Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1895-01-16
TAYLOR THE DEFAUl.TER.

TAYLOR THE DEFAUl-TER.
Reported Arrest-A Mystery-There Are
Others Who Will Suffer
His Bondsmen May be Arrested-State
Examiner Meyers Threatened.
MEMPHIS, Tenn Jan. ll-Wm. w.
Taylor, the absconding South Dakota
treasurer, was under arrest here yes
terday and today, but late this even
ing, he was released. The letters on
the prisoners person, from Pierre,
Chicago and New York leave no doubt
says Chief Davis, that he is the man
wanted, but as no replies were re-
cetved from telegramS sent to those
cities, Taylor was turned loose. An
air Of mystery hangs over the case. as
Taylor was not locked up and the fact
OF his arrest carefully kept even from
the policemen until after he was Civ
en- his liberty. Chief Davis was 10th
to speak Of this, but stated that Taylor
| is still under surveillance and will be
arrested if wanted.
The above telegram may prove
hoax, or, perhaps the police officer be-
lieved that reward would be offered
for the capture of Taylor and let him
go until the state made such an offer,
when he would produce his man. And
it Is possible that Taylor bribed the
officer for his freedom.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The legislature has appointed joint
commission to investigate the defal-
cation in the treasurers office. The
commission consists of Senators Pease,
Boyce, McGee and Representatives
Gold, Barron, DickOver, Holmquist
and Lucas. They will at once begin a
thorough investigations The legisla-
ture also called on the auditor and
public examiner to report at once on
their offices.
THE CAUSE.
1t is now known that during the
panic the state funds were used to
bolster up the private affairs of vari-
Gus state officials and that thereby
not only were the school boards de-
prived Of the use of the money which
the statute gave them, but the state
lost large sum in interest.
MYERS CENsURED.
1t is rumored that the public exam
iner will be arrested and his bonds
men sued for the Taylor loss. When
il was first known that Taylor had de-
faulted Mr.. Myers, was very talkative
and discussed the matter in detail
with many people. He declared that
about a month ago he examined the
treasurer's books, and having balanced
the accounts, called on Taylor by let
ter for his certificates of deposit, the
funds being in the sole custody Of the
treasurer and there being no books in
the Office to show where the money
was deposited. Taylor wrote an
evasive reply and treated the repeated
efforts Of the examiner in the same
manner. Myers states that he at the
time became strongly suspicious of a
shortage, hut supposed it was COM
paratively small and that the treas
urer would be able to raise enough
money to make it good before the eX-
piration Of his term. Had he at the
time acted upon this suspicion and
promptly brought Taylor back, he
would have saved the state fully
quarter of a million Of dollars. At
that time the money since stolen was
in the treasury, and Taylor was given
nearly months time to draw it into
his own hands and get away with it.
Myers having thus neglected his plain
duty and the state having, by his ac-
tion lost $3.50, 900, good lawyers believe
that he is criminally liable and that
his bOndsmen can be held for the
amount of their bonds.
THE THEORY.
The theory of Taylor's course has
changed somewhat. 1t was expected
by all the officials that when Ex-Gov-
ernor Mellette arrived, he would bring
a proposition from the bondsmen to
settle. The day the default was dis
covered, Mellette, who was on the bond
for $5O, 900, wired from Lafayette, Ind,
the home of Taylor's father, that he
was on his way here, and not to attach
any property until he arrived, that he
would turn over everything and would
fix up the shortage. He arrived, but
it appears that he represents himself