The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-11-29
WOMAN INFORMED;
PEN FOR LOVER
LOOTED BANK FOR SWEET
HEART WHO INFORMED ON
HIM FOR REWARD
Sad Tale of John d. Sykes, Who Was
Caught in the Sun River Country
a Short Time Ago, a Fugitive from
Justice.

JuSIlCc-
"Arms and the man" SO be-
gins an ancient classic. This is a
tale of arms and the man, dice and
the
1t is a tale that begins in a little
oas city of North Carolina, leads
to the wilderness of Sun river cam
yon in the Montana Rockies, and
ends in a cell of the federal peni-
Tertiary at Atlanta, Ga.
John D. Sykes, Jr., was the son
of an old southern fami1y-a fam
lily like many others in North Caro-
lima, neither rich nor poor, but Gull
tured and highly respectable. He
was BORN in Elizabeth City and
lived there all his life until Amer
lea entered the war. Then he
listed in the navy.
While in the service, John was JUS
about the same sort of a sailor as
thousands of others. He drank a lit
tie, but like any southern gentleman
carried his liquor well. He learned
how to "shoot craps"-and that was
about the only bad habit he took out
of the navy with him.
Honorable War Record
When the armistice came, John
was discharged from the navy with
an honorable record. He went back
to his family in the little Carolina
city. He was feted by the townsfolk.
The president of the National & Citi-
zens' bank greeted him, then offered
him a job as teller in the bank. John
accepted.
For a while he was a model en-
ploye of the bank. He was paid only
$40 a month to start, but later his
pay was increased to $85 a month.
1t was a modest sum, but John was
single and lived with his parents, so
his needs were few.
Then he began to gamble-first
with his own money, later with
money belonging to the bank. Be-
fore he realized it, he had lost $4,000
of the banks money.
He started a chicken farm with
more of the banks money, hoping in
that way to recoup the money lost.
The chicken farm was not a success.
Then came the bank examiners.
John sized up the situation hurried
ly, and decided to kill himself. But
he thought of the suffering that
would bring to his parents. So he
stole $4,000 more of the banks
money and started for the wilds of
the Rockies.
John came to Great Falls. Here
he heard of the isolated Sun river
canyon, and decided upon that loca-
ton for his hiding place. He bought
cabin, equipped it with a big store
of provisions, and lived the life of a
hermit.
joined him. She was known as Mrs.
Panilpa in Elizabeth City. John,
who called himself Dave Simpson
his arrival in the Sun river
country, introduced her to his few
friends there as Mrs. Simpson.
What the dice started the woman
finished. She grew restless in the
mountain retreat. John was friend
y with the girls who came in to the
mountains on camping expeditions
and perhaps the woman who posed
as his wife became jealous. Anyway,
1isagreements finally led to violent
Iuarrels and the woman's abrupt de-
1arture, bent upon revenge. Back
the old home town she found that
had been offered for Sykes
She told the authorities where
lie could be found and claimed the
money.
Writes to Friends
T o4%oro f-o-.f Cr1xao - f1c~,o n
luaintances in the Sun river country
ell of his Imprisonment and pay
nent of the reward to the woman.
after receiving it, she left for parts
Unknown and is still missing.
Agents of the surety company
which made good the embezzled
ums of money came to Great Falls.
Iere they found the local police at
york on the case, from clues picked
p here.
On June 26 last, Sykes was ar
ested at Kicks camp in the Sun
liver country. The arresting Off
ers had been disguised as fisher
1en. They found that Sykes had
lade a fortress of his cabin - 16
uns, a quantity of ammunition and
500 worth of provisions were found
John Sykes admitted his guilt
hen confronted by the officers. {
''In the navy 1 learned to shoot
he said after he was brought ,
} Great Falls. 81 hope 1 never see |
pair of dice as long as l live. {
ice. caused my troubles" |
The woman who had been Sykes I
ompanion was paid $1,000 reward !,
,r his capture. She has left Eliza ,
eth City and her present where |
bouts are unknown. q
A few days ago Sykes was sent to
le federal penitentiary at Atlanta
/, serve from one to three years. q
Los Angeles.-Robert MCGEE, dep c
ty sheriff, was shot and killed by a c
1rplar u,hou he surprised in the act