West Side Bank (New York, NY)

Episode Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Reopening
Start Date
May 24, 1884
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)
Bank Type
state
Routing Number
1-0084
Alt. names
Nineteenth Ward Bank

Metadata

Notes

Contemporary reports vary on the exact defalcation amount (reports between $85,000 and $96,000).

Events (3)

1. May 24, 1884 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Embezzlement/defalcation by paying teller Charles A. Hinckley (reported about $85,000–$96,000), which prompted depositors to withdraw funds.
Measures
Officers inspected books, placed injunction of secrecy initially; promised a statement; bank examiners began inspection.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was a considerable run on the West Side Bank this morning.
Source
newspapers
2. May 24, 1884 Suspension
Cause
Correspondent
Cause Details
American Exchange (clearing agent) refused to continue clearing for the bank after the defalcation and run, prompting a precautionary suspension.
Newspaper Excerpt
The West-Side Bank suspended this afternoon. ... the American Exchange Bank refuse to clear for them.
Source
newspapers
3. June 2, 1884 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
The West Side bank of New York has resumed. / The West Side Bank, of New York, reopened on Saturday.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (20)

Article from Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, May 24, 1884

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DISGONEST BANK TELLER Unaries A

Hinckley a Fugitive-His Bank Loses $85,000. A defalcation to the amount of $85,000 has been discovered in the West Side bank. at No. 481 Eighth avenue, New York. The defaulter was the paying teller Charles A. Hinckley He has fled. On Friday morning of last week Hinckley did not appear at the bank. It was at first supposed that he was confined to his house by illness. His absence caused some annoyance, because it was just after the financial disturbance, and there was something of a run on the bank ; not more, however, than the monetary pressure of the time would account for. A messenger was dispatched to Hinckley's house, but before his return Mrs. Hinckley came to the bank and inquired for her husband, saying that he had not been at home the previous night. This look ominous, but the officers had no time to make an inves tigation of his accounts. An injunction of secrecy was laid on all who were cognizant of the teller's disappearance Since the flight of Hinckley, President Moore and Cashier Dobler have gone carefully over his books and accounts They have compared the securities and cash ou hand with the amounts called for by the books of the bank. and found that the amount missing is about $85,000. That Settled 11. Henry Ellerson, of Hiawassee, Ga, was looked upon as the prospective husband of Miss Elise Mather. The wedding night came The guests were assembled and the preacher stood ready to bind the trusting hearts. At last the doors swung open and the groom entered, the lady hanging confidingly upon his arm. When asked the momentous question he an swered with a voice heard all over the room. will. Will you take this mad to be your wedded husband I will not, murmured the lady, falling back and being caught by her father. Political Notes Tammany hall, New York, was crowded Friday night on the occasion of a meeting which had been advertised as the first gun for the presidential canvass." Con gressman Dorsheimer presided Congressmen Blackburn and Hurd made speeches on the conspiracy of 1876 and the tariff question. and a letter was read from Speaker Carlisle. The en. ) thusiasm was great, Mr. Tilden's name evoking loud and long continued cheers whenever it was mentioned. : The Democratic state convention of , Nebraska ou Thursday elected delegates to Chicago, all of whom are for Tilden l and Hendricks, " with no second choice." The platform demands a revision of the tariff. +


