f Sylvester Family of Plainview Minnesota Book, Page 184

The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Edwin Sylvester became common laborer, turned in for reward money

February 1, 1926 - February 3, 1926

PAGE 184

wife of the former Plainview banker, returned to her home in Minneapolis it was stated this morning at the residence of P. H. Smith, 227 West Fifth Street.
Mrs. Sylvester had received a telegram from her husband stating that he had been arrested and urging her to have the hearing postponed until his arrival. Mrs. Sylvester did not state whether she planned to meet Mr. Sylvester at Wabasha upon his return.
February 3, 1926- Rochester Post Bulletin

Worked in Fields As A Laborer;
Ate Meals With Negro Workmen;
Betrayed by a Farmer for $1,000
Brown Bag and Bundle of Work Clothes His only Baggage When Taken into Custody
Tells of Labor in Cotton Fields at $1 a Day
Expected to Return to Wabasha With Authorities Friday Night
Truck Farmer for Whom He Worked Betrayed Him to Authorities After He Refused to Buy Farm
Asks About Life in Prison
A farmer friend who, Judas-like, betrayed him to the authorities for a $1,000 reward, was responsible for the arrest of Edwin L. Sylvester, absconding president of the defunct Plainview State Bank.
This was the bitter story the aged banker told to reporters as he sat in his cell in the Parish prison in New Orleans this morning, waiting to begin the second lap of the long journey that will bring him back to Wabasha county Friday to stand up before the bar of justice.
While Story of Wanderings Revealed
In a special dispatch to the Post-Bulletin from New Orleans this morning, the whole story of Sylvester’s wandering, his trials and hardships, and his final capture after the man he thought was his friend game him away, was revealed for the first time.
His story disclosed how the one time prominent citizen of Plainview worked for a dollar a day as fireman at the Avon Hotel at Biloxi, Miss., how he tended gardens and peddled vegetables and how he ate his meals in a kitchen with the colored help.
Lived the Life of a Common Laborer
Almost from the time he fled from Plainview just before his bank closed its doors forever last March, the fastidious, reputedly wealthy banker lived the life of a common laborer and suffered mental and physical trials that left him more bent and careworn than even his 66 years would account for.
Sylvester was taken into custody of Minnesota authorities at three o’clock yesterday afternoon at Gulfport. Deputy Ed Fitzgerald and County Attorney John R. Foley arrived in Gulfport at 11:30 in the morning from the state capital, where they had secured from the governor the papers necessary to assure Sylvester’s extradition.
When the Wabasha county officials went to the jail they were received by Sheriff Frank Duckworth, the man who had arrested Sylvester and were escorted by him to the jail where Sylvester sat behind the bars.
"Hello, Ed," said County Attorney Foley, reaching his hand through the bars.
Smiles at Officers
Sylvester gave the officer a smile and a warm hand clasp.
"Hello, John," he said. Then a similar greeting was exchanged between Sylvester and Deputy Sheriff Fitzgerald.
"Well," said the county attorney, "We are here."
"I see you are," said Sylvester with a smile.
Sylvester expressed a willingness to go with the officers without questioning the requisition papers, but Sheriff Duckworth interfered, and for a few moments it appeared as if a legal delay was going to block the departure of the authorities and their captive for home.

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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."