14778. First National Bank (Watkins Glen, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
3047
Charter Number
3047
Start Date
February 9, 1894
Location
Watkins Glen, New York (42.381, -76.873)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
d94bae47ae85860a

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
37.9%
Date receivership started
1894-02-26
Date receivership terminated
1901-01-24
OCC cause of failure
Fraud
Share of assets assessed as good
42.9%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
30.5%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
26.6%

Description

The First National Bank of Watkins (Watkins Glen), NY, suspended payment on 1894-02-09 after its cashier John W. Love absconded with large sums (reported $50kโ€“$110k). The comptroller ordered the bank closed and a receiver was appointed later in February; the bank remained in receivership (still closed) as of 1899 when dividends were being paid. There is mention of runs on other village banks, but no clear run on this bank prior to suspension. OCR variations of the cashier's surname (Love/Lowe) were corrected to John W. Love per multiple articles.

Events (6)

1. September 14, 1883 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. February 9, 1894 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier John W. Love absconded after large defalcations/embezzlement (estimates $50,000 to $110,000); comptroller ordered the bank closed.
Newspaper Excerpt
A Bank Suspends. ELMIRA, N.Y., Feb. 9.-The First National bank of Watkins suspended today. The failure was caused by the absconding of the cashier, John W. Love.
Source
newspapers
3. February 26, 1894 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. February 27, 1894 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The controller of the currency today appointed John W. Warner ... receiver of the First National Bank of Watkins, N. Y., which suspended payment on the 9th instant. -
Source
newspapers
5. July 31, 1894 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
APPREHENDED. DEFAULTER Cashier Love, After Much Wandering, Caught in Chicago. ... He has been turned over to the United States authorities ... charged with embezzling money belonging to the bank.
Source
newspapers
6. December 16, 1899 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
DEFAULTER RELEASED FROM PRISON. ... The bank is still in the receiver's hands. Dividends amounting to 35 per cent have been paid.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (14)

Article from Deseret Evening News, February 9, 1894

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Article Text

A Bank Suspends. ELMIRA, N.Y., Feb. 9.-The First National bank of Watkins suspended today. The failure was caused by the absconding of the cashier, John W. Love. He is said to have taken $50,000, all the bank's cash. He left a letter eaying that he is insane.


Article from The Wilmington Daily Republican, February 10, 1894

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Failure Caused by a Dishonest Cashier. ELMIRA, N. Y., Feb. 10.-The First National bank of Watkins suspended yesterday. The bank failure was caused by the absconding of the cashier, John W. Love. He took $50,000. all the bank's cash. He left a letter saying he was insane.


Article from The Houston Daily Post, February 10, 1894

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Article Text

Said He Was Insane. Elmira, N. Y., February 9.-The First National bank of Watkins suspended today, The bank failure was caused by the absconding of Cashier John W. Lowe. H: is said to have taken $50,000, all the bank's cash, and left a letter saying he was insane.


Article from The Providence News, February 10, 1894

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Over $100,000 Stolen. WATKINS, N. Y., Feb. 10.-The First National bank closed yesterday by order of the comptroller of the currency. A hasty examination shows that there is less than $5000 in cash in the bank. Further quick running over books indicates a shortage of upward of $100,000. Cashier Love has skipped.


Article from The Morning News, February 11, 1894

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WATKINS' BANK FAILURE. The Cashier's Defalcation Estimated as High as $110,000. Elmira, N. Y., Feb. 10.-The affairs of the First National Bank of Watkins, which closed its doors yesterday, owing to the flight of the cashier, John W. Love, with the funds, are still in a muddled condition, and nothing definite will be known until a bank examiner from Washington has made a report. The story that Cashier Love had committed suicide by drowning in Seneca lake is disbelieved. It is thought that the placing of his hat and coat near the boat house was merely a blind to throw the officers off the track. His defalcations are estimated as high as $110,000. The greatest excitement prevails in the village, and runs have been made on the other village banks, but the demands have been met in all cases. The story that Love went away with a girl is not true, the girl having returned Love's wife is prostrated from grief.


Article from The Sun, February 11, 1894

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CASHIER LOVE'S DEFALCATION. Kt To Now Thought That It May Exceed $110,000-No Clue to His Wheresbouts. ELMIRA. Feb. 10.-The affairs of the First National Bank of Watkins. which closed its doors yesterday. owing to the defalcation and flight of the cashier. John W. Love, are still in a muddled condition. and nothing definite will be known until the bank examiner from Washington has made his report. The story that Love has committed suicide by drowning in Seneca Lake is disbelieved. It is thought that he left his hat and coat near the boat house to throw the officers off the track. There is no clue to his whereabouts. His defalcations may exceed $110,000. Much excitement prevails in the village and runs have been made on the other village banks. but demands have been met in all cases quickly. BENGER AND LOVE'S NEW YORK AFFAIRS. It was learned yesterday that John W. Love. the defaulting eashier of the First National Bank of Watkins. and William Benger. the manager of the Western Development Company of West Muncie. Ind., in which both were heavily interested. were also joint owners of the apartment house at 151 West Thirty-fifth street. Benger came to New York from Watkins last summer. The property was purchased in November from James G. Sanderson of Englewood. There is a mortgage on It of $175,000 held by Jordan L Mott & Co. The interest and taxes, amounting to $2,000. were paid by Mr. Love in December. On Feb. 1 Mr. Benger assumed the management of the property and lived in one of the apartments. The janitor said yesterday that he had heard nothing from Mr. Benger since his hurried departure on Friday evening. He did not know where Benger had gone or when he would return. According to the last statement made in March. 1898. the directors of the Western Development Company of West Muncie were John W. Love. cashier of the First National Bank of Watkins. and George W. Love and William Benger of Watkins. Mr. Benger was the general manager. So far as can be learned the company never had offices in New York. A good deal of West Muncie realty was traded for the property at 151 West Thirty-fifth street, and it was understood by the agent that Mr. Benger was in the business of promoting land companies.


