John Chester Eno (1848-1914)
Disgraced President of the Second National Bank of New York
He was born in New York City and graduated from Yale (1869) where he received the wooden spoon as the most popular member of his class. In 1879, his father made him President of the Second National Bank. He made international headlines in 1884 when it was discovered that he had embezzled $4 million of the bank's money in an effort to cover up losses he had made on the stock market, helping to create a panic on Wall Street while he fled to Canada and successfully staved off extradition. His father was deeply affected by the shock of the events but honored every last dime of the debt from his own pocket, depositing $3.5 million in securities and $1 million in cash for the inevitable run on the bank. John spent the next nine years in Quebec City in a house on the Grande Allée near the Parliament Buildings overlooking the St. Lawrence River.
He returned to New York in 1893, but spent most of his time travelling abroad. When his father died in 1898, he received his share of his $20 million fortune. After the death of his wife in Paris in 1912, he lived with his unmarried daughter, Mary, at his home at 56 East 67th Street. He was survived by Mary and her sister, Mrs William Leon Graves, of Paris.
He returned to New York in 1893, but spent most of his time travelling abroad. When his father died in 1898, he received his share of his $20 million fortune. After the death of his wife in Paris in 1912, he lived with his unmarried daughter, Mary, at his home at 56 East 67th Street. He was survived by Mary and her sister, Mrs William Leon Graves, of Paris.
