$1,000 Reward for John Sykes Jr., My Son's A Good Boy, Says Dad, Sept. 29, 1922

Bank’s Surplus Grows (In) Spite of Defalcation. . . Pinkerton Detective Agency Advertises Reward of $1,000 for Sykes’ Capture

A comparison of the statement of the First & Citizens National Bank of this city as of Sept. 15, 1922, compared with the bank’s statement as of June 30, 1922, shows an increase of more than $20,000 in its surplus profits and reserves in a little more than three months. The surplus and reserves of the First & Citizens National on June 30, 1922 were reported at $173,206.70. Surplus and reserves on Sept. 15, the latest examination, were reported as $193,992.19, an increase of $20,785.49. the facts are of peculiar interest in view of the recent shortage in the accounts of John D. Sykes Jr., a young collection clerk who absconded on Sept. 3 with funds, the exact amount of which never was made public. Sykes’ defalcation was said to have been about $25,000, but the exact figures were never given out, a fact which created a suspicion in some quarters that the shortage was greater than actually reported.

There is no word from the missing clerk. This week the Pinkerton National Detective Agency has posted a reward of $1,000 for the young man in every bank lobby and police station in the United States and Canada. The poster offering the reward carries two photographs of young Sykes and a description of him and the woman who is supposed to have accompanied him.

The faith of John D. Sykes Sr. in his boy remains unshaken. He believes that his son is the victim of evil influences and that the boy will make restitution when he comes to his senses. In a letter to a local newspaper, the father says:

“Everyone that knew J.D. loved him, because he was lovable. His soul was white and clean, he was honest and honorable—something, God knows what, influenced and overpowered him. Hundreds have voluntarily expressed this belief in him. They have come to me and told me this. They did not lie to me. They told me what their hearts and faith prompted them to. “Even this morning the President of the Carolina Banking & Trust Company, Mr. Pendleton, came to me and said my boy was an honest boy yet, that influence of associates caused him to make this terrible mistake. He was employed in the postal service under Dr. Pendleton, before the late war.

“Nearly everyone has seemed to try to lighten our burden with words of comfort, visits and their acts of kindness. We have been overwhelmed with a sense of the deepest gratitude for all these tokens of true friendship. Practically the whole community seem to be our dearest friends and helped to administer the balm of Gilead to our crushed and aching hearts. “We believe, we know, our boy will some day come to himself and in an honorable way make good.”

From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 1922