The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Edwin Sylvester set to arrive in Wabasha; bitter over reward leading to capture

February 4, 1926 - February 5, 1926

PAGE 192

Sylvester is due to arrive at Wabasha tomorrow evening in company with Mr. Foley and Deputy Sheriff Ed. Fitzgerald. The train is due at 7:30 PM. There will be little or no demonstration upon his arrival, it is believed.

Mixed Emotions at Plainview
As the time nears for his return to face court charges, Plainview is comparatively quiet as the intense excitement over the capture of "E. L." has subsided. Mixed emotions pervade Plainview on the eve of his return. Some of the bitterness of the first few months is lacking and many who will see Sylvester on his return and after, will go on a friendly mission, rather than out of curiosity. As the road from Plainview to Wabasha is snowblocked, travel is difficult.
When it became definitely known that Sylvester left Plainview with little money and that he lived the life of a near-beggar, sentiment has turned rather against Mrs. Sylvester as the one who is more responsible. It was suggested in Plainview today that steps be taken toward the arraignment of Mrs. Sylvester on a similar charge.
Some old friends feel that he has had punishment enough while others are intent that the full penalty of the law be invoked. Sylvester is 66 years old and a sentence will mean practically life imprisonment for the aged banker.
February 5, 1926– Plainview News
Plainview Banker, Long Exiled, Finally Caught
Edwin L. Sylvester, Missing President, Is Located At Gulfport, Miss., Last Friday
Found Working as Fireman in Avon Hotel When Apprehended
Arrest Ends Continent-wide Search That Began in Spring
County Attorney and Deputy Sheriff Bring Prisoner Back Tonight
Edwin L. Sylvester, fugitive from justice for the past eleven months because of irregularities in his bank here, will arrive in Wabasha this evening in custody of County Attorney John R. Foley and Deputy Sheriff Ed Fitzgerald. He was arrested at Gulfport, Miss., late Friday on instructions of the county attorney when information from officials in that locality disclosed his where abouts. At the time of his arrest Sylvester was employed as fireman at the Avon Hotel at $1 per day and was eating his meals in the kitchen with the colored help.
With receipt of a telegram at midnight Friday stating briefly "Sylvester arrested. Admits Identity." Arrangements were begun at once to bring him back. Attorney Foley called upon the governor for extradition papers that there might be no delay and left at once for the south. Arriving there Tuesday forenoon he and the deputy went at once to the jail and prepared for his removal. There was a delay threatened when Sheriff Frank Duckworth who had arrested Sylvester asked for the reward. The difficulty was overcome and the officers began their return journey traveling only day times and lodging their prisoner in jail over night. They spent the firs night in New Orleans and arrived in Chicago yesterday afternoon. They were to start on the last lap of the trip this morning, arriving at Wabasha this evening.
Sylvester’s arrest was the result of carelessness in returning to Biloxi after he had left when warned that officers were on his trail. On Jan. 2, Gov. Christianson received a letter from G. W. Hoffstetter of Biloxi, Miss., asking information about Sylvester, which was at once turned over to County Attorney Foley. The writer stated that he thought he had seen Sylvester. What part this letter played in the arrest was not stated by Foley or any information regarding the nation-wide search except that circularizing the country and watching the family had ultimately brought results. Nothing was aid of the hundreds of reports which have been received detailing the progress of the search through detective agencies. Mr. Foley said that the county has spent $2,000 in their search.
According to the story told bitterly to newspaper men at New Orleans, Sylvester said his arrest was due to the betrayal of a man whom he thought a friend that he might

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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."