Article from Richmond Dispatch, February 11, 1894

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Article Text

WATKINS BANK AFFAIR. Love Thought Not to Have "Suicided"His Defalcation, $110,000. ELMIRA, N. Y., February 10.-The affairs of the First National Bank of Watkins, which closed its doors yesterday, owing to the flight of the cashier, John W. Love, with the funds, are still in a muddled condition, and nothing definite will be known until the bank examiner from Washington has made his report. The story that Cashier Love suicided by drowning in Seneca lake is disbelleved. It is thought that the placing of his hat and coat near the boat-house was merely a blind to throw the officers off the track. His defalcation is estimated as high as $110,000. The greatest excitement prevails in the village, and runs have been made on the other village banks, but the demands have been met in all cases quickly. The story that Love went away with a girl is not true, the girl having returned. Love's wife is prostrated with grief.


Article from The Indiana State Sentinel, February 14, 1894

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the body, is supposed to be Jacob Lanfred of Cedarburg, Wis., was found at Vandalia, Mo. At Gades, Tenn., Thursday night two unmasked white robbers shot and killed Henry Snodderly and wife and robber their house. No clue. The large planing mill and carpenter shop owned by the Calumet and Hecla mining company at Calumet, Mich, burned. The loss $80,000. The First national banks of Watkins, N. Y., suspended. The bank failure was caused by the absconding of the cashier, John W. Love. He is said to have taken $50,000. Deputy United States marshals have been as yet unable to locate Frederick Marvin, the ex-cashier of the Third national bank of Detroit, who is wanted for embezzlement. The Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, the newly appointed ambassador to Italy, and secretary. arrived in London and visited the United States embassy. He will report at Rome about March 1. The Ute Pass paint works burned at Colorado City. Loss $70,000 with insurance $17,750. The company was in the hands of a receiver and was capitalized a year ago for $150,000. On application of Frank A. Wilcox, president and large creditor, he was appointed receiver for the Akron (0.) electrical manufacturing company. The company is incorporated for $100,000. At Kansas City a jury in the circuit court rendered a verdict that the whisky trust cannot enforce the conditions in its rebate vouchers that require customers to purchase all of their goods from it. Excitement runs high in Bell and Harlan counties, Kentucky, over the killing of John and Will Turner by Dr. Nolin at Harlan court house Tuesday, as they fear the Howard-Turner feud will break out again in all its fury. The king of Saxony is suffering from a serious hemorrhage of the bladder. In the reichstag, during the discussion of the colonial estimates, Prince Arenburg demanded the removal and unishment of Governor Leist of the Cameroons colony. Ten manufacturers of tin-plate at Swansea, who employed 3,000 hands, have closed down. Despite the passage of the Wilson bill in the American house of representatives the depression in the tin-plate industry seems to increase.


Article from Connecticut Western News, February 15, 1894

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CASHIER LOVE GONE. LEFT A BIG HOLE IN THE FUNDS OF WATKINS' NATIONAL BANK. He Was President of the Village, but Used the Bank's Money to Boom Western House Lote and Lost - Threatened to Commit Suicide. WATKINS, N. Y., Feb. -The greatest sensation that has been created in Watkins and the surrounding country in years was caused when the doors of the First National bank were closed and the following startling announcement was posted ou them: Closed because the cashier has run away. The cashier was John W. Love, the president of the village and for several years one of the leading men of the place. It has been learned that Love left Watkins some time Thursday night, and the amount which he took with him from the bank's vaults is estimated at about $50,000. For some time Love and others of this place have been interested in a city boom at West Muncie, Ind., and It is generally believed that he became involved through speculation there. Love is 85 years old and has a family. The bank has many depositors in Watkins RLD viciuity, and groups of men are to be see 1 on every corner discussing the matter. Love left a letter for his brother James, stating that be was insane and would kill himself by shooting or jumping into the lake, but this is thought to be a bluff on account of his taking all the bank's funds. It is reported that there was $10,000 of state money in the bank. The funds of the town of Dix were also there. The excitement has been intensified by the finding of Love's coat and hat on the dock at McGee's boathouse. It is rumored that a Watkins girl to whom Love was attentive is also missing. Said He Would Commit Suicide When James Love went to the postoffice and got his mail, he received a letter from his brother, John Love, who for 10 years had been cashier of the bank, saying that his accounts were short; that the books had been falsified; that he was unable any longer to bear up under the strain; that no one else was to blame; that be bad brought the trouble entirely upon himself, and that be was going away and would commit sulcide by jumping into Seneoa lake or by shooting James Love quickly communicated the news to the bank officers, and a hasty examination showed that there was less than $5,000 in cash in the bank. Further quick running over other books Indicated a abortage of upward of $100,000. The comptroller of currency was notified, and he replied by ordering the bank closed, pending the arrival of an examiner, and this was done.


