The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-01-12
TAYLOR UNDER ARREST.
South DakOta's Missing Treasurer
Captured in Memphis.
SAID TO HAVE BEEN TURNED LOOSE

This Statement, However, Is Doubted in
-Tennessee's Metropoiis-Tayior Said to
Have Made Nothing for Himself by the
Mammoth Steal.
PIERRE, S. D., Jan. 1a-The Taylor de-
falcation still absorbs all interest at the
capitol. Ex-Governor Mellette came In on
Thursday night He is one OF the heaviest
bondsmen, and before the flight Of Tay-
lor was known even to the state officials
he wired from Lafayette, Ind, that he
would be here, and not to begin suit on
the bonds, as he would turn everything
over to the state. AS Lafayette is tho homo
OF Taylor's father, 1t was supposed that
Mr.. Mellette would have a proposition
from tho bondsnen for some sort of settle
ment.
This is not true He comes simply as an
individual and Is unable to throw any di-
rect light upon the situation. He gives
some information, however, which has
changed the theory on which the people
here have been proceeding-namely, that
Taylor has been collecting every cent of
available cash In order to pinch the state
and force compromise. The ex-governor
has had some intimate business relations
with Taylor, and on Thursday last went
to Chicago to meet him and straighten
them. Taylor had left the day before, and
although Mellette searched for him for
two days he could get no trace of him. He
then won't to Lafayette and discovered that
Taylor was short; that his friends were
unable to help him out, and that tho do
fault was inevitable.
Mellette was in Chicago on Dec. 12 and
met Taylor there. The latter was appar-
klxy t,x 60, a.. - Ia
friends and bondsmen, and with Leppel-
man, whose bank ut Gettysburg failed
three months ago, and through that really
dragged Taylor down to his ruin. The
governor knew Mr.. Taylor intimately and
trusted him thoroughly. He states that
Taylor told him short time ago the his
tory of the bank at Gettysburg, and the
way in which he was caught. During the
panic Of eighteen months ago the bank
got into close quarters, and appealed to
Taylor for help. After consulting with
various bankers he loaned $40, 900 Of the
states money, all agreeing that to let the
bank fail at that time would endanger
every bank In tho state, and would proba-
bly, bring ruin on all the people As he had
helped out several other institutions he
helped this.
He soon found, however. that the con-
dition of the Institution was much WORSE
than he had suspected, and having placed
so great sum there he sent good money
after bad till he had sunk s10o, ,O00 Then
came his other losses, amounting to fully
half as much, and he was unable to bor-
row or sell. A great amount Of property
came into his possession from this bank
real estate, merchandise, stock cattle and
other articles-and he made strenuous
efforts to sell. In this he failed and for a
time his friends helped him out. They
reached their limit, however, and he was
thrown on his own resources. He could
not get money from the east and was
caught.
Mellette has no knowledge or suspicion
OF his whereabouts. It is known that
Taylor, q few days ago, put all of bis prop
erty out OF his hands, and even conveyed
some trust funds which will seriously en-
barrass some of his friends. Investigation
seems to show that the bonds are Of small
value, except one.
It is understood that Taylor's father,
who was supposed to be wealthy cannot
be collected from.