Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-12

-uksif4>i 1clc., JaC- ~ .ic-, ti--
missing treasurer Of South Dakota. was
arrested here yesterday The police claim
tn have released him.
PIEcEE, s. d., Jan. I2-The Taylor de-
falcat ion still absorhs all interest at the
capital Ex-Governor Mellette has ar
rived. He is one of the heaviest bonds
men. AMI before the flight Of Taylor was
known even to the state officials he wired
from Lafayette, Ind, that he would he
here and not to bring suit on the bonds,
as he would turn OYER everything 20 the
state. As Lafayette is the home OF T.y-
Tors father IT was supposed that Mel
lette would have a proposition from the
b0ndsmen for some sort Of settlement.
This Is not true. lie comes simply as AN
individual and is unable To throw any di
rect light Oh the situation. He. gives
some Information, however, which has
Changed the theory on which the people
here have been PrOce-ding-nan,ely that
Taylor has been collecting every cent Of
~ ailabie cash ia order tn pinch the stat.
and force a compounds.
Experience of the Ex-Governor.
The ex-governor has had some intimate
relations with Taylor and on Tuesday
last went TO Chicago to meet him and
straighten them. Taylor had left the day
before and although Mellette searched for
him two days he could get no trace Of
him. He then went to Lafayette and
discovered that Taylor was short; that
his friends Were unable to help him ont
and that the default WAS inevitable.
Mellette was in Chicago an Dec. l. and
met Taylor there. The latter was ap-
parently i'm conference. with a number Of
his friends and bondsmen and with Lep-
pelInan, whose bank at Gettysburg
failed three months ago. and who, through
that, really dragged Taylor down To his
ruin.
Gettysburg Bank Got xi0.O0O.
The governor knew Taylor Intimately
and trusted him thoroughly. He states
that Taylor told him a short time ago the
history of the bank at Gettysburg and the
way in which he WIS caught. During
the panic of eighteen monts ago the bank
pit into close quarters and appealed to
aylor for help. After consulting with
afiOus bankers he loaned si0,OUO Of the
5tutC . IiioHtyr tiistt W i'b WV
hank fail at that time would cntianger
every bank i'm the state and would prob.
ably bring ruin ON all the people. As he
had helped out several other institutions
he helped this.
Sent Good Money Alter Had.
He found soon, however, that the condi-
ton of the Institution was much worse
than he had suspected, and having placed
SO great q sum there he sent good money
after bad till he had sunk $l0O,v6O Then
came his other losses, amounting TO fully
half as much, and lac WIS 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 ef-
forts to sell. In this he failed, and for "A
time his friends helped him out
Frauds Reach Their Limit.
They reached their limit, however, aud
he was thrown on his own resources. He
could not get money from the east and lac
Was caught. Mcllcttc has no knowledge
or suspicion of his whereabouts. 1t il
known that Taylor - few days ago put all
Of his property out of his hands, and
even conveyed some trust funds, which
will seriously emharrass some Of his
friends.