State Bank - Sidney, NE

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type: state
Start Date: June 27, 1889
Location: Sidney, Nebraska (41.143, -102.978)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: daf39a75

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (dated June 27/28, 1889) reports the cashier S. C. Morgan committed suicide and the bank is now closed, while officers assure the bank's financial condition is unimpaired. There is no mention of depositor runs, receivership, or permanent failure — closure appears temporary following the cashier's death.

Events (1)

1. June 27, 1889 Suspension

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Cashier S. C. Morgan committed suicide, prompting the bank to close temporarily; officers state finances unimpaired.
Newspaper Excerpt: The bank is now closed, but Sharmer assures everybody the financial condition of the bank is unimpaired.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. June 28, 1889 Omaha Daily Bee Omaha, NE

Article from Omaha Daily Bee, June 28, 1889

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Article Text

CASHIER MORGAN SUICIDES. He Blows His Brains Out in Bed With a Revolver. A BIG SENSATION AT SIDNEY. No Cause Known for the Rash DeedHis Wife Visiting in OmahaWhat His Relatives Say. Chet Moragn's End. SIDNEY, Neb., June 27.-[Special Telegram to THE BEE.]-S. C. Morgan, cashier of the State Bank of Sidney, committed suicide this morning, shooting himself through the head with a Colt's 45 pistol. He was in bed at the time. It appears that this morning Morgan called John Eckert, who is working at the house, to go up to the bank to get Joe Sharmer's "pop," as he wanted to kill some rats. John got the pistol, brought it to the house and placed it on the table, saying, "Her c is the pistol, "and went out. At 11 o'clock he returned to tell Morgan his wife had not arrived, she being in Omaha visiting and was expected home to-day. Eckert saw blood on the bed and rushed uptown to inform Sharmer. The sight that met their gaze was a ghastly one-Morgan lying in bed dead, with the top of his head blown off, the pistol lying along side of him. Sheriff Eubank and jury have been taking evidence, and everything leads to the theory of suicide. No cause is assigned, as he appeared to have no business troubles, and was making money. His wife is a daughter of the H. W. of Yates, Nebraska National bank of Omaha, and his father, F. C. Morgan, has lived in Omahamany years, he having been born there Frank Johnson of the Bank of Commerce is a partner and president here in the bank. The bank is now closed, but Sharmer assures everybody the financial condition of the bank 18 unimpaired. Nothing new was developed in the examination of witnesses this afternoon before the coroner's jury. Chet Morgan is dead and his death has cast a gloom about the community. He was beloved by all, at all times jovial and happy, and the last man in the world whom it was thought would commit suicide. The coroner's jury rendered the following verdict: "That the deceased, S. C. Morgan, came to his death by a pistol shot wound through his bead, the weapon used being a Colt's 45. calibre pistol, and at the time of his death he was laboring under a temporary aberration of the mind." The body has been embalmed by Dr. Field and will be sent to relatives at Omaha for interment to-morrow.