The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Stoltz found guilty in retrial; sentenced to $500 fine

May 21, 1926 - August 6, 1926

PAGE 220

thousands of people to lose faith in humanity.
"Every community needs just such a man as they thought you to be. I have thought about this case a great deal and on your plea of guilty to the charge of making a false statement to the state superintendent of banks I sentence you to a term not to exceed five years at hard labor in the state prison. The sentence will begin upon the expiration of the one to ten years heretofore imposed upon you. This in reality, makes a term of 15 years."
Sylvester, who had arrived at Wabasha in fine sprits and health, greeting old friends with a smile and pleasant happy words, broke into sobs which silenced the courtroom when the judge said, "This makes a term of 15 years." It seemed to bring home the realization that the rest of his active life would be spent behind prison bars. If the full term is served Sylvester will be 82 years old when released and then there will be still seven more indictments that may be pressed against him. Sylvester returned to the prison in a very depressed state compared to his jubilant spirits upon arrival in Wabasha the day before.
May 28, 1926-

Retrial of Bank Official Opens at Wabasha Monday
Retrial of the case of G. A. Stoltz began with the selection of a jury on Monday. Tuesday afternoon the jury was completed and witnesses were called. C. L. Mikkelsen, deputy examiner has since occupied the stand. The charge is the receiving of money on deposit when he knew the bank to be insolvent. As in the trial last fall the county attorney is endeavoring to show that there was no such evidence of the solvency of the bank when anyone working in it could not help but know its condition.
Mr. Mikkelsen’s testimony showed that there was a loss of at least $108,500 entailed in the closing of the bank. The inside history of the bank and its financial wrecking is included in Mikkelsen’s testimony. Many of the exhibits of the former trial have been introduced to show that there was considerable variation in the actual conditions and that reported by the bank officials. It is expected that the retrial will occupy as much time as the original trial and that it will occupy the court well into next week.
The specific case is that of receiving a deposit from John L. Boehlke.
June 11, 1926-
Last Curt Chapter in Bank Case; Stoltz is Found Guilty
Last of Three Officers Sentenced to Six Months in Jail or $500 Fine
Jury takes Eighteen Hours to Come to Final Decision
Criminal court proceedings arising from the failure of the Plainview State Bank ended last Friday when the jury returned a verdict of guilty in the retrial of G. A. Stoltz, former assistant cashier of the closed institution. Judge Callaghan sentenced Stoltz to a fine of $500, giving him ten days to raise the money. In case of default at that time the former banker would have to serve six months in jail.
The case has occupied eight days. Half a day was used by the attorneys in their final arguments and the jury took eighteen hours to make their decision. The whole bank situation was practically the same as in the November trail. The prosecuting attorney, John R. Foley, showing the erratic bookkeeping and juggling of accounts to be such that a man in Stoltz’s position could not help but have known that the bank was insolvent. The defense presented the situation in Plainview and the confidence placed in the bank, endeavoring to bring out the fact that Stoltz’s minor position left him in the same position as the other people in the community.
Following the imposition of the sentence, County Attorney Foley told the court that he was satisfied that justice had been done and moved that the other two indictments against Stoltz be dismissed. The court dismissed the indictments.
June 18, 1926- Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Sylvester spent a few days in St. Paul this week. Mr. Sylvester attending the Grand Lodge of the Encampment and Mrs. Sylvester visiting the Paul Durgin and Theodore Peter’s homes.
August 6, 1926-
$125,892 Suit Filed Against E. L. Sylvester

Previous: Page 219.
Next: Page 221.
Initial: Table of Contents

* 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."