The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Recap of events; Hettie Sylvester has no comment on her husband's arrest

January 30, 1926

PAGE 177

March 28 – Arthur S. Kennedy, assistant cashier of Plainview State Bank, arrested in connection with irregularities.
April 4 – C. L. Mikkelson named receiver in bankruptcy for Sylvester.
May 9 – Bankruptcy hearing bares Sylvester shortage as $97,000.
May 12 – Grand Jury investigation of Sylvester case begins.
May 15 – Wabasha County grand jury indicts George F. Sylvester, cashier, and Adolph Stoltz and A. S. Kennedy, assistant cashiers of closed bank. Names of victims of shortage made public.
May 18 – G. F. Sylvester, Stoltz, and Kennedy plead not guilty and cases are set for trial at November term.
August 18 – G. F. Sylvester dies suddenly.
Oct. 16 – Citizens of Plainview object to removal of household goods from home at Plainview by Mrs. E. L Sylvester.
Oct. 20 – State offers $500 reward for capture of Sylvester.
Oct. 29 – Wabasha county board increases Sylvester reward to $1,000.
Nov. 7 – Does not know where husband is, Mrs. Sylvester testifies at bankruptcy hearing here. Finances of Sylvester family barred.
Nov. 17 – Adolph Stoltz enters plea of not guilty in bank case.
Nov. 18 – A. S. Kennedy pleads not guilty in bank case. Details revealed of nation-wide hunt for Sylvester by County Attorney J. R. Foley.
Nov. 19 – Stoltz requests appoint of attorney by court.
Nov. 23 – Kennedy trial opens in Wabasha.
Nov. 25 – Kennedy found guilty of falsifying bank records and given indeterminate term in state prison.
Nov. 30 – Stoltz trial opens at Wabasha.
Dec. 4 – Sylvester shortage of $105,489 revealed at Stoltz trial.
Dec. 5 – Stoltz memorandum bares $55,681 additional shortage.
Dec. 12 – Jury in Stoltz trial for receiving deposits in insolvent bank disagrees. Case to be tried again.
Jan. 29, 1926– Sylvester arrested at Gulfport, Miss.

Have No Statement to Make – Mrs. Sylvester
Wife of Plainview Banker Calmly Receives News of Husband’s Arrest
In city for a Bankruptcy Hearing
"I have no statement to make," Mrs. Hettie Sylvester, wife of Edwin L. Sylvester, fugitive from justice arrested at Gulfport, Miss., stated this noon when approached by reporters of the Republican-Herald, in the lobby of the Hotel Winona.
Mrs. Sylvester appeared calm. She already had received the news of her husband’s arrest. Her attorney J. W. Murdoch, of Wabasha, was with her. They were holding a conference regarding a bankruptcy hearing to be held this afternoon.
A telegram was awaiting Mrs. Sylvester’s arrival at the hotel. Whether this had any bearing on the news of his arrest she would not disclose. However, her attorney J. W. Murdoch, stated that a message from County Attorney John R. Foley, of Wabasha County, had informed her of Sylvester’s arrest.
"I have had enough of this case and don’t want to be involved in it any further."

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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."