Article from The Salt Lake Herald, May 24, 1884

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Goings On In Gotham

New York, 23.-The insolvent schedule of the firm of Owens & Mercer was filed to day. Liabilities $200,468, nominal assets $888,307, actual assets $28,045. Judge Donohue granted several orders permitting Receiver Davies of the firm of Grant & Ward, to adjust claims of creditors. James Keene this & fternoon told a reporter he expected to be able to pay his debts in fall if his creditors would give him a little time. To this end he makes a proposition to holders of his obligations. adjusted and unadjusted, to accept his notes dated May 1, 1884, for the full sum due them on that day, payable in twelve and eighteen months. For privileges not matured on that day he proposes to give notes for amounts received by him when the privileges were issued. Charles A. Hinkley, paying teller of the West Side Bank, Eighth avenue and Thirty-fourth street. embezzled $96,000 of the bank's funds and decamped. The embez zlement was discovered on Wednesday last. Hinkley did not appear at the bank on Wednesday morning, and not answering to a summons sent to his house, it was suspected that something was wrong. The books were overhauled and a large deficit detected. Bank officers certify that the capital stock $200, 000 is intact, and there is a surplus of $100,182. Hinkley has been connected with the bank as its paying teller ever since its organization, fifteen years ago, and was regarded as a man of most rigid integrity. Half a dozen detectives and deputy officers и atched the house of John C. Eno to night, servants admitted only intimate friends, Eno, is in bed sick.


Article from The Daily Cairo Bulletin, May 25, 1884

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UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE, and among the passengers only a few were able to save themselves. Many clung to the rigging after the first shock, thinking the vessel would stand the strain, and they might be picked up when the fog cleared, but when the vessel went to pieces they were all lost. Only $96,000. NEW YORK, May 24.-There was a considerable run on the West Side Bank this morning. Cashier Dobler said that Hinckley had not been heard of, but the deficit is not over $96,000.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, May 25, 1884

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Bank-Suspension

[By telegraph to the Dispatch.] NEW YORK, May 24.-The West-Side Bank suspended this afternoon. It was not a member of the clearing-house, and the American Exchange. Bank refuse to clear for them any longer.


Article from The Salt Lake Herald, May 25, 1884

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Bank Frauds

New York, 24.-In the West Side bank this morning Cashier Dobler refused to speak of the bank or its affairs. At 1.30 p.m. the bank suspended, and Dobler's silence was expiained. President George Moore says he closed because the American Exchange cleared for him. He said he had plenty of money to stand a run all day, but wanted to treat all the depositors as fairly as possible. Books are being inspected by two bank examiners. The president says they will have their statement ready shortly. The bank paid no interest; the directors and offi cers of the bank were in the building all day, but they refused to talk. All kinds of rumors are about in regard to Hinkley's defalcation. One was tbat Hinkley didn't content himself with $96,000. Hinkley is not yet heard from. President Moore said that he was sure that after the books are thoroughly examined no greater amonnt than $96,000 will be found missing, and that resumption of business will take place shortly.


Article from The Salt Lake Herald, May 25, 1884

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Another Run

New York, 24.-There has been a small run on the West Side Bank this afternoon, owing to the $96,000 defalcation of Hinckley, paying teller. The erowd of depositors flocked in and drew their money. Many only drew a portion. The officers of the bank refused to say anything of the defalcation, but promised & statement. Hinekley has not been heard of yet. The bank does not anticipate much of a run, and has a surplus of many thousands. It is stated the to'al liabilities are $1,800,000, and the bank had to meet them $1,700,000 in business paper and $200,000 in money; $600,000 of the paper matures within the next three weeks. It is understood some banks of the Clearing House Association were asked to share with the American Exchange the responsibility of assisting the West Side Bank. The proposal was not aecepted, however, and then the American Exchange refused to continue making its changes.


Article from Evening Star, May 26, 1884

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Bank Officers in Jail

THE RESULTS OF SPECULATION-PRECIDENT JOHN a ENO EVADES ARREST-SUSPENSION OF SIDE BANK, ETC. James D. Fish, the late president of the Marine bank, was arrested last night at the Mystic flats, where, it is said, he has been in concealment The warrant was based upon an amdavit of Bank Ex. aminer Scriba, who states that Fish misappropriated $1,141,000 of funds belonging to the bank, by to Grant & Ward. These amounts were on the bank's books as loans to imaginary and secured by imaginary collateral. Ferdinand Ward, in Ludlow street Jall, says that as HOOD as his nerves are composed be will prepare a public statement. Yesterday he was visited by his wife, his lawyer and his brother-in-law. A warrant was issued Saturday for the arrest of John C. Eno, the president of the Second National bank, on the complaint of the directors. thor. ough search of his house failed to and him, and he is believed to have fied. Adam Brahender, president of the defunct Erte county, Pa., savings bank, is now in Jail. He lost about $250,000 of the bank's money in oil and grain speculation. The run on the West Side bank, New York city caused by the defalcation of the paying teller of $96,000, mentioned in Saturday's STAR, resulted on Saturday afternoon in the suspension of the bank The officers state that they will have a surplus of $1,000,000 after paying all depositors, and they suspended only as a matter of precaution.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, May 26, 1884

