The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Edwin Sylvester receives sentence of 1 to 10 years in Stillwater prison

February 12, 1926

PAGE 210

condemn the state boards for taking action to which the petitioners, usually those least interested, have as far as the boards can recognize, recommended.

Would Place Burden on Judges
Abolishment of the state parole boards would place the burden on the judges of the state of determining how long a convicted man should serve, Judge Callaghan asserted, when the judges cannot have complete knowledge of the various circumstances, especially in a case in which a man has pleaded guilty without the introduction of any evidence. He declared his positive opposition to the abolishment of the state boards of parole and pardon and his confidence that there is no danger that the boards will be abolished.
Mr. Peterson, Sylvester’s attorney, began his remarks by saying in the sudden hush which fell upon the assembled crowd, that he was authorized to enter a plea of guilty on behalf of his client.
"I think I have the point of view of the state and I realize the seriousness of the charge," he said, "and I know I have the point of view of the prisoner. I know your honor is sensible in the humanities that speak out in cases of this kind"
Asks Justice with Mercy
"Tomorrow is the birthday of the great Lincoln, who concluded his second inaugural with the great phase of ‘malice toward none and charity for all.’ I am sure your honor in this time of trial to the defendant and his family, will consider the case from the standpoint of the defendant.
"Justice is best administered when tempered with mercy. It is not unfair to the defendant to say that during his 66 years of residence in Wabasha county he has been a good man and a good citizen and I say this in a charitable way.
"The misfortune in this case was occasioned by the inflation and deflation of land values. The defendant in his efforts to save the bank of which he was president, perpetrated irregularities contrary to the penal laws, with the hope of rehabilitating his bank. I feel the wrongs thus committed were not intended to profit himself. It was the chance a business man took to save the institution of which he was head.
Gold Star Parents
"It must be remembered too that Sylvester was a gold star father and Mrs. Sylvester was a gold star mother."
John R. Foley, Wabasha County attorney arose,
"I feel it my duty to tell the court, he said, "that Mr. Sylvester has been president of the bank for 20 years, and that these defalcations commenced prior to the organization of the bank. He has continued for 25 years taking money from one account and then from another, when the land business failed he was not able to make good.
"It is not fair to state that among the depositors are many gold star fathers and gold star mothers. I trust the extent of the sentence will be left to the proper boards."

February 12, 1926-

E. L. Sylvester Received Indeterminate Sentence
Aged Banker Collapses As Sentence is Pronounced
Must Serve From One to Ten Years in State’s Prison
Hearing Held at Rochester Thursday Before Judge Callaghan
E. L. Sylvester collapsed when he received an indeterminate sentence of from one to ten years in Judge Callaghan’s court at Rochester yesterday afternoon on the charge of receiving money from Mrs. Elizabeth Allen when he knew the bank to be insolvent. At Sylvester’s request the hearing was held in district court before Callaghan. He plead guilty to the charge and has agreed to pleat guilty to another indictment. He will be held in Rochester to appear in the Amos case tomorrow before being taken to the State Prison at Stillwater. Mrs. Sylvester was present at the hearing.
A great crowd of Rochester people met the train and were present at the court

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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."