1441. Mercantile National Bank (Pueblo, CO)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
4108
Charter Number
4108
Start Date
March 29, 1915
Location
Pueblo, Colorado (38.254, -104.609)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
305479a4

Response Measures

Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Receiver appointed; later indictments/embezzlement allegations against officers.

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
84.0%
Date receivership started
1915-03-30
Date receivership terminated
1923-09-19
OCC cause of failure
Fraud
Share of assets assessed as good
48.7%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
17.8%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
33.5%

Description

Contemporary articles (Mar 29–31, 1915) report a run by depositors that precipitated the bank's closing; several items state the bank was closed by order of the Controller of the Currency and placed in receivership. Reports cite resignation of cashier C. C. (Coney) Slaughter, poor loans/possible embezzlement, and a national bank examiner reviewing affairs. The bank did not reopen; receivers and subsequent indictments/claims confirm permanent failure.

Events (5)

1. August 31, 1889 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. March 29, 1915 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals followed the sudden resignation/absconding of cashier C. C. (Coney) Slaughter and disclosure of poor loans; national bank examiner was reviewing affairs.
Measures
Reports say W. B. Slaughter (president) hurried funds to Pueblo and was coming with funds to carry bank through the crisis, but these efforts did not prevent closure.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today, after the beginning of a run by depositors.
Source
newspapers
3. March 29, 1915 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Closed by order of the Controller of the Currency following the run and examiner findings; some reports cite poor loans as underlying reason.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Mercantile National bank ... was closed today by orders of the controller of currency.
Source
newspapers
4. March 30, 1915 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
5. April 16, 1915 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Coney C. Slaughter, until recently cashier of the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, Colo., now in the hands of a receiver, has been indicted by the federal grand jury on a charge of falsifying the books of the bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (22)

Article from The Topeka State Journal, March 29, 1915

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Bank Closes at Pueblo. Pueblo, March 29.-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today, after the beginning of a run by depositors. A national bank examiner is said to have been going over the affairs of the institution for several days. The bank is capitalized at $200,000, and its last statement give deposits of $1,313,859.


Article from Evening Times-Republican, March 29, 1915

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PUEBLO BANK CLOSED. of Run of Depositors Cause Closing Doors of Mercantile National. Pueblo, Colo., March 29.-The Marcantile National Bank closed its doors here today. following a run by I depositors. C. C. Saighter, the cashier, resigned several days ago. The bank is capitalized at $200,000 and its last statement gave deposits of $1,313,859.


Article from The Evening Herald, March 29, 1915

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PUEBLO BANK WITH BIG DEPOSITS SHUTS DOORS Pueblo, Colo. March 29.-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today. following the beginning of a run by depositors. C. C. Slaughter, the cashier, resigned several days ago, and since then a national bank examiner is said to have been going over the affairs of the institution. The bank is capitalized at $200,000. and its last statement gave deposits of $1,313,859. It was reported today that W. B. Slaughter of Houston, Texas, president of the Mercantile National was on his way to Pueblo with funds to take up any questionable loans that may have been made, and that the bank probably would be reopened soon.


Article from The Daily Gate City, March 29, 1915

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A Run on the Bank. [United Press Leased Wire Service.] PUEBLO, Colo., March 29.-The Mercantile National bank, with deposits of $1,500,000, and capitalized at $600,000 was closed today by orders of the controller of currency. The sudden resignation of C. C. Slaughter. cashier, last Thursday, was followed by heavy runs on the bank. The order came while W. B. Slaughter, capitalist of Dallas, Texas, was hurrying here with funds to carry the bank through the crisis. Poor loans are assigned as the cause of the closing. There is marked confidence, however, the loans are col lectible, but slow and the bank will pay 100 cents on the dollar to depositors. The bank was controlled by the Dallas capitalist and his son was practically executive head of the institution. Local stockholders and Cashier Blaughter disagreed over certain maters and subsequent rumors led to the un. Confidence in the Slaughter re-


Article from Daily Capital Journal, March 29, 1915

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PUEBLO BANK FAILS. Pueblo, Colo., March 29.-The Mercantile National bank here, with deposits of $1,500,000, and a capital of $6.000,000 was closed today by order of the state controller. The sudden resignation of C. C. Slaughter last Thursday was followed by runs on the bank. Poor loans, it was reported, were responsible for the bank's difficulties.


