The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Police trace E.L. Sylvester to Chicago, lose trail; examiners at bank

March 9, 1925 - March 13, 1925

PAGE 149

"While the specific charge is embezzlement of $1,650 on May 31, 1924, I have no idea how much the total amount will run," Mr. Foley said. "I consulted with bank examiners but they are unable to tell shat the loss will be. The examination is being continued today.
"I conferred with Mrs. Sylvester this morning to see what she could tell as to Mr. Sylvester’s whereabouts. Her daughter, Mrs. J. P. Caldwell of St. Paul was with her and they both seemed to be laboring under considerable nervous strain. They were kind and courteous to me however, and told me what they knew about Sylvester’s movements since he disappeared February 28th," Mr. Foley said.

May Reach $45,000
The county attorney also questioned George Sylvester, brother of the missing president, as to the movement of the president prior to his disappearance.
"I have found no trace of Mr. Sylvester, other than that he is said to have been traced to Chicago," Mr. Foley said.
The county attorney was accompanied in Plainview by a deputy sheriff from Wabasha. The defalcation may run over $45,000 it was unofficially reported today. George Sylvester, brother of E. L. Sylvester, President of the Plainview Bank, declined to comment on the case.
"I do not know where my brother is," he said. "I have not heard from him since he left a week ago Saturday. I have nothing to say about the matter." George Sylvester is cashier of the bank.
Traced to Chicago
When Mr. Sylvester left home February 28th, he also left traces which enabled relatives and officials to check his trip as far as Chicago. There the trail was lost.
Sunday Mrs. E. L. Sylvester, his wife, announced that no effort would be made by members of the family to find him. The family is satisfied that he is alive. Shortly after Mr. Sylvester’s disappearance, his brother, George, said the bank president "had been despondent of late about the bank affairs."
March 13, 1925-
Whereabouts of Missing Banker Still Unknown.
Nation-Wide Search for E. L. Sylvester, President, Continues.
State Dept. Opens Doors of Bank Tuesday for Benefit of Patrons
Shortage, According to Examiner in charge, May Reach $100,000
The Plainview State Bank opened its doors Wednesday morning in charge of the state banking department for the benefit of the bank’s patrons. C. L. Mikkelson, assistant deputy examiner, is in charge and will remain here indefinitely. John G. Schultz, head examiner, will remain for a few weeks to assist in the rush of giving out papers and securing further information. The examiners are interviewing patrons in gaining information regarding the bank’s relations with its customers and answering the many questions asked. The examiners finished listing the bank’s properties Tuesday and have taken their papers to the department headquarters for summarizing.
The first irregularity was reported to the state department on Saturday afternoon. Previous to that all reports had been favorable. A. S. Kennedy was called to St. Paul for a conference following which A. J. Viegel, State bank superintendent, asked County Attorney John R. Foley for a warrant for the arrest of E. L. Sylvester, charging embezzlement of $1,650.
Mr. Viegel at that time said that shortages of $45,000 had been found and later stated that the figure might reach $100,000. He also stated that more warrants would be issued when conditions were more definitely known.
"Some one in the bank has been listing paid mortgages and notes as live assets," Mr. Viegel said, "made possible by the carelessness of patrons, who left to the bank the cancellation of their obligations." Included also in the bank’s assets were papers belonging to estates the handling of which was left to the bank.

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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."