Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-22
De KAY BACK TO
FACE TRIAL IN BIG
BANK WRECK IN rs

Providence, r. l., June 21.-(AP)-
John Wesley de Kay, sought for IL
years in connection with the wreck
ing Of the Atlantic National Bank in
this city in 1918. arrived here today
in custody of United States secret
service agents from London, where
he Fought extradition for months. He
was quartered for the night at the
Biltmore Hotel under close guard. He
will be arraigned tomorrow.
Henry E. De Kay, a brother. was
paroled on January last after serv-
ing 20 months at Rhode Island State
prison as a federal prisoner on
charges growing out Of the 5000, 900
bank failure. Edward p. Metcalf,
president Of the bank, died in this
city last July, six years after his
parole from the federal penitentiary
at Atlanta, where he had served three
years.
The Atlantic National Bank closed
It's doors April Is, 1913. Five men
were indicted following the discov-
cry of the misapplication of 100000
of the banks funds.
President Edward P. Metcalf was
indicated for misapplication of funds; :;
Henry f. and John w. De Kay,
James F. Allen and Orion r. Farrar
were indicted fr aiding and abetting
Metcalf.
Henry E.. De Kay was arrested in
Yonkers. N. Y, in 1928, and convict
ed after trial that lasted four
months. He fought jail sentence
and took his case to the circuit court
of appeals, Boston. More than $35,-
900 was spent by De Kay, but on
May l, 1928, he began a f1ve-year
sentence at Howard. He was pa
rolled after serving 20 months, Janu-
ary of this year.
John w. De Kay disappeared in
1913 and came to light February 21,
1924, in London, where he was de-
fendant in suit for $4,000 owed
to Callowes and Son. jewelers.. for an
assortment of jewels. Miss Elliott,
his secretary, testified that much of
the money had been spent entertain
ing Sarah Bcrnahardt, who was then
playing De Kay's composition, Judas,
at the London Coliseum.
In March, 1915, President Metcalf
of the bank, who had fought a Jail
sentence. was sent to Howard for
five years.
In November of the same year,
John w. De Kay was arrested In Lon
don the Belgium case. The French
government claimed that he had OBJ
tanned $4,000 francs from Belgium
under false pretences on the resale
of arms which he had purchased as
agent for President Huerta OF Mex
leo.
On August 26. 1916. De Kay was
still in Brixton Prison, London,
pending the outcome of the Belgian
case.
In 1917 De Kay published Paci-
fist book on the world war. while in
London. In March, 1918, President
Metcalf was paroled after serving
three years of his sentence. He went
into retirement and died in July, 1924.
The De Kays dropped out Of sight
until December 80. 1919, when Miss
Jeanne Anne De Kay. daughter of
John w. De Kay, disappeared from
the Hull House, Chicago, and her
body later found in Lake Michigan.
In October, 1922, the United States
department of justice issued a war
rant in Providence for the extradi-
ton of De Kay from Switzerland on
the Atlantic National Bank case. The
United States was unsuccessful in
getting extradition from that coun-
try.
De Kay countered with sensational
charges, issued at Lausanne, impli-
eating prominent Americans, includ-
iEg Samuel Untermyer and VIII H.
Hays in the Mesopotamian oil field
controversy.
He became Ill in London in De-
cember, 1924, but on April Is of this
year he was taken into custody and
on April II, London magistrate de-
cided that the United States demand
for extradition was valid, and order
ed him deported.