The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Continuing coverage of Kennedy trial and conviction for false entries

November 26, 1925

PAGE 165

ballots being taken. The first was 11 to 1 for conviction.
The crime carries with it commitment of from one to 10 years in the state penitentiary at Stillwater. Sentence was expected to be imposed this afternoon.
Wabasha, Minn. Nov. 25 – The case of Arthur S. Kennedy, assistant cashier of the closed Plainview State Bank, and defendant in a criminal action resulting from irregularities in the affairs of that institution, being tried in district court here, was given to the jury at 12 o’clock this noon.
The morning session was occupied with the pleas of County Attorney John R. Foley, who is representing the state, and Thomas W. McMeekin, counsel for Kennedy, after which Judge Karl Finkelnburg gave his instructions to the jury.
Much to the surprise of the court attaches and spectators who again filled the court room today, the defendant Kennedy was not called to the witness stand in his own defense.
With the verdict of the jury, court is expected to be adjourned over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Branding Kennedy as a Judas, betrayer of God, and Benedict Arnold, traitor to his country, County Attorney Foley, make a fiery appeal in presenting the state’s arguments to the jury.

Had Always Been Friends
In opening he stated that Kennedy had always been a warm personal friend of his, and recalled the pleasant instances of the acquaintance. "It requires an immense amount of courage," he said "to come out and prosecute a friend, and before this came up I would have testified to the excellency of his character. It is one thing to think of a friend as a friend, and another to think of him as a law violator. A banker is a man outstanding in his community, a leader, a man in which you can place unlimited trust."
Mr. Foley then told of the shock which Plainview felt at the bank’s failure, and of the effect on the community after the closing of the institution.
"They have been stealing from widows, orphans, and old gray men, people who had sacrificed their whole life savings when the bank went down, stealing from their very own friends."
Claim Records Falsified
"This has been going on over a long period of time, and was made possible by the falsifying of records. Bank laws have been made for the protection of depositors so that the community might with safety take confidence in the bank and the people who represent it."
He then referred to the particular… (NOTE: End of clipping.)
November 27, 1925-
A. S. Kennedy Loses Fight in Bank Case
Former Cashier of Closed Institution Convicted on Wednesday
Jury Makes Decision in Record Time at Wabasha
Arthur S. Kennedy is guilty of the falsification of bank records was the verdict of the jury, returned in less than two hours after receiving instructions. At the conclusion of the pleas the jury was given the charge at just 12 o’clock noon Wednesday. Fifteen minutes later they went to dinner and returning, presented their verdict after a twenty minute session.
The pronouncement of the sentence was postponed by the court until next Monday morning. The penalty in this case is not less than one year and not more than ten. No statement has been made by the prosecution as to what would be done with the other three indictments as to whether they would be pushed or not. In case of an appeal by the defendant the other cases will of course be taken up. The court has called G. A. Stoltz to appear for trial on Monday and he will be tried on the indictment of taking money when he knew or believed the bank was insolvent. As yet no further action has

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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."