Article from El Paso Herald, March 29, 1915

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Pueblo Bank Closes Doors. Pueblo, Col., March 29.-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today following the beginning of a run by depositors. C. C. Slaughter, the cashier. resigned several days ago and since then a national bank examiner is said to have been going over the affairs of the institution. The bank is capitalized at $200,000 and its last statement gave deposits of $1,313,859.


Article from Omaha Daily Bee, March 30, 1915

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Pueblo Bank Closes Because of Run PUEBLO, Colo., March 29.-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today, following the beginning of a run by depositors. C. C. Slaughter, the cashier. resigned several days ago, and since then a national bank examiner is said to have been going over the affairs of the institution. The bank is capitalized at $200,000 and its last statement gave deposits of $1.313,859.


Article from The Detroit Times, March 30, 1915

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PUEBLO, Col., March 29.-The Mercantile National bank, with deposits of $1,500,000 and capitalized at $600,000, was closed today by orders of the controller of the currency. The sudden resignation of C. 3. Slaughter, cashier, last Thursday, was followed by heavy runs on the bank. The order came while W. B. Blaughter, capitalist, of Dallas, Tex., was arrying here with funds to carry the bank through the crisis.


Article from Weekly Journal-Miner, March 31, 1915

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RUN CLOSES BANK PUEBLO, March 29-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors today following a short run. It is capitalized at $200,000 and according to the last statement its deposits to taled $1,313,859.


Article from Albuquerque Morning Journal, March 31, 1915

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Silverton Bank Closes. Durango, Colo., March 30.-The Silverton National bank, owned by W. B. Slaughter, president of the suspended Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, closed its doors today with the statement that its embarrassment was merely temporary and that resumption Wednesday was probable. The capitalization of the Silverton National bank is $25,000. It is said to have used the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo as a depository.


Article from Abilene Weekly Reflector, April 1, 1915

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Pueblo Bank Closes Pueblo, Colo., March 30.-The Mercantile National bank closed its doors here today after the beginning of a run by depositors. A national bank examiner is said to have been going over the affairs of the institution for several days. The bank is capitalized at $200,000 and its last statements gives deposits of $1,313,859.


Article from Eagle River Review, April 2, 1915

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Colorado Bank Closed. Denver, Colo., March 31.-The Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, with capital of $250,000 and deposits of $1,500,000, was closed by order of controller of currency. The closing of the bank followed a run.


Article from Northern Wisconsin Advertiser, April 2, 1915

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Colorado Bank Closed. Denver, Colo., March 31.-The Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, with capital of $250,000 and deposits of $1,500,000, was closed by order of controller of currency. The closing of the bank followed a run.


Article from Clearwater Republican, April 16, 1915

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# WORLD'S NEWS # BRIEFLY ITEMIZED ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST FRESH FROM OUR DAILY NEWSPAPER SERVICE. GATHERED OVER THE GLOBE Happenings National, Historical and Political and Personal Events Herewith Selected for Our Many Readers. Lord Kitchener has called on Canada for a second expeditionary force. Two cases of bubonic plague and one death at Havana were reported Sunday. Peter S. McNally of Boston, formerly widely known as a long-distance swimmer and life saver, died of heart failure Saturday. Pope Benedict has issued a decree for the recital of prayers for peace in Roman Catholic churches over the world during the month of May. American shipbuilding during the nine months ended March 31 has not kept pace with construction during the same period of the previous year. The purchase of a site upon which to erect at Niles, Ohio a $300,000 memorial to President McKinley, who at one time lived there, took place Monday. Six thousand bales of American cotton aboard the steamer San Guglielmo were destroyed by fire in the Naples harbor recently. The loss is estimated at 1,000,000 lire ($200,000). Carranza authorities in Nuevo Laredo announce that all danger of an early Villa attack upon the border city had been removed by the retreat of Villa forces in that territory. Salt Lake's 5-cent fare automobile service was discontinued Saturday as a result of the inability of the operators to obtain the surety bonds required by the city ordinance recently enacted. The British steamer Harpalyce, the first relief boat of New York state and under charter to the commission for relief in Belgium, has either been torpedoed or sunk by a mine in the North sea. Coney C. Slaughter, until recently cashier of the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, Colo., now in the hands of a receiver, has been indicted by the federal grand jury on a charge of falsifying the books of the bank. Jean Herail, an officer in the French cavalry, was acquitted by a court martial, which tried him for killing his wife at Compiegne last November because she persisted in following the army in order to be near him. The Iowa senate has passed the Klinker bill, which provides that absent voters may send their ballots to their home precincts by mail. It was designed primarily for the benefit of traveling men. The bill now goes to the governor, having already been passed in the house.