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AFFAIRS IN NEW YORK.

Warrants were issued in New York on Saturday by the U. S. authorities for the arrest of John C. Eno, late president of the Second National Bank, and James D. Fish, late president of the Marine National Bank. Two deputy marshals armed with the warrant for Mr. Eno visited his house in the afternoon, and after a parley with the servant succeeded in entering. The ladies of the household confronted them in the hall, and declared firmly that the deputies should not make the search, at the same time protesting that Mr. Eno was not in the house. They sent for a policeman to put the intruders out, but when that official arrived he declined to interfere. Various delays kept the marshal's officers in the parlor for an hour. Then they searched the house from bottom to top, but could find no trace of their man. It was rumored, among other things, that Mr. Eno left his house on Friday night under the very noses of the detectives, who saw him go without the least suspicion. It was said that during Friday evening two gentlemen and four ladies went out in a party, and that Mr. Eno was one of the ladies.

Mr. Fish was arrested shortly after midnight upon a warrant issued by a United States Commissioner. He was not taken before a magistrate, and is in the custody of the deputy marshal who made the arrest.

The warrant was issued upon an affidavit made by Augustus Scriba, the national bank examiner. He deposed, after a careful examination of the books of the Marine Bank, that President Fish had misappropriated funds belonging to the bank to the amount of $1,141,000. This was done between March 1 and May 6, 1884.

Ferdinand Ward has improved in health since his incarceration. He attributes the change to the rest and quiet of the jail and his freedom from tormenting creditors. Mr. Ward authorized the announcement that neither he nor his brother would have any statement to make for three or four days, but at that time he would publish a statement. He said: "I can assure the public that my intention to bring to light every fact it is in relation to my business transactions, and when I do so it will be backed by evidence that can be proved beyond a doubt. But until I have fully prepared myself I had rather not speak."

What is equivalent in some respects to a statement is contained in Ward's affidavit to the writ of Receiver Julian T. Davis against W. S. Warner, in which he says: "For a long time prior to its suspension said firm was insolvent, and known to me to be insolvent. During said period I carried on transactions with various persons for the purpose of obtaining money, in which, in substance, I represented or intimated that I or my said firm had opportunities to employ money and make large profits thereby in short periods of time in connection with government and city contracts, and mining and other speculations, by means of which I obtained from various persons loans or advances of money upon agreements that my said firm would repay the same with additional sums called profits at short periods of time, which so-called profits were usually percentages upon the amounts advanced, equivalent to interest at various excessive rates, varying with different persons from two to twenty per cent. a month."

On these transactions, he says, Warner paid him about $6,000,000, and he paid Warner about $7,800,000, and when the firm suspended Warner held similar contracts purporting to show that the firm owed him more than $2,500,000. He says that a short time after the transactions began Warner received back the entire advances he had made in such transactions, and then began to leave his fictitious profits to be reinvested until he developed a large apparent indebtedness to himself. Then Mr. Ward says: "On several occasions I applied to Warner to accept two per cent. a month as profits, instead of twenty per cent. a month, but said Warner refused to do so, threatening to draw out the entire amount claimed to be due him unless further similar transactions were carried on on the basis of profits of twenty per cent. a month.

Ward frankly admits that there were no contracts and that there were no methods of investment. He says that Warner never inquired what the contracts were or made any attempt to ascertain anything about them, and had his contracts drawn so as not to show the amount of profits paid.

