The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-22
WANTED IN NORTH DAKOTA.
FORMER INSURANCE MANAGER Is
CHARGED WITH EMBEzZLEMENr.
- n. Sylvester Arrested by Detec-
tive Meredith mt the Request of
sheriff Wenass of Trail County

Detective Meredith made an important
capture yesterday afternoon al the Hotel
butler. He arrested ;. A. Sylvester ex-
manager Of the Equitable Life Insurance
company, Of North Dakota, On 4 charge
q emoezzlemenT. And as resul, Mr.
sylvester Is At the county Jan in charge OK
snenT Mover, awaiting tae arrival Of 4
deputy sheriff from Tran county, North
Dakota
sylvester is charged by the insurance
company with the emhezzielnent of SEQ
He denies that ne IS an e1nbezzler. but adj
niis that ne owes the company &&o or sSc9
some days ago Chief OF Police Reed re-
ceiVed word from Sheriff Wenass.
OF Trail county. asking him 20
look for Sylvester. who had left
the town OF Mayville very suddenly about
two weeks ago. His letter gave A fairly
good description OF the ex-manager OF the
company, with the statement that il was
believed that he was in Seattle. VITA
these measer details Detective Meredith
went 20 work upon the case. he searched
through the hotels ami finally learned at
the BQtier that Andrew Sylvester had reg
istered there on December = bur had left
the hotel a few days ago and had secured
q room up town. Thereupon thu detective
motel for his mauS reappearance. believing
that he would come down town 10 spend
his time
When Sylvester appeared Yesterday aft
ernoon he was pointed out 20 Meredith
who saw from his description that he had
secured the right man. He accompanied
the detective 10 the police station. where
ne admitted 10 Chief Reed that he owed
the Equitable Insurance Company about
s2e9. Later he was arraigned before Jus
ice Austin, who fixed his bond AT sf.0u0
The chief Of police knows nothing more Of
the case than he learned from the short
letter OF Sheriff WenasS and the admissions
Of the prisoner.
In the justice court Sylvester did not
present the appearance Of an ordinary
criminal. lie looks the business man that
of age. well dressed and intelligent
Il am not al emheZzier.' said he in the
justice court after he had been ARA gnef
Il admit thai am the man the chief Or
police wants. and | admit that | owe the
Equitable Life Insurance Company 500 or
5000, but l didn't steal the money. | as
sumed the management for North Dakota
for The company on January of this year.
IT was known that / had no funds and
.Sihat would find il necessary 20 use the
income OF my office for expenses. This
was thoroughly understood and have pro-
About three weeks ago the Southern
manager Of the company, II. II. Knowles,
He wanted an immediate statement of the
company's accounts went down 10 my
office al Mayville 70 prepare IL, but found
that / could not do 80 at once. | started
back to Fargo to explain my affairs. but
was so discouraged and downheartei from
business reverses. the loss of my wife and
sickness. that did not feel like facing the
ordeal. All the money had been used for
my legitimate expenses. but | could not
prepare an accounting on such short no
tice. / decided 10 leave for Seattle. Had 7
not been arrested. I should have gone back
III few days"
Sylvester has not yet decided whether 10
go back peacefully or fight extradition pro-
ceedings. The fact that the insurance Gem
pany has charged him with emfezzement
has aroused some Of the fighting instinct
in him, and he may refuse 70 return TO
North Dakota until eXtraditon papers
shall have been secured.
Chief Reed wired Sheriff Wenass last
night that Sylvester had been discovered
and il is presumed that deputy sheriff
from Trail county will start for Seattle At
once. This makes the third fugitive from
Justice that Detective Meredith has cap
tured IN he past few days. the others be-
ing Dell Reed who Is wanted n Portland
for larceny. ard y. +. kenen. whC was
taken 10 Hillsboro. Or.