The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Grand Jury charges against G.F. Sylvester, Stoltz & Kennedy; Bail set at $5,000

May 15, 1925

PAGE 155

residents of Plainview. Heretofore they had been free from all charges in connection with the closing of the bank. Kennedy, the other officer indicted, had previously been arrested on the embezzlement charge as a result of a complaint issued by the banking department.
George Sylvester was found by the deputy sheriff at his home cutting the lawn, and was brought to Wabasha last evening dressed in working clothes. Stoltz was found eating supper with his family at home. He was taken in the same care with Sylvester to Wabasha.
The deputy sheriff, who was in Plainview on other matters when the grand jury returned in indictments, was notified by long distance telephone to make the arrest. This resulted in almost immediate execution of the wishes of the jury.

Dramatic Court Scene
Senator James A. Carley of Plainview appeared before the court and made arrangements for bonds for the two officers of the bank. Thomas McMeighen of St. Paul, appeared as Kennedy’s attorney. The reporting of the grand jury was one of the dramatic events in Wabasha court history. It had been rumored all day that the jury, which had spent three days investigating the tangled affairs of the closed bank, would report before the court adjourned for the day. At 5:30 PM Judge C. E. Callaghan dismissed the civil action being tried for the day, but remained on the bench and joined the small crowd in the court room watching the grand jury door. Just as the hands of the clock pointed to six the grand jury double doors opened and silently the jury marched out one by one up the alley to the judge’s bench and took their seats.
"Gentlemen, are you ready to report?" Judge Callaghan asked.
The foreman stood up and handed the judge a bundle of blue bound documents. The judge opened each one carefully and looked at the contents. There were ten documents. One by one he handed them down over the front of the bench to Clerk of Court Simon Drury, and the clerk entered them in the court records.
Kennedy Bail Raised
The Judge thanked the jury, and dismissed them. Kennedy, who had been one of the most interested onlookers during the day, and Attorney McMeighen marched up the alley to the judge’s bench.
A brief conversation between County Attorney John R. Foley and the St. Paul attorney followed. The judge’s attention was then called to Kennedy’s former bond of $2,500. The judge looked at Kennedy for a whole minute without saying a word. A pin could have been heard dropping in the court room.
"I don’t believe that is enough bail, under those charges," Judge Callaghan said slowly. "I place your bail at $5,000."
The attorney spoke up immediately and said they were prepared to furnish that amount.
An outline of the charges against the three defendants under arrest, announced last evening to newspapermen by John R. Foley shows the extensive investigation made by the grand jury.
Summary of Indictments
Following is a summary of the indictments:
First – All three officers of the bank are charged jointly with receiving deposits with good reasons to believe the bank unsafe.
Second – George Sylvester, with receiving deposits on March 3 with good reasons to believe the bank unsafe.
Third – Stoltz receiving deposits on March 3 with good reasons to believe the bank unsafe.
Fourth – Kennedy receiving deposits on March 3 with good reasons to believe the

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* SOURCE: Manzow, Ron (compiler), "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota - a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884": Plainview Area History Center, 40 4th St. S.W., Plainview, MN 55964. Compiled in 2001.

NOTE: from Ron Manzow, December 2001: "Feel free to reproduce the pages for anyone who wants a copy. It was compiled to be shared... All I ask is that they consider sending a check to the [Plainview Area] History Center to help us out. That should be enough."