The West Side Bank, which was discovered on Friday to be the victim of Teller Hinckley's defalcation, suspended at 1.30 p. m. on Saturday. President Geo. Mason says they closed because the American Exchange refused to clear for them. He said further that they had plenty of money to stand the run all day, but he wanted to treat all the depositors fairly. The books are being inspected by two bank examiners.

THE CONFEDERATE HOME.

Owing, doubtless, to the unusual heat for this season of the year and the inopportune selection of the evening, the mass meeting held


Article from The Semi-Weekly Miner, May 28, 1884

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A Slight Run

NEW YORK, May 24.-There was a : light run on the West Side bank this afternoon, owing to the $96,000 defalcation of Hinckley, the paying teller. A crowd of depositors flocked in and drew their money. Many only drew a portion. The officers of the bank decline to say anything of the defalcation, but promise a statemen. Hinckley has not been heard of yet. The bank does not anticipate much of a run as it has a surplus of many thousands.


Article from The Daily Enterprise, May 28, 1884

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THE LATEST NEWS

Northern Pacific preferred, on Monday, 424 and rising. Reid & Smith, merchants of New York, have assigned. Strong's bank at Green Bay, Wis., closed its doors this morning. No particulars. At Havana, Cuba, there were thirteen deaths from yellow fever during last week. The Chinese government will exhibit a silk house in operation at the New Orleans exposition. At Belle Plain, Ia., Samuel Dunlap shot his wife SO she will die and then cut his own throat. Motive unknown. The strike among the cotton mill operators at Fall River, Mass., is ended. Most of them accepted the reduced wages. The West Side bank of New York will shortly resume business. Nothing is known of the whereabouts of Hinckley, the defaulting teller. At Oak Creek, Wis., Horace Baldwin's dead body was much too long for the coffin and his relatives sawed his feet off to make a fit. James D. Fish, ex-president of the insolvent Marine bank of New York, who was arrested, was admitted to $30,000 bail, which he furnished. A distinguished party left Washington on Monday for Annapolis. It included the president of the senate, speaker of the house, members of the senate and house committees on naval affairs and appropriations, Admiral Porter, General Sheridan. ministers of England, Russia. Germany and France, and the Maryland congressman.


Article from New-York Tribune, May 28, 1884

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The suspension of the bank should not be considered as a reflection upon its solvency. Such action was taken as a precautionary measure, and was fully testified by the refusal of its clearing house agent to clear for it. The bank will be ready to transact business so soon as arrangements are made with another bank to represent it in the Clearing House. It may be added that generally speaking the West Side Bank has been unusually well managed and that all losses from discounted paper since August 2, 1869, the time of its incorporation, to the date of its closing, do not exceed $10,500. The bank expects to resume business on Thursday next.


Article from Plateau Gazette and East Tennessee News, May 29, 1884

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C. A. Hinckley, the teller at the West Side Bank, New York, who lelt his post with $90,000, occasioned a run on the Bank, and its subsequent suspension.


Article from Weekly Phoenix Herald, May 29, 1884

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FIRST MESSAGE

ROCKPORT. Mass., May 28-The first message by the commercial cable was received at Rockport yesterday afternoon. AN ARKANSAS BANK CLOSED. HOT SPRINGS, Ark., May 28-The Hot Springs National Bank closed its doors yesterday, owing to a run on the reported absence of the President, Andrew Brown. Liabilities, $40,000. A run has commenced on the Arkansas National Bank, at Hot Springs, which is understood to be in good condition. Great excitement.. WILL RESUME. NEW YORK, May 27.-The West Side bank claims that it will shortly resume. Nothing is known of the whereabouts of the defaulting teller, Hinckley,


