10936. Commercial Bank & Trust Company (Brookhaven, MS)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
January 5, 1914
Location
Brookhaven, Mississippi (31.579, -90.441)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
66cb04ad

Response Measures

None

Description

The Commercial Bank & Trust Co. was already closed and in the hands of assignees/receivers by early 1914 (assignees' transactions dated from Jan 5, 1914). Newspapers describe a heavy rush by depositors to get a 10% dividend when an order to pay it was publicized (resembled a run), but the bank remained defunct under receivership and did not reopen; receivers/assignees and court proceedings continued and depositors were later paid in full. I classify this as a suspension (failure) that resulted in permanent closure/receivership, with a depositors' rush during dividend disbursement rather than an initial run causing the failure.

Events (4)

1. January 5, 1914 Suspension
Cause Details
Bank had already failed and was placed in the hands of assignees/receivers; closure/assignment to assignees led to suspension of normal operations.
Newspaper Excerpt
assignees of the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust company ... have filed with chancery court a statement setting forth their transactions from Jan. 5.
Source
newspapers
2. April 1, 1914 Run
Cause Details
A large crowd of depositors rushed to collect a 10% dividend payment ordered by the chancellor while the bank was in receivership; this was a payment rush rather than an initial failure-triggering panic.
Measures
Assignees and bank staff paid out checks as prepared; assignees expedited making and signing checks for the 10% dividend.
Newspaper Excerpt
RUSH BY COMMERCIAL'S DEPOSITORS TO GET DIVIDENDS RESEMBLED A RUN ON A BANK ... After the news became general last Wednesday that Chancellor Jones had ordered the assignees ... to pay a 10 per cent. dividend, depositors from all parts began to come in and demand what was due them. By Saturday the crowd ... resembled a run on a bank, and lasted all day.
Source
newspapers
3. June 24, 1914 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
ASSIGNEES AND BOTH ATTORNEYS RECOMMEND ... selected TO ACT AS RECEIVER ... Auditor Wildberger ... to act as receiver ... 'Special to The News. Jackson, Miss., July 30.-Associate Justice ... will give a hearing ... in the Commercial Bank & Trust Company muddle at Brookhaven.' (reports of assignees, removal and court proceedings.)
Source
newspapers
4. May 15, 1920 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
DEPOSITORS FIRST IN BANK FAILURE ... depositors of the bank had been paid in full ... stockholders of defunct banking institutions cannot share in a distribution ... decision rendered ... in the Commercial Bank & Trust Company case, at Brookhaven.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (8)

Article from The Semi-Weekly Leader, April 1, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

RUSH BY COMMERCIAL'S DEPOSITORS TO GET DIVIDENDS RESEMBLED A RUN ON A BANK News of Order for 10 Per Cent Disbursement Spread Rapidly-The Letter With Condensed Statement That is Being Sent Out by Assignees L. Cohn and L. H. Baggett. tention of the assignees to comAfter the news became general last Wednesday that Chancellor mence payments of the amounts beJones had ordered the assignees of fore all the checks were ready, but the Commercial Bank & Trust demand being made for the money due, by various depositors, every Company to pay a 10 per cent. dividend, depositors from all parts effort was made to pay each amount as called for. began to come in and demand what was due them. By Saturday the While the dividend declared is crowd had become so great that a small-only 10 per cent.-in the line-up before the bank's window, aggregate it is a large amount, or rather check window, resembled footing up $50,553.79, the major "a run on a bank," and lasted all portion of which will find its way day. The rush became so great into circulation in Lincoln county. that Auditor Moore had to be press It will help many a farmer to ed into service as well as the emget his crop under way, the busiployment of Warren Brown to help ness man to carry on his business, out the regular force in getting as well as alleviate the suffering to out the checks. some extent of widows and the On account of the fact that the aged, numbers of whom were left assignees had not had time to penniless by the bank's closure. make out the checks for 10 per cent. payment declared they were The following letter, enclosing written when called for as fast as checks, is being sent out to the creditors of the bank, and while all possible. After being checked for of those who have not called for correctness by the Auditor and Cashier Tull, they went into the their percentage of dividend will hands of the Assignees, who had to get one of these, the information sign them before they became it contains is published for the valid. public-many being interested beIt had not been the original inside the depositors:-


