Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1895-01-12
MINUS STATE MONEY,
State Treasurer Taylor Said to Have Skin
ped the Country.

general have been all excitement
since Wednesday, owing to the report
that State Treasurer W. w. Taylor
did not appear to turn over the office
to his successor at Pierre Monday.
kilograms were sent to various
points. The National bank at Red
field, of which Taylor was president,
closed its doors Tuesday and nothing
could be learned Of the presidents
whereabouts. He has not been in the
state since November last. Report
has it that he is
$3.50, 900 SHORT.
But this must be all guess work as, so
soon after the discovery it would be
almost impossible to get anything like
true statement Of his accounts.
The state examiner satisfied him
self last April that Taylor's accounts
were all right, but, calling for state
ment last November he was put off by
Taylor by an excuse of lack of time.
Taylor has since been away.
All the state money was kept out of
South Dakota. Some think that the
treasurer has been helping his friends
tide over the financial depression and
has been caught in trap from which
he could not extricate himself, aud
did not have the courage to face the
matter when it should come to light.
1t is said that state warrants dropped
to 20 cents on the dollar at Pierre as
soon as the news was generally known.
A telegram from Redfield states
that Cashier Humphrey declares the
depositOrs of the National bank will
be paid in full as soon as the govern
ment examiner concludes his eXamin-
alton, as there is an excess of fully
100000 in good paper, and besides
about 40 per cent deposited in other
banks. The bank is not compromised
financially by Taylor's default. 1t is
stated that after examination the
bank will reorganize and open for
business.
The following letter was received
Wednesday, under date of Jan. 6, by
the bank. The envelope is post
marked New York, January 6. 1t
throws an important light upon the
matter and settles all doubt as to Tay-
lor's disappearance:
DEAR FRANK:-I am compelled to
inform you | will not return to Red
field or Pierre. | counted on friends
assisting in making up my settlement
with the state, and felt it would be
done until the last few days. | feel
relieved to know the First National
bank Of Redtield is not in any way
rightfully compromised by my mis-
fortune, and | hope that it's patrons
will believe you as they should, for
you have always kept the banks af-
fairs in good and safe condition.
There is no reason why the bank
should not continue its business. /
offer no excuse for my condition, al
though | have many. Yours, truly,
w. w. TAYLOR.
1t develops that plaster mortgage
reached Redtield Wednesday morning
and was duly filed in the register of
deeds office, transferring to COM
pany in Chicago all his real estate and
chattels in that city and in Sphinx
county. Next to the state, the blow
falls hard on his principal bondsmen,
who reside at Redtield. They quail
fed in sums representing all they have
in the world.
Treasurer Phillips footed up the
books and finds that there should have
been in Taylor's hands $4,000. All
that can be found is $4,000 in the
banks of Pierre, where most of the
currency balance is kept, and 81, 800
in the Redfied bank, which usually
kept on hand about $4,000. This
leaves a shortage of 1858, 500. There
may be some other amounts deposited
in various banks, but there is no rec
ord of them. The state funds are
credited to Taylor personally, and
there is no record of deposit in the
office. OF this amount nearly $l00, 900
belongs to the state school fund. The
rest comes from the general fund Of
the state. Deputy Treas. burlington
states that the treasurer had been
gathering in the deposits from the
various banks during the past few
weeks, with the ostensible purpose Of
having $l95, 200 in funding warrants
| H. an Cafurloy lo ~