The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Petition for a suitable reward for the capture of E.L. Sylvester

October 16, 1925 - October 30, 1925

PAGE 158

court so that ownership may be established. This action was possible because of the fact that Mr. Sylvester has been judged as bankrupt.
It was the sense of the citizens organization at a recent meeting that "things have been sliding along too easily" and members of the organization are said to be determined that public sentiment should be aroused and efforts made to conserve in every way the property which is believed to belong to depositors of the bank.
It was decided to petition the board of county commissioners of Wabasha county to offer a suitable reward for the apprehension of one, E. L. Sylvester.

Demand Fair Deal
Announcement was made to the public as follows: "It is the desire of the citizens’ committee to assist the public in getting a fair deal as far as possible. The committee will be glad to have the support of the people of Plainview and vicinity in their work and any information which will be of value, will be gratefully received."
The latest sensational development in the affairs of the Plainview bank comes as a climax of a series of incidents which started February 28 when Edwin Sylvester, head of the institution, bade his family goodbye and disappeared.
Events in Bank Case
March 4 – Plainview State Bank voluntarily closed its doors. State examiners began work.
March 5 – Authorities asked to search for Sylvester.
March 7 – Sylvester traced to Chicago.
March 9 – Warrant issued for Sylvester charging embezzlement. Shortage placed at $45,000.
March 10 – Wabasha county authorities launched nationwide search for Sylvester.
March 13 – Examiners announced that irregularities had extended for a period of 18 years.
March 19 – Double of Sylvester found near Madison, Wisconsin.
March 27 – Arthur S. Kennedy assistant cashier arrested on charges of embezzlement.
May 9 – First hearing of creditors in involuntary bankruptcy case of Edwin L. Sylvester, held at Winona. Bank shortage officially placed at $97,000.
May 12 – Wabasha county grand jury started investigation of alleged irregularities in connection with closing of the bank.
May 14 – Further indictments returned.
George Sylvester, a brother of the president of the bank, was among those indicted. He recently died of heart trouble.
October 30, 1925-
Date Named for Sylvester Bankrupt Case
November 7th Set By Winona Officials For Hearing
Application of Banker’s Wife to Set Aside Personal Property
Warm Legal Battle Expected in Federal Court Next Week
Winona will be the scene of the next act in the Sylvester case, when an application of Mrs. Edwin L. Sylvester to set aside the homestead and personal property will be heard. H. M. Bierce, referee in the bankruptcy, has set the hearing for 1:30 PM on Saturday, Nov. 7.
The application asks that in the absence of the involuntary bankrupt, that the personal property and homestead, which are exempt from the assets of the bankrupt man under the bankruptcy laws, be turned over to his wife.
The application will be poised by the receiver, C. L. Mikkelson, supported by Plainview citizens, on the theory that money wrongfully taken from the closed Plainview State Bank by E. L. Sylvester, who is now a fugitive from justice, was used in the purchase and improvement of the exempt personal property and for that reason it should be included in the assets. Some action along the same line is expected in regard

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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."