Article from The Commonwealth, May 8, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ECONOMY IS SHOWN. No Extravagance in Settling Affairs of Bank. Brookhaven Messrs. Louis Cohn and L. H. Baggett, former assignees of the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust company. who were recently succeeded in office, have filed with chancery court a statement setting forth their transactions from Jan. 5. The report shows that the receivers, instead of being guilty of extravagance, as some of the depositors had intimated. incurred a total expense of only $2,297. which included reimbursement of the property, premiums on bond of bookkeeper city taxes, inventory, exchange. printing. and their own compensation. The report says: "In connection with this. we take pleasure in calling the attention to the court to the revenues collected since the estate has come into our hands, to-wit: Interest, $4,166.21: rents. $2,241.21; exchange, $1.17, mak ing a total of $6,408.59, double the amount in this report, but, in fact, nearly three times the amount of the actual operating expenses. Of course there are items which will have to we paid in the future, which will neces. sarily be charged against the estate such as premium on assignees' bond. attorney's fees, etc. We have included in this report itemized statement of collections, giving names of parties both on notes and overdrafts, and showing the present condition of all accounts, which have received credit since the bank closed."


Article from Oxford Eagle, May 14, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ECONOMY IS SHOWN. No Extravagance in Settling Affairs of Bank. Brookhaven.-Messrs. Louis Cohn and L. H. Baggett, former assignees of the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust company, who were recently succeeded in office, have filed with chancery court a statement setting forth their transactions from Jan. 5. The report shows that the receivers, instead of being guilty of extravagance, as some of the depositors had Intimated. incurred a total expense of only $2,297. which included reimbursement of the property, premiums on bond of bookkeeper, city taxes, inventory. exchange, printing, and their own compensation. The report says: "In connection with this, we take pleasure in calling the attention to the court to the revenues collected since the estate has come into our hands, to-wit: Interest, $4,166.21; rents, $2,241.21; exchange, $1.17. making a total of $6,408.59. double the amount in this report, but, in fact, nearly three times the amount of the actual operating expenses. of course there are items which will have to be paid in the future, which will necessarily be charged against the estate, such as premium on assignees' bond. attorney's fees, etc. We have included in this report itemized statement of collections, giving names of parties, both on notes and overdrafts, and showing the present condition of all accounts, which have received credit since the bank closed."


Article from Macon Beacon, May 15, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ECONOMY IS SHOWN. No Extravagance in Settling Affairs of Bank. Brookhaven.-Messrs. Louis Cohn and L. H. Baggett, former assignees of the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust company, who were recently succeeded in office, have filed with chancery court a statement setting forth their transactions from Jan. 5. The report shows that the receivers, instead of being guilty of extravagance, as some of the depositors had intimated, incurred a total expense of only $2,297, which included reimburse ment of the property, premiums on bond of bookkeeper, city taxes, inventory, exchange, printing, and their own compensation. The report sans: "In connection with this, we time pleasure in calling the attention au the court to the revenues collected since the estate has come into our hands, to-wit: Interest, $4,166.21; rents, $2,241.21; exchange, $1.17, making a total of $6,408.59, double the amount in this report, but, in fact, nearly three times the amount of the actual operating expenses. Of course there are items which will have to be paid in the future, which will necessarily be charged against the estate, such as premium on assignees' bond, attorney's fees, etc. We have included in this report itemized statement of collections, giving names of parties, both on notes and overdrafts, and showing the present condition of all accounts, which have received credit since the bank closed."


