Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-06-27
STATE VS.. TAYLOR.
STATEMENT MADE BY ATTOR.
NEY GENERAL CRAWFORD.
The Defaultcr Was Closely Followed by
Detecttves-No Compromise with Crime
Efforts to Get Clemency for the Ex-
Treasurer
The State W.. Taylor.

The State vs.. Taylor.
Pierre, June "a: The return of Taylor
to South Dakota has caused many stories
to be set afloat by the enemies of the state
and persons having an object in defaming
the state officers who have been successful
In conducting the prosecution and bring
ing to justice the guilty parties. These
have been annoying to the officials. ard as
result Attorney General Crawford has
prepared the following statement of the
states side of the case:
The Statement.
trust l may be believed when 7 say
that II IS extremely dlstasteful to me TO
occupy newspaper space with a state
ment OF facts IN regard to the Taylor
case, ana that 1t is through no desire TO
create sensational discussion that i make
one at this time.
However. this case is one in which the
people OF South Dakota are the real par
ties In interest, and they are entitled to
know. whenever the information can be
given without prejudice. all the facts In
connection with the management of the
litigation. 1t should be given honestly
and without reference to personal or par
tisan interests. 1 here attempt to make
such statement. simply and briefly. l
shall sign 1t. Let him who contradicts
enter his denial over his own signature
in the same way.
The authorities of South Dakota first
January 9. 1895. We now know from the
reports Of the detectives, verified by Tay-
lor himself that he left Chicago January
3. and was not within the United States,
but in Havana, Cuba. when the defalca-
ton became known January g.
The legislature. the state officers and
the people of the state generally were
conn lately stunned and surprised by the
news on January 9. They We're dazed,
many were incredulous and refused to
believe Taylor had run away.
Notwithstanding this. however, a joint
resolution was passed the first day of the
session Offering $4,000 reward for Taylor.
and news of the offer was telegraphed
all over the United States on January 10.
On that very day I opened negotia tions
with Pinkerton'G detective agency for the
purpose of employing them in the matter.
We found the Pinkertons would not
employ them a contract must be made
at fixed price amounting to s. per day
Cor each man and his actual necessary
This fact was promptly reported to the
legislature in executive session ard bill
appropriating $4,000 for the empl oyment
Of and the Of
upon Taylor's bond was agreed upon and
regularly passed through both houses
and agreed to by the governor. This bill
the limitatio in the constitution would
permit. As soon as its passage was as
sured a contract was entered into be-
tween the state and the Pinkerton agency
ana Ave experts were put to work.
Covered His Tracks skillfully.
Taylor had covered his tracks skillfully
and had in various way misled the au-
thorities and 1t was several weeks before
a tangible clue was discovered as to the
One Of Pinkerton's men, however
struck the trail in February and reached
Havana March s. about sixty days behind
to put the best man in their service upon
this trail and to follow it-no matter
where 1t took him-until we ordered him
did this to save unnecessary and reckless
expense. az I was satisfied that we were
on the right track. and one good man
This detective followed Taylor from
Havana through Mexico and Central
America. thence to Kingston, Jamaica,
with faithfulness that deserves some
been economical In his expenses and
has rendered from time to time an item
ICED statement accounting for every pen
and followed Taylor's meandering trail
as above stated, arriving at Kingston.
Jamaica, May T. He remained some days
had covered his tracks with great skill
but finally satisfied himself that Taylor
left Kingston for Barbados en- route to
Brazil, and he therefore left for Earba-
He then went on to Martinique, West
indies, from which place We recalled him.
since his return Taylor has been allowed
to examine some Of the reports OF this
detective. After doing so he admits that
he was more closely followed than he
thought when he made his first statement
the United States upon leaving Kingston
which may be true. and ] am satisfied
that the detective would have found that
fact out and followed him there. This is
h{ctnrv If the dnfQctiVp service
In this case.
Property Attached.
Next, as to the suit. upon Taylor's bond
On the sth Of January suit was begun
and the 10Th OF January every bit Of prop
erty in the state which could be discov-
cred belonging to Taylor and his bonds
wss made Of the summons upon ali resi-
ton begun upon nonresident defendants
ta IN N York cy sed
r Mcchesney and William Taylor.
In the suit against the defendants In
effort was made to obtain change OF
venue from Hughes county to Sphinx
county. where a majority OF the bonds
took numerous dispositions and prepared
the case for trial at the May term Of the
circuit court at Pierre.
When the case was CAlleO LOT tTlAI NJ
the opening Of the May term the de-
the entire term, which was denied and
the case set for trial May e. They then
court and failed in this. and the case was
tried and q Judgment obtained for 1884,
IN. * and has been duly entered.
lyon the suit in New York against John
r. McChemey the defendant answered
and counsel for the state moved to strike
out most Of the answer a. incompetent
and irrelevant. This motion was denied
10 the court below and the state appealed.
thi. decision and ordered that che
20 that there ia little left Of Nc
Chesney's answer except the allegation
that the shortage occurred during Tay-
The authorities found that in the last
days Of December 1874. Taylor and his
e, on: Charles H: Wen; f. chicaEs; II:
Northwestern Mortgage company. Of
which Taylor was president. and al the
real estate belonging to Taylor and his
wife and A. G. Melletts situated within
this state in trust fer some purpose which
nd not appear In the face Of the Deeds
McChesney; bard: Brooks Kiser. Morris
deeds purporting to transfer their prop
efty. An action was 1t once Instituted
by the state to Get aside all these Deeds
covering. vast amount Of real estate.
seattsrsd eysy .s,:nf tnirty e9unsiss N the
pu6e1aatiop and pereenal has been made
~ ceTpaSt:d: a9d The act:2n !. q i.Ss.