The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-11-30
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
Short Time Ago, Fugitive from
Justice.

Justice.
ARMS and the man" SO be-
gins an ancient classic. This is
tale of arms and the man, dice and
the woman.
1t is a tale that begins in a little
coast 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 family-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 en-
listed in the navy.
While in the service, John was just
about the same sort of sailor as
thousands of others. He drank lit
tie, but like any southern gentleman,
carried his liquor we'll 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 while he was model en-
ploye of the bank He was paid only
$40 month to start, but later his
pay was increased to $85 month.
1t was 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 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-
lion for his hiding place. He bought /
4 cabin, equipped it with big store
IF provisions, and lived the life of a
Kermit.
Later woman from his home city
oined him. She was known as Mrs.
oanilpa in Elizabeth City. John,
who called himself Dave Simpson
tfter his arrival in the Sun river
country, introduced her to his few
riends there as Mrs. Simpson.
What the dice started the woman
She grew restless in the !
mountain retreat. John was friend
Y with the girls who came in to the
fountains on camping expeditions
nd perhaps the woman who posed
S his wife became jealous. Anyway,
1sagreements finally led to violent [
uarrels and the woman's abrupt de- ,
arturo, bent upon revenge. Back !.
/ the old home town she found that !
1000 had been offered for Sykes I
rrest. She told the authorities where
g could be found and claimed the /
loney.
Writes to Friends Z
Letters from Sykes to former ac- c
uaintances in the Sun river country r
I'll of his Imprisonment and pay 4
ent of the reward to the woman. +
fter receiving it, she left for parts
Unknown and is still missing. S
Agents of the surety company a
hich made good the embezzled A
inns of money came to Great Falls :
ere they found the local police at
ork on the case, from clues picked Il
, here.
On June 26 last, Sykes was ar q
sted at Kicks camp in the Sun !,
yer country. The arresting Off -
rs had been disguised as fisher n
en-. They found that Sykes had d
ade fortress of his cabin - 16 n
ms, quantity of ammunition and :,
90 worth of provisions were found IS
ere. OF
John Sykes admitted his guilt pl
len confronted by the officers. d;
I'm the navy I learned to shoot
ce," he said after he was brought !,
Great Falls. 81 hope l never see III
other pair of dice as long as I live. OF
ce caused my troubles" ia
The woman who had been Sykes "a
mpanion was paid $1,000 reward =,
: his capture. She has left Eliza -.
th City and her present where III
outs are unknown. at
A few days ago Sykes was sent to
; federal penitentiary at Atlanta E
serve from one to three years. ID
or
Los Angeles.-Robert MCGEE. dep CO
: sheriff, was shot and killed by e..
rp1a 7. M HON he c11rnricQd in fba ot -