Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-06-20
TAYLOR's
He Could No Longer Remain In Ma
And Returns to stand Trial


20 justice w. w. Taylor and o,bsrs
who were identified with him durir.
he last days previous to his fiuh,
now promises to bring forth pood
fruit. There have been rumors ana
rumors OF his probable capture and
return, but Attorney General Graz
ford and Governor Sheldon have bss.
keeping quiet and pegging away with
industry. Some Of Taylor's friend.
and the organs of these friends bavs
been constantly attempting to belit.,.
the work Of the authorities. and work.
ing a bluff game, but the officials hava
kept right on in their work of DRAWING
the meshes tighter. Not knowino
just where Taylor him self might bs
found, they were perhaps awaitipo
developments as to his hiding plaes
and at the same time persistent,v
following those who had evidentlv
assisted him in the operations Of the
time just before his flight, we'll know.
ing that the impending punishment of
these individuals would be a strong
factor in bringing the arch.culprit to
justice. That they have been on the
right track is now evident.
Last Monday Attorney General
Crawford was in Aberdeen Oh other
business, and he was followed here by
G. L. Mccoy and III. K. Horner, rep
resenting Taylor, and a conference
was held between these gentlemen
that evening IN this city. The next
day the party went to Sioux Falls
where II. NJ. Benedict, brother.iE.law
Of Taylor, met them and that night
the following statement was given to
the Press by the representatives of
the state and of Taylor jointly:
1T was evident that the pursuit OF
Taylor by the state must ultimately
result in his capture. His parents
are aged and heart. broken, and the
strain was more than they conld en-
dure, and they wanted that the fate
that hung over him should com to
an issue and thus relieve the tension.
In recognition Of these ard other cir.
cumstances, friends of Taylor went
TO Attorney General Crawford to see
if any promise could be secured from
him. He told them the state had
absolutely nothing to offer except in.
dictment of the parties, prosecution
TO an issue under the law, enforce
ment of every claim which the state
has against the principal and his
sureties fOr what has been taken from
its treasury.
But, he said, it is the experience
in every criminal case that where
the prosecution is put to the fullest
extent of trouble and expense that is
possible, and where whatever it OBJ
tains it has to fight for, the penalties
and all that a be inflicted under the
law are much more likely to be strict.
ly and vigorously exacted. On the
other hand, it is the universal expert
ence that If a defendent manifeSts a
disposition to undo. SO far as in him
lies, the wrong that he has committed,
and throw himself or he mercy Of
the court and society, there is a ten
dency to treat him with greater len
iency than where he fights by aid OF
all the techDicalities which it is pos.
sible for a defense to interpose.
Taylor's representatives then want
ed reasonable time within which to
prepare to meet their obligations; but
they were informed that justice
would be permitted to take its due
course, and nothing would be omitted
which could guarantee the state every
legal advantage to which il was en-
titled. But within the latitude al
lowed by the law the bondsmen and
all concerned would be afforded every
reasonable chance TO turn themselves
This was all that was asked. State"
ments were made as to how much
money Taylor could put up to meet
his ~defalcstion, and Attorney Genera!
Crawford is satisfied that the schedule
Of property which Taylor owns or
controls will very nearly meet the
claim of the state, leaving not SO
much for the bondsmen to pay as had
been supposed.
Under all these circumstances
Taylor's friends agreed to have him
return, and their representative vas
supplied with a warrant under the
seal of the state to escort him
to South Dakota-the warrant
being for the purpose of pro,
tecting Taylor from the annoyance OF
reward sharks who might undertake
to arrest him on his way here
The return of Taylor having been
settled, the details of Taylor's traveis
during the past six months came out
to some extent, and prove very inter
esting, and show that the detectives
were not far behind him at various
points. He went from Florida 10
Havana, thence to Central America
thence to Dutch Guiana in Centrai
America, thence to Kingston. lamar
ca. where he became panic-stTlcken