Article from The Semi-Weekly Leader, June 24, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ASSIGNEES AND BOTH ATTORNEYS RECOMMEND AND ACCOUNTANT WILDBERGER. OR SOME OTHER IMPARTIAL MAN. SELECTED TO ACT AS RECEIVER WITH SOME NEW ATTORNEY. ASSISTANT CASHIER TULL DREW OUT $900 ON THE MORNING OF FAILURE J. W. Cassedy, Attorney, Advises Against Suit Being Instituted Against Bank of Franklin-It's Rights as a Depositor No Greater Than Those of Other Depositors-Other Suits Recommended. The following document was vertisement," and that, as - Asin filed in Chancery Court today signee, he would be compelled, the matter of the Commercial Bank under the recommendations of the & Trust Co. 's affairs: report, to institute suits against himself as a stockholder of the Brookhaven, Miss. June 24, 1914. bank. To Hon. P. Z. Jones, Chancellor We call the Court's attention to of the Fifth Chancery Court Disthe fact that Assignee Louis Cohn, trict of the State of Mississippi, a stockholder and director of the including Lincoln county: defunct bank, would be compelled, We, the undersigned committee under the recommendations of the of the Depositors of the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust Comreport, to institute suits against himself as a stockholder, and as pany, duly and regularly appointed the maker of a note involved in the by said Depositors in. public meet Bank of Meadville transaction, ing to act for them, respectfully and we think, against himself as a beg leave to state as follows: Director who failed to direct in We first wish to call your attenthis instance. tion to the fact that at the time We, therefore, not only heartily said institution closed its doors, it concur in the recommendation of was with the most positive assurthe Commission that one of the ance that its affairs had been conAssignees be relieved of further ducted regularly and on a high duties, but we earnestly insist plane; that conditions over which that both are totally disqualified to it had no control necessitated its act as Assignees, and respectfully closing. and that the Depositors urge that both be by Your Honor would receive dollar for dollar. removed, and another assignee, a The matter was presented to Your wholly impartial, disinterested Honor, the assignment made, the man, be appointed assignees from the officials of the At this juncture, we desire esbank, with attorneys from the officials and their relatives, made bepecially to commend the work accomplished by Auditor Wildberger, fore any depositor, or the public, and we further recommend that it knew it. There was, therefore, would be to the best interest of all no opportunity for any Depositor concerned that both the present to object to Your Honor's appointment. Assignees be removed, and that Your Honor could do no better Thereafter, however, when the than to appoint Mr. Wildberger same report made to Your Honor as Assignee, to continue and conwas just as positively repeated to clude the good work he has begun. the stunned Depositors, that every We wish it to be further underthing was regular and dollar for stood, however, that while we dollar would inevitably be paid, earnestly recommend Mr. Wildthey, with the intent to be perfectberger, still any disinterested, imly fair, and relying on the assurpartial, capable man will be satisances systematically handed out to factory to the depositors. them, chose to await developments With reference to the Attorneys and made no protest, in legal form, connected with the management, against said appointments and the we desire to call Your Honor's atproposed liquidation of the bank's affairs. tention to the fact that Attorney Hiram Cassedy, a stockholder, We remind Your Honor that this director and attorney of the Bank attitude was maintained consistbefore its decease, is propounding, ently, in spite of the rumors which so we are advised, a claim of his constantly leaked out, until the own against the defunct bank, report of the first auditor was filed amounting to about $700, which IS in your court, showing a situation more than three years old, yet to amaze and alarm the most sanwhich he is seeking, so we are adguine Meantime, the managevised, to have declared a preferment of the bank, which was supence claim, in the face of the deposed to be in the interest of the positors' interests Furthermore, depositors. had frankly and boldly as Attorney for the Assignees, he manifested an attitude which was would be compelled under the recnot only, in our opinion, not in the ommendations of the Commission, interest of the depositors, but careto to institute suits against himself less of them, and even inimical them. as a stockholder of the bank and as a signer of the note involved in It being indisputably apparent the Bank of Meadville transaction, to the Depositors that the managealso, we think, against himself as a ment of the bank before its failure negligent Director and perhaps as had not been what it should have a debtor of the bank, unless his been, and that the methods of the present indebtedness is settled by assignees and their attorneys, in him. fluenced naturally by family and e show that Attorney. W. Casbusiness ties, were not what the sedy is closely connected to the interests of the Depositors demand management of the bank by busied, there were held several meetness ties, and to do his duty would ings of the Depositors, which rehave to Sue his cousin Hiram Cassulted in the passing of rosolusedy with whom he advises as CO tions expressing the condemnation attorney for the Assignees, and has of the Depositors for the past and already advised against following present management, and calling up the recommendation of the for relief in various forms. commission that suit be instituted Influenced, as we are persuaded, against the Bank of Franklin. by these resolutions, and to the end We, therefore, while concurring that justice might be done to all in the recommendation that one of concerned, Your Honor, as a means said Attorneys be removed, earnestof obtaining a basis upon which to ly insist that it is to the best interact intelligently and justly, proposests of all concerned that both the ed the appointment of a commission present attorneys be removed, and of three impartial, disinterested, some other chosen who can and non-resident gentlemen, of busiwill, without fear or favor, repreness, legal and accounting skill, to sent and push the depositors' interthoroughly investigate the records ests, and institute the following of the defunct institution and suits: made due report of their findings. A puit against the Bank of In this proposal of Your Honor's Franklin, since it is unfair for the the Depositors acquiesced, but the Bank of Franklin, whose president assignees and their attorneys obwas F. F. Becker and whose cashier jected. Nevertheless, a well chosen was and is a son-in-law of F. F. commission was appointed by Your Honor on the 27th day of April, Becker, to be preferred by the defunct Commercial Bank & Trust 1914, who began work promptly and who have now made the preCompany, whose President was F. F. Becker. Its rights as a deposiliminary report their duty required. tor are no greater and no more sacred than those of the other deWith this summary of the propositors. ceedings, we desire to say now that A suit against the Stockholders so far as said report goes, we wish of the Commercial Bank & Trust to express our approval of the Company same, and urge that Your Honor A suit against the Crosby Bonds act upon its recommendations withLumber Company out delay. We desire further to A suit against the Arrington say, however, that in our opinion Foundry & Machine Company the report could have been more A suit against persons who were drastic with entire justice. and its recommendations more far-reachdepositors of the bank but whose money was returned; ing, in view of the conditions suit against the nine Directors brought to light by their investigations. of the bank who either owe the bank on note which they have not We call the Court's attention to paid, or else bad wrongfully had the fact that Assignee L. H Bagthe bank to operate the Bank of gett, a stockholder, director and assistant cashier of the defunct Meadville, who are in either instance liable; bank now stands charged with havA suit against the Directors of ing made a false statement of the bank's condition, which he would