Article from The Austin Weekly Statesman, May 29, 1884

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A SMALL CRASH

I NEW YORK, May 24.-In the west side bank this morning, Cashier Dobler refused to speak of the bank or its affairs. At 1 o'clock p. m. the bank suspended, and Dobler's silence was explained. President George Moore says they closed because the American exchange refused to clear for them. He said, further, they had plenty of money to stand a run all day, but he wanted to treat depositors fairly. The books are being examined by two bank examiners. The president says they will have their statements ready shortly. This bank paid no interest. The directors and officers were in the building all day, but refused to talk about the suspension. All kinds of rumors were about in regard to Hinckley's defalcation. One was that Hinckley did not content himself with $96,000, Hinckley has not been heard from yet. President Moore said he was sure, after the books had been examined no greater amount than $96,000 would be found missing, and that resumption in business will take place shortly. When notice was given that the bank had suspended depositors turned away. On the closed doors the following notice was posted: "With deepest sorrow we have to announce the suspension of this bank. A statement will be prepared at once. Depositors will be paid in full, and we hope to resume again and merit the continuance of your past favors."


Article from The Milan Exchange, May 31, 1884

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MISCELLANEOUS

THE House Committee on Public Health has made a report that it would be unwise to confer upon the National Board of Health the management of quarantines and epidemics. IN the case of William Spence, accused of murdering Ed. S. Wheat at Nashville, Tenn., the motion for a new trial was denied, and Spence was sentenced to be hanged on the 18th of July. THE Senate Committee on Territories instructed Senator Vest to report adversely the bill to change the Eastern and Northern Judicial Districts of Texas and to attach thereto, for judicial purposes, a portion of the Indian Territory. ON the 24th the Union Bank of Uhricksville, O., suspended. A SMALL run was made on the West Side Bank, New York, on the 24th, caused by the defalcation of Hinckley, the paying teller. ON the 24th commetaoration exercises of the founding of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania were celebrated at Philadelphie.


Article from The Daily Enterprise, June 2, 1884

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THE LATEST NEWS

The West Side bank of New York has resumed business after its suspension. The firm of D. W. Middleton & Co., bankers at Washington, has assigned. Harvey D. Parker, proprietor of Boston's leading hotel,the Parker house, is dead. The failures of last week in the United States and Canada was 177-55 less than the week preceding. Heavy frosts have done great injury to vegetable and fruit crops in the eastern and middle states. At Philadelphia during a quarrel between a man named Fitzpatrick and his wife, their son interfered and struck his father, when the latter killed his son. Nubar Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt, is prepairing a statement to the powers showing that Egypt is unable to support the present rate of taxation. The land tax is often greater than the gross value of the crops. Ar explosion of dynamite wrecked the building called Scotland Yard occupied by the London detective force. Five persons were injured, probably fatally, and several others less seriously. The dynamite had been placed in an unused part of the building and exploded by a fuse. Rochfort, the celebrated Paris journalist, makes a violent attack through his paper on Gen. Grant on the ground that he was openly unfriendly to France during the Franco-Prussian war and since-an unfriendliness which Rochfort says was intended to capture the German-American vote at future elections.


Article from Sacramento Daily Record-Union, June 2, 1884

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SATURDAY'S NEWS

[CONDENSED FROM SPECIAL DISPATCHES.] Domestic. The West Side Bank in New York has resumed. The Japanese Prince Yumanchina and suite sailed for Europe Saturday. Harvey D. Parker, proprietor of the Park House, Boston, died Saturday morning, aged 79. The New York banks' statement shows the banks are $1,977,625 below the legal requirements. An attempt was made Friday night at Columbus, Ga., to assassinate Governor James N. Smith. At Batesville, Miss., H. W. Thater, editor of the Blade, killed Julius Porter, a lawyer, in self-defense. The Kinney County, (Tex.) jail was burned Saturday night, and a prisoner perished in the flames. The failures reported for the past seven days in the United States and Canada were 177, a decrease of 55. Slosson defeated Schaeffer in a match game of billiards at Chicago Saturday night; $500 a side, 800 points. Eleven cowboys were drowned and a cattle camp was destroyed by a cloud burst near the Nebraska and Colorado line. President Riddle and Cashier Reiber of the suspended Pennsylvania Bank at Pittsburg, have been arrested on charges of conspiracy to defraud the bank. Members of the Siamese Embassy, after viewing the parade in New York Friday, started at 6 P. M. Saturday for San Francisco. They will stop at various places, including Salt Lake City. D. C. O. Howard, charged with robbing the Bank of Monmouth, Illinois, of $150,000, was arrested at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Saturday, on a telegram from the Monmouth authorities. He confesses his identity, but is reticent regarding the crime. The following notice was posted Saturday morning upon the doors of the banking house of D. W. Middleton & Co., No. 1427 Second street, Washington : "Owing to heavy and immediate demands, we have assigned to George T. Green for the benefit of our creditors." The doors of the bank were not closed, and a number of excited persons soon gathered inside, talking over the suspension.