Article from The Lamar Register, April 28, 1915

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Our Senatorial Patronage What an ungrateful and outrageous lot of depositors of the defunct Mercantile National bank of Pueblo are. Senators Shafroth and Thomas kindly handed them as receiver one W. H. Malone, and for attorney one G. L. Nye. Everybody has one guess where these men come from. Don't write in, because we know. It is Denver. They are political henchmen of the senators. For years and years, some one of the Malone family has had a seat at the pie counter through the kindness of Senator Shafroth. If it was not one of the Malones it was the other, but mostly it was W. H. This bank business is good and fat, but the depositors didn't like the looks of it, and have demanded that Hon. H. H. Seldomridge of this city be named as receiver, and Alva B. Adams, a son of the former governor, be made attorney. It is rude and shocking for outlanders down state to butt in on good things like this, and they have been told that the appointments are made and it is up to United States treasury officials to change it. But the downstate men need not be expecting any such thing. What is the protest of a miserable little depositor alongside an appointment by two mighty senators ?-Colorado Springs Telegraph. Dr. Bulette of Pueblo will be at the Ben Mar hotel, Lamar, Friday, May 7. Practice limited to eye, ear, nose and throat and fitting glasses.


Article from Semi-Weekly Herald, May 13, 1915

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The action of Senators Thomas and Shafroth in endeavoring to place their business partners in charge of the affairs of the defunct Mercantile National bank of Pueblo has aroused such a storm of protest from the four thousand depositors as to cause the senators to hesitate. W. H. Malone, who is appointed receiver, is a partner of Senator Shafroth in the real estate business, and Mr. Nye, who is appointed attorney, is a partner of Senator Thomas. Mass meetings have been held by the depositors, and so strong have the protests beocme that Mr. Nye has resigned. A deputation representing the depositors are to meet Senator Shafroth with a view of having Mr. Malone resign and it is to be hoped that their protests will have effect. The policy of appointing friends to lucrative positions in defunct banks, who are unacquainted with local values or conditions is to be strongly condemned as they have had experience along that line. The Pueblo depositors are right in demanding that a local man be selected. -Grand Junction News.


Article from The Dolores Star, September 17, 1915

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# ACCUSEFATHERANDSON CHARGE EMBEZZLEMENT OF $20,- 000 FROM PUEBLO BANK. Criminal Informations Filed Against W. B. Slaughter, Former Head of Wrecked Financial Institution. Pueblo, Colo.-That William B. Slaughter, former president of the Mercantile National Bank, will be re- quired to appear in Pueblo for trial at the September term of court is indi- cated in the filing of a criminal in- formation charging him and C. C. Slaughter, his fugitive son, with the embezzlement of $20,000 from the bank in notes, bonds and moneys. The original complaint upon which the information is based was signed by A. H. Stannard, county treasurer. Since bringing the action, however, all the county's money on deposit in the wrecked institution has been made up by bonding companies. Announce- ment to that effect was made by Treasurer Stannard several weeks ago. The elder Slaughter is said to be in Dallas, Texas, to which city he went a few days after being released on $40,000 bonds signed by a big eastern guaranty company. Recently Receiver Seldomridge of the Mercantile went to Dallas for the purpose of securing data concerning the ex-president's promise to pay his stock assessment into the bank, amounting to more than $100,000. He was able to get little satisfaction, how- ever, and returned to Pueblo empty- handed.


Article from Semi-Weekly Herald, October 28, 1915

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Silverton Bank Sues Defunct Pueblo Bank. The First National bank of Silverton a creditor of the failed Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, has filed suit against the Pueblo bank to recover $97,000. The action is brought in the United States district court. It is charged that when the Pueblo bank went into the hands of a receiver, following the absconding of its cashier, Coney C. Slaughter, it had in its possession $37 in cash and $60,000 in securities belonging to the Silverton bank. Dernand was made for the return of the securities, notes and bonds, as well as the cash, the complaint says, but when Bank Examiner George Goodell looked for them they could not be found. The securities are the same notes. bonds, etc., which Coney C. Slaughter took from the vaults of the Mercantile National bank and brought to the Denver National bank as collateral for a loan of more than $80,000. The loan was made but the money was sent to the Pueblo bank instead of giving it to young Slaughter. The securities were returned to the Mercantile National bank by the Denver bank.-Denver Post.


