The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-01-10
SOUTH DAKOTA ROBBED.
Dafaulting State Treasurer Taylor
Stole $500
PREsENFwHEREABoUTs UNKNOWN

He should Have Turned Over the Anfairs
Of HIs once TO His Successor ON Tues
! day-Hls Failure to Appear Led TO an
Investigation.
REDFIELD s. d., Jan. 1O.-Probably the
most startling failure that has ever oc-
CURED In South Dakota or tho northwest
WINS revealed yesterday in word received
from William Walter Taylor, the outgoing
state treasurer and president Of the First
National bank and Northwestern Mort
gage Trust company, Of this city, that he
would not appear to make his settlement
nt Pierre with his successor Treasurer
elect Phillips, of Deadwood. The news
and closing Of his bank here came like
thunderciap from clear sky, because
both Taylor and the financial institutions
with which he was connected were re-
garded as firm and reliable beyond ques-
tion.
The news from Pierre demonstrates that
no money is held there to the credit Of the
state treasurer and none Is held in the
bank here. Il Is estimated that about
t35o, GOO is missing with Taylor. Aside
from the financial loss the action Of Tay-
lor is felt terribly by all who have known
and done business with him and the flnan-
cial enterprises with which he has been
connected in years past. He and his en-
terprlses here. have handled many thou
sands of eastern capital, and his bank here
has always been regarded as one Of the
firm, safe institutions in the state. TEs
bank here is not compromised financially
by Taylors default. 1t is stated author
itatively that after the examination. Of the
bank, and its credit Is restored, 10 will re-
organize and open up for business.
Taylor was last seen In Chicago on Jan.
by citizen of this place. He went from
Chicago to New York, since which time
no information has been received as to his
whereabouts. 1t develops that plaster
mortgage reached Redfield yesterday
morning, and was duly filed in the regis
ter of deeds office, transferring to com
pany in Chicago. all his real estate and
chattels in this city and Sphinx county.
Next TO the state,the blow falls terribly
hard on bis principal bondsmen, who re-
side here They qualified in sums repre-
senting oil they have in the world. The
entire city used the bank for a depository,
hence deadly paralysis has affected all
the arteries of trade and social life.
Walter w. Taylor was born In Indiana
about 1854, and for time associated with
his father, William Taylor, in the whole
sale coal business at Lafayette, that state.
From the time he was IS years of age he
had almost exclusive charge of the bust
ness, and demonstrated wonderful ca
pacity for grasping. the details and intri-
cacles of very large trade He came to
Dakota in 1885, and established the First
National bank of Redflcld. which he soon
made one of the leading financial institu-
lions Of this section of the country. He
L. A..
first was earnest in the struggle for state
hood, and was delegate from Sphinx
county to the first state convention, held
in Huron in 1899. At the convention of
1890, held at Mitchell, he entered the race
for state treasurer, and secured the nomi.
nation after spirited and exciting con-
test. He was renominated and elected for
a second term, which he completed on the
first of January of the present year.
New YORK, Jan. 10. - Numerous in
quiries from the west reached banking
houses here in regard to the whereabouts
of w. w. Taylor who, as outgoing state
treasurer of South Dakota, failed to APP
pear to turn over his office to his successor,
and against whom an alleged shortage in
the state funds is recorded.
Taylor did business with the Chase Ma
tional bank of this city. According to
President III. w. Cannon, of the Chase Ma
tional bank, however, his accounts with
that institution are all right, his indebted
ness being amply secured.
Mr.. Cannon said to a representative of
the Associated Press relative to the mat
ter: "Mr. Taylor was here about five weeks
ago, on a matter of business connected
with the bank. have not seen him since,
and have no idea where he is. do not
know where TAYLOR is but | am certain
that he Is not in New York.
James NJ. Brown, banker and broker,
who resides in Brooklyn and who is par
ticular friend of the missing ex-state treas
urer, said that he had seen nothing of Tay-
Tor for some weeks past He felt certain,
he declared, that Taylor was not in this
vicinity.