Article from The Indianapolis Journal, June 2, 1884

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Notes

Barber & Co., Woolen merchants, of Toronto, Ont., assigned on Saturday, with $80,000 liabilities. The West Side Bank, of New York, reopened on Saturday. Depositors drew out $13,000, and paid in $300,000. A Greensburg, Pa., special says the depositors in the Union Deposit Company will not receive three cents on the dollar. D. C. O. Howard, charged with robbing a Monmouth, IH., bank of $150,000 was arrested on Saturday at Waukesha. At New York Ferdinand Ward made a assignment on Saturday. His individual liabilities are $659,000; nominal assets, $977,000; actual assets, $3,500. Stratton & Co., of Petersburg, Va., wholesale liquor dealers, confess judgment in favor of the Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, to which they are indebted $33,000. Jas. Hanson, sash. door and blinds manufacturer, 231 West Third street, Cincinnati. has assigned for the benefit of creditors. Assets about $15,000; liabilities in excess of assets.


Article from The Kenosha Telegraph, June 6, 1884

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a decrease in deposits of $8,214,000, and that they held $1,997,625 less than their legal requirements. BUSINESS has been resumed by the West Side Bank at New York after'a short suspension. TOTAL liabilities of $729,231.11 were showed by the schedules of Ferdinand Ward filed at New York on the 31st ult., with actual assets of only $3,500. The nominal assets were placed at $977,871.85. J. F. HOYT, cashier of the Butler County Savings Bank at Millerstown, Pa., was on the 31st ult. discovered to be $22,000 short in his accounts. AT Philadelphia on the 2d the United States Circuit Court appointed Stephen N. Caldwell, Edwin M. Lewis and George De B. Keim receivers of the Reading Railway Company, and issued an injunction restraining any interference with the receivers. A FIRE a few nights ago destroyed the Ware River Mill at South Barre, Mass., causing a loss of $100,000. THE well-known New York firm of brokers, Fisk & Hatch, who suspended during the recent crisis, announced their resumption of business on the 2d.


Article from The Sun, June 19, 1884

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How are the Mighty Fallen? New York Letter. The calamities connected with the recent panic culminated in the suicide of Thomas Grinnell. He was in a good financial condition, but was the victim of fear and anxiety to a degree that drove him mad. No one out-side of Wall street can form any idea of the intensity of the excitement at such a time. The deceased was a brother of George B. Grinnell (also a leading stock operator), and the tragedy throws a shadow over a wide circle of the highest class of societv. Other fatal consequences may be expected, and indeed it is expected that the Ward & Grant collapse will kill Gen. Grant. He is much shattered and has really suffered more than he did during the whole war. The friends of James D. Fish also say that this will be the death of him. A few days ago he considered himself worth a million and a half and was president of a bank whose stock was in demand at 167. Now the bank is ruined and he has been arrested and is under bail. Considering his time of life, it would not be surprising if these misfortunes proved fatal. George I. Seney, being younger, has a better chance of surviving. but he too is a ruined man. and has ruined one bank (the Atlantic) and has almost ruined another (the Metropolitan), besides the injury inflicted on the West Side bank. As one views the array of prostrate magnates one cannot but exclaim: "How are the mighty fallen?"