Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-06-27

v distasteful to me to occupy news
space with a statement OF facts
n regard to the Taylor case, and
shat it is through no desire to create
sensational discussion that / make
,us at this time.
However, the cas- is one in which
me people OF South Dakota are the
-esl parties in interest, and they are
,utitled to know, whenever the infor.
nation can be given without prejudice,
ali the facts in connection with the
management of the litigation. 1t
should be given honestly and without
reference to personal or partizan in
.erests. | here attempt 20 make
such a statement simply and briefly.
[ shall sign it. Lei him who contra
iicts enter the denial over his own
Signature in the same way.
The authorities OF South Dakota
irst learned that Taylor was a de-
;aulter on January 8, 1895. We now
know that from the reports OF the de.
.ectives, verified by Taylor himself,
that he left Chicago on January 8,
and was not within the United States,
put in Havana, Cuba, when the de-
Ialcation became known January 8.
The legislature, the state officers
aud the people OF the state generally,
we're completely stunned and surpris-
ed by the news on January 8. They
we're dazed, many were incredulous
and refused to believe that Taylor
had run away.
Notwithstanding this, however, a
Joint resolution was passed the first
Jay of the session offering 81, 900 re-
ward for Taylor, and news of the of
er was telegraphed all over the United
States on January 10. On that very
day | opened the negotiations with
the PinkertOn's detective agency for
che purpose OF employing them in the
matter.
We found that the Pinkertons
would not work for a reward, and
that in order to employ them a con-
tract must ne made at a fixed price
amounting to IS per day for each
man, and his actual necessary expen-
ses.
This fact was promptly reported to
the legislature IN executive session,
and a bill appropriating $4,000 fer
employment OF the detectives and the
prosecution OF criminal suits and suits
outside the state upon Taylor's bond
agreed upon and regularly passed
through the houses and agreed to by
the governor. This bill was rushed
through just as rapidly as the limita-
lions in the constitution would per.
init. As soon as it's passage was
assured q contract WIS entered into
between the state and the Pinkerton
agency, and FIVE experts were put to
work. Taylor had covered his tracks
very skilltuIly and had in various
ways misled the authorities; and it
was several weeks before a tangible
clue was discovered as to the correct
trail.
One of Pinkerton's men, however,
struck the trail in February and
EedCIltu nav ana SIdLIA W aDouL SiALS
days behind Taylor. | then ordered
the Pinkertons to put the best IN
their service upon this trail and fol-
low it, no matter where it took him,
until We ordered him TO stop, and to
dismiss all other men. | did this to
save unnecessary and reckless expense,
as / was satisfied we were on the right
track, and one good man could follow
it better than more than one.
This detective followed Taylor from
Havana through Mexico and Central
America, thence to Kingston, Jamaica
with a f%aithfulness that deserves
something more than condemnation.
He has been economical in his ex-
penses, and has rendered from time to
time an itemized statement account
ing for every penny expended. He
left Havana March IA and followed
Taylor's meandering trail as above
stated, arriving at Kingston, Jamaica,
May 4. He remained for some days
on the island searching for his man,
who had covered his tracks with great
skill, but finally satisfied himself that
Taylor lett Kingston Tor Barbados,
en- route to Brazil; and he therefore
left for Barbados May II and arrived
there on May 20. Hethen went on to
Martinique, West Indies, from which
place we recalled him.
Since his return Taylor has been
allowed to examine some OF the re-
ports of this detective. After doing
so he admits that he was more close
ly followed than he thought when he
made his first statement to the press.
He says he came north to the United
States upon leaving Kingston, which
may be true, and l am satisfied that
the detectives would have found that
tact out and would have followed him
here.
This is correct history OF the de-
tective service in this case.
Next as to the suit on Taylor's
bond, and between that day and the
Goth OF January every bit OF proper
ty in the state which could be discov-
cred belonging to Taylor and his
bondsmen was attached. and person
al service was made OF the summons
upon all resident defendants, and SER
vice by publication begun upon non
d~ofaDdapts Alter this was