Chamberlain Banking House

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Closure
Bank Type: state
Start Date: August 1, 1900*
Location: Tecumseh, Nebraska (40.367, -96.196)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 3b40e24c

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (1908) recounts the earlier failure of the Chamberlain Banking House in August 1900, involving embezzlement/insolvency and a receiver. No run is described; bank failed and a receiver handled records, so classify as suspension leading to permanent closure. OCR corrected 'WPS' to 'was' in snippet when reading; no other corrections.

Events (2)

1. August 1, 1900* Receivership

Newspaper Excerpt: The books ... were sent by express ... and were deposited by the receiver in his office ... The books of the failed Chamberlain banking house were stolen from the court house here last night ... The books had been taken to Auburn for use in the court thereChamberlain's bank ... left a large number of depositors ... in August of 1900. (article describes receiver handling records.)
Source: newspapers

2. August 1, 1900* Suspension

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Bank left depositors 'high and dry' after insolvency; prosecutor alleges Chamberlain accepted deposits knowing bank was insolvent; embezzlement conviction referenced.
Newspaper Excerpt: Chamberlain's bank, known as the Chamberlain Banking House, left a large number of depositors and business interests high and dry in August of 1900.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. October 25, 1908 Omaha Daily Bee Omaha, NE

Article from Omaha Daily Bee, October 25, 1908

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Article Text

BOOKS STOLEN FROM SHERIFF Evidence Against Accused Tecumseh Banker Disappears. MAY PREVENT HIS PROSECUTION Box of Bank Records Deposited in Court House, but Attorneys Seeking to Inspect Them Find Them Gone. TECUMSEH, Neb., Oct. 24.-(Special Telegram.)-The books of the failed Chamberlain banking house were stolen from the court house here last night and it is possible all the cases pending against C. M. Chamberlain, the former cashier of the institution, who is being prosecuted on the charge of wrecking the bank, may go free. The books, packed in a box and weighing over 200 pounds, were sent by express yesterday afternoon from Auburn to Sheriff H. U. Miner of Johnson county and were deposited by the receiver in his office without being locked in a vault because the county attorney and Attorney G. A. Adams of Lincoln, his co-counsel, desired to inspect them last night to prepare for a trial of new cases filed in Gage county. When they went to the court house at 8:30 p. m., the box was gone. A window was open and tracks of a wagon were visible at the east entrance to the court house grounds, showing how the books had been carried away. An effort was made immediately to stop the escape of the persons who took the books, but it was too late, and up till noon today no trace of the missing evidence WPS found. Entrance Through Window. Police Judge J. H. Lawrence has his office with the sheriff and was the last to leave the sheriff's rooms last evening, departing about 5:30 o'clock. The janitor of the court house locked the rooms as usual a little later. It is apparent that someone entered the court house through a window in an office near that of the sheriff and then secured entrance to his office with ease. Chamberlain's bank, known as the Chamberlain Banking House, left a large number of depositors and business interests high and dry in August of 1900. Chamberlain departed and was brought back after he had wandered about in the southern states and Mexico. It is said the extent of the loss to interested persons will reach $100,000. He was found guilty in Nemaha county on a charge of embezzlement and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. The supreme court remanded the case for new trial, and this trial was recently continued in Auburn until December. The books had been taken to Auburn for use in the court there when the case was put over. Recently new cases have been instituted in Gage county against Chamberlain on the charge that he accepted deposits in the bank knowing the same to be insolvent. These suits were to have been tried in a short time. County Attorney J. C. Moore and Attorney George A. Adams of Lincoln were making up their case from the evidence furnished by the books. The loss will be a blow to the prosecution and may result in the failure of all cases pending. It has been a source of wonder to local people where Mr. Chamberlain secured funds to prosecute his defense, as he has all along protested that he had nothing from the wreck of the bank and that he was in fact bankrupt.