Article from The Hattiesburg News, July 30, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

BROOKHAVEN BANKERS TO BE TRIED TOMORROW ASSOCIATE JUSTICE COOK WILL HAVE HEARING ON RESTRAINING ORDER. Special to The News. Jackson, Miss., July 30.-Associate Justice Sam C. Cook, of the Supreme Court, will give a hearing Friday to the restraining order issued by him a few days since in the Commercial Bank & Trust Company muddle at Brookhaven. The restraining order will open for review by Justice Cook practically every phase of the bank failure. Last week Chancellor P. Z. Jones issued a r summary order for the removal of the S receivers, Messrs. L. H. Baggett and L. Cohen, because they had refused to r obey his decree granting a $250 fee to R. H. Wildberger, special commissioner appointed to audit the books, and adjudging the receivers in contempt of court, also directing that the assets of the bank be turned over to the custody of the sheriff. d Under the statutes there can be no supercedeas and appeal from a decree for contempt, and Justice Cook's restraining order merely gives the receivn ers a right of review. Attorneys for n all interests involved in the bank failS ure will be present at Friday's hearing. h


Article from The Semi-Weekly Leader, August 12, 1914

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

which event the assignees would, in all probability, decline to pay, although they contend that they are qualified to adminsiter the estate by reason of the fact that special attorneys have been appointed to handle the cases wherein their personal interests conflict with their interests as assignees. Following 18 the order issued by Chief Justice Cook and Associate Justice Reed; Louis Cohn and L. H. Baggett, Assignees, vs. Commercial Bank & Trust Copmany: 'This cause coming on for hearing before the undersigned Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi upon an application by said assignees and receivers and stockholders and depositors of the Commercial Bank & Trust Compnay for an appeal and supersedeas of certain orders entered in said cause by the Hon. P. Z. Jones Judge of the Chancery Court of Lincoln county, on August 1st, 1914, removing and discharging said assignees and receivers, and refusing to recuse himself in said cause, and being fully advised in the premises, it IS ordered that an appeal and supersedeas be granted from the orders of said Chancellor to the Supreme Court of Mississippi, upon petitioners entering into bond, conditioned according to law, in the sum of one thousand dollars, to be approved by the Chancery Clerk of Lincoln county. "Ordered and decreed this 8th day of August, 1914. "SAM C. COOK, 'R. F. REED. Louis Cohn and L. H. Buggett, assignees, with their attorneys. H. and J. W. Cassedy, Special Counsel Julian C. Wilson and L. L. Tyler, for the stockholders, and J. W. McGrath and David Cohn were present at the hearing and asking for the granting of the order secured, while T. Brady, Jr., A. A. Cohn and Allen Thompson, attorneys, and F. S. Swalm, E. Nations, Alfred W. Smith and Paul M. Hobbs appeared opposing it. The judges limited each side to one hour and 15 minutes for a presentation of its claims. J. W. Cassedy and T. Brady making the longest pleas, with Julian C. Wilson closing the argument. Several lively tilts between counsel, some pleasant, others grave, enlivened the hearing and conduct of the case. At a meeting held in Natchez by the depositors' committee Saturday night with their attorneys, plans and arrangements were made whereby action will again be taken to attain the ends the depositors have been striving for, and to which they are entitled.


Article from The Semi-Weekly Leader, May 15, 1920

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

DEPOSITORS FIRST IN BANK FAILURE Stockholders Last Paid in Sharing Assets, Judge Stricker Rules. Stockholders of defunct banking institutions cannot share in a distribution of assets by receivers until depositors have been paid in full, and also allowed interest on their deposits from the date of failure, according to a decision rendered by Chancellor V. J. Stricker, of this city, in the Commercial Bank & Trust Company case, at Brookhaven. The depositors of the bank had been paid in full and a small balance was left in the hands of the receiver, which it was proposed to distribute among the stockholders, when a legal proceeding intervened, and demand was made that the depositors be allowed interest on their claims, covering a period of six years. Chancellor Stricker held that the depositors are entitled. to the interest. The amount, however, is not sufficient to pay interest in full, but the decision means that stockholders get nothing at all.-Jackson Daily News.