameri bank of
Fargo ostensibly for. the use Of the
United States Sistal Trust Of which
he was the purported head.
This loan it is alleged, was not au-
thorized by the directors Of the Scan
dinavian American bank as required
by law. but was made by Hastings as
ings as trustee of the United States
Sisal Trust. without any authority.
Note In Question.
When the case comes to trial it will
be further contended by the state
that the loan was made on January
20, 1919, and that although the note
for the loan was signed by Hastings
as trustee Of the 8 sal trust. that con-
Germ was not even in existence at
that time, its charter not having been
issued until some time during the
following April.
The note on which the illegal loan
is alleged to have been made reads
as follows:
| 100000 Fargo, North Dakota,
- January 20, 1919.
Ninety days after date, for value
received, promise to pay to scandi-
navian American Bank, Fargo, N. D.,
or order Three Thousand. ..........
Dollars at it's Banking
House at Fargo, North Dakota. with
interest at the rate Of per cent per
Annum, payable annually until paid.
Should any of the principal or inter.
est not be paid when due, same SHAH
bear interest at the rate OF ten per
cent per annum, payable annually
until paid.
No. 1926 United States sisal Trust.
PC BY J. J. Hastings,
-. Trustee,
Although no official statement has
been given out from the office OF the
attorney general it is probable tnat
other arrests in connection with
! transactions which took place IN the
Scandinavian American Bank OF Far
70. may be made during the next few
weeks.
Townlcy May Be Involved.
/; Although Hastings and Thomas Allen
Box were the ostensible owners OF the
| Asal trust at the time the alleged en-
bexzlement took place, both ]. w.
Brintcn and ]. r. Waters who sue
ceeded Box and Hastings in the man
agement OF that enterprise have tes-
tilted under oath that As c. Towniey
was the actual owner. This charge
Is understood to be confirmed by an
affidavit made by Hastings himself
|. during the summer Of 1919. ta.s
A civil action In which Waters
seeks to collect $4,000 from Townley
for the services in the management
". CConfinned on mage 11.) .