The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-11
A CONSPIRACY.
TayIor's Bondsmen Patched
Up a Scheme.

PIERRE, 8. d.. March 1.-THE legisi
tive committee investigating the Tayl
,lofalcaton made its report just before
jYurnniena The proceedings we're In
,rot and the report is now made pub
for the first time.
The comnsttee declares from tho c.
dence before it that 10 is shown con
splracy existed between certain sureties
Taylor and the dcfaulter TO "hold up
the state and compel "a settlement. IL says
1--WE do not find that there was any col
lusion among the sureties or other persons
with him To defrnud the state prior To tho
time when IL became apparent TO John i.
McChesney OF New York, ono OF the
bondsmen, that Taylor would not be able
TO make his settlement with the stare.
But we do find evidence strongly tending
To show that in the latter part OF Decem-
ber 1894, and after McChesney discovered
that Taylor could not raise money enough
TO make his settlement, McChcsney, to-
gether with Taylor, d. X. Tenncy and IL.
g. Wells and G. n. Mccoy, act
ing as general agent at Pierre,
entered into scheme to gather up all
the funds held by Taylor, amounting
To over $500, ,00o. and all the real and per-
sonal property owned by Taylor, whore
ever located, and place the same beyond the
reach OF the state, for the purpose of COM
pelling the state To agree not TO prosecute
Taylor for malfoasance, or In other words,
To compound felony on condition that
property and money To the amount OF
slOO, 900 should be delivered up and paid
over To the state thus relieving the sure
ties by paying their liabilities with the
IL k.. Iha ayidanpa
shows that they have attempted to carry
out the scheme with fraudulent intent TO
defraud the state"
here Some of the Money Went
Tcnncy and Wells are the Chicago law
yers of Taylor, and McChosney was one of
his bondsmen OF New York. The COM
mittee finds that the total amount stolen
by Taylor was s3ii, 10. As TO where
the money went the evidence shows
among other things that he LOANED" ex-
Governor Mellctte moneys amounting 10
$4,000; that no loaned Judge Kelam
$4,000, and purchased negotiable note for
5000 given by United States Senator Pet
tigrcw, which was repaid to &. Il. Mccoy,
Iaylor's agent, Oh or about Jan. Z, lS9o
The report also says: I'VE further find
that during the month OF December last
he transferred from DanES In tne state,
where he deposited public funds, about
s2UO.OO0 I'd himself and TO his benefit, 10
New York ana Chicago; that he appropri-
ated To his own use prior to December last
$l45. 800
The evidence shows no collision on the
part of any state officer with the default
ing treasurer. There Is, however, testi-
mony showing gross negligence, TO say the
least Oh the part of Thomas II. Ruth, ex-
commissioner of school and public lands. "
The report states that action TO recover
has been begun in this city, and that
service has been had on all defendants in
the case; that suits have also been insti-
tuted against McChesney in New York,
and William Taylor, father of the de-
faul:er, In Indiana; that the property con-
sisJs oE bank aud other STOCKS city prop
cry In New York, Huron, Aberdeen, Red
fed and Watertown, and over 100 acres of
land scattered throughout the state. III
the suits are successful the STATE will re.
cover the full amount OF the loss sustained
by the defalcatior.