Article from The Julesburg Grit-Advocate, June 8, 1916

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Bank Receiver Recovers $32,100 cash. Pueblo.-Judgment for $32,100 has been obtained by H. H. Seldomridge receiver of the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, against the Harriman National bank of New York city according to word received here. The judgment was in the form of a directed verdict in the Federal Court in New York. When the Mercantile failed an effort was made by the Harriman National to apply funds be longing to the Mercantile against the indebtedness of C. C. and W. B Slaughter, cashier and president re spectively of the Pueblo bank.


Article from The Arvada Enterprise, June 8, 1916

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# Bank Receiver Recovers $32,100 cash. Pueblo.—Judgment for $32,100 has been obtained by H. H. Seldomridge, receiver of the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, against the Harriman National bank of New York city, according to word received here. The judgment was in the form of a directed verdict in the Federal Court in New York. When the Mercantile failed an effort was made by the Harriman National to apply funds belonging to the Mercantile against the indebtedness of C. C. and W. B. Slaughter, cashier and president respectively of the Pueblo bank.


Article from Cheyenne Record, June 8, 1916

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Bank Receiver Recovers $32,100 cash. Pueblo.-Judgment for $32,100 has been obtained by H. H. Seldomridge receiver of the Mercantile National bank of Pueblo, against the Harri. man National bank of New York city according to word received here. The judgment was in the form of a directed verdict in the Federal Court in New York. When the Mercantile failed an effort was made by the Harriman National to apply funds be longing to the Mercantile against the indebtedness of C. C. and W. B. Slaughter, cashier and president re spectively of the Pueblo bank.


Article from San Antonio Light, April 10, 1923

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U. S. AGENTS HERE GET ALLEGED EMBEZZLER AFTER TRAILING HIM EIGHT YEARS Coney C. Slaughter, Son of San Antonio Resident, Alleged to Have Embezzled $100,000 Federal Officers Trail Him Since 1915, and Are Rewarded With His Arrest Tuesday. a man be assigned to the special duty After following a trail for eight years the persistence of Department of following the fugitive. Mr. Blake left San Antonio several of Justice agents working out of San Antonio was rewarded with the arweeks ago and went to New Orleans, rest of Coney C. Slaughter, a nephew where, it is reported, other clues were of the late Col. C. C. Slaughter of picked up and the machinery set in Dallas, and a son of W. B. Slaughter motion for the apprehension of Slaughter. The means used to finally of San Antonio, according to advices get the fugitive and the method by received from Philadelphia. The which the old trail was followed durfugitive is under indictment at Pueblo, Colo., charged with the eming the last eight years were not bezzlement of over $100,000 from the revealed by the Department of JusMercantile National Bank of that tice agents. Son of Pioneer Folk. city. According to reliable information in Following the disappearance of the hands of those working on the Slaughter with funds from the bank. case, Slaughter was known to have in March, 1915, his father, who was been almost without funds in the year president of the bank, was twice infollowing his disappearance from the dicted and acquitted of any part in Pueblo bank and the subsequent failthe bank's subsequent failure. The ure of the institution. As to how he fugitive was a cashier in the bank. made his living since that time, was The trail of the fugitive was renot revealed, although the agents incently uncovered in New Orleans and dicated that they are in possession of at the request of Gus T. Jones. agent the details. in charge of the San Antonio bureau The fugitive is the son of a line of of investigation. Frank J. Blake was pioneer Texans. His uncle, the late assigned to follow the trail. Mr. Col. C. C. Slaughter of Dallas, was Blake left San Antonio several weeks internationally known. His father, ago, and picking up the trail in New W. B. Slaughter, is famous for his Orleans followed it to Cineinnati, reminiscenses of the days of the oldOhio, thence to Cleveland, thence to time trail drivers and is prominent in Louisville, Ky., and finally to Philagatherings of stockmen and pioneers. delphia, where Slaughter was ar-