Article from Iowa County Democrat, February 23, 1894

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quitted. Burglars broke into Pawnbroker Kahn's flat, New York, and stole diamonds and other jewels worth $10,000. The First National bank of Watkins, N. Y., has suspended. The cashier absconded with $50,000. John Warring was arrested at Fostoria, Ohio. charged with assaulting Miss Bertha Tilland, of the salvation army. Deputy Treasurer Armstrong was convicted at Kohomo, Ind., of embezzling $40.000. Four hard characters bored their way through iron and brick out of the jail at Erie, Pa. Thomas Miller, a farmer, was found dead in the road near Thompsonville, III. He had been murdered. Twenty indictments for swindling were found against James Thompson and Jesse Arnold, bankers, at Columbia City, Ind. M. H. MacDonalds and T. P. Searls resorted to firearms to settle a quarrel at Rush Springs, Kan. Both will die. Six burglars bound Agent Church at Sparta, III., and robbed the station of the Mobile and Ohio railway. John White and John Hayes, supposed to have committed many robberies at Freeport, III., have been arrested. Dr. Will Nolin. who killed John and Will Turner at Harlan Court House, Ky., has been indicted for manslaughter. Mike Gorman, express robber, caught at Salem, Ohio, will return to Sultville, Pa., without a requisition. A black sloop which has been used for the purposes of robbery along Long Island sound, has been captured with a lot of stolen goods on board. George Polk and Walter Cribbes were arrested at Hartshorne, Ind., T. for the murder of Alexander Laneir at Birmingham, Ala., in October. George Walker, the murderer of John Terrell. was sentenced at Pittsburg to twelve years in the penitentiary. Charles Williams was convicted on two counts and James Robinson on a single count of violation of the Kansas liquor law. John Hart, the Rockford murderer, was sentenced to be hanged Friday, March 16. J. Clayton, living in Cumberland county, Ky., was tortured by robbers until he revealed where his money was hidden. Robert Marler was hanged at Pineville, Ky. He, with two others, had fired into a passing train, killing a woman. Henry Renken is said to have embezzled $15,000 from the Farmers' and Merchants' bank of Talmage, Neb., recently suspended. Thursday the postoffice at Newport News, Va., was robbed. The safe was cracked and $250 in money and $3,000 in stamps stolen. Bruce, Bob and Charles Plunkett, accused of robbing and murdering an aged couple, were lynched in Van Buren county, Ark. Stephen Benson, John Lubura and


Article from Evening Star, February 26, 1894

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Bank Receiver Appointed. The controller of the currency today appointed John W. Warner of Reading Center, N. Y., receiver of the First National Bank of Watkins, N. Y., which suspended payment on the 9th instant. -


Article from The Olneyville Tribune, March 3, 1894

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Receiver for Watkins Bank. W ASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The comptroller of the currency has appointed Dr. John W. Warner, of Reading Centre, N. Y., receiver of the First National bank of Watkins, N. Y., which suspended on the 9th inst.


Article from The Herald, August 1, 1894

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APPREHENDED. DEFAULTER Cashier Love, After Much Wandering, Caught in Chicago. WATKINS, N. Y., July 31.-Officer White, who arreated John W. Love, the defaulting cashier of the First National bank, states that he received definite word on June 20th that Love was in Chicago, having arrived there on June 15 from Memphis, Tenn., and he at once had a conference with Receiver John W. Warner of the bank and District Attorney E. O. Berlin. Mr. White left here on July 22 for Chicago. Arriving there he located his man and telegraphed home. Deputy Sheriff J. W. Kameman at once went to Albany after the requisition papers and secured them, got Governor Altgeld's indorsement and arrived in Chicago Friday morning. Officer White arrived there Monday evening and asked the sheriff of Cook county for help, which was refused him. Hoswore out a warrant before Police Magistrate Kellogg Tuesday afternoon. Then, of course, Borrow and White located their man at the Hawthorne racetrack. They placed him under arrest. He told White that he went from here to Burdett, to Philadel phia, New Orleans and to Memphie, and took the name of John W. Williams. registering at Memphis, Tenn., as from the Hotel Waldorf in New York. Love has been turned over to the United States authorities by District Attorney Beolin. He is charged with embezzling money belonging to the bank, obtained by the issuing of certificates of deposit. Bail was fixed at $25,000, and the prisouer committed to the charge of the county jail at Elmira, where he will be taken unless bail is given. He will be taken before the grand jury at Buffalo on September 17th, and if indicted there will probably be tried at Auburn in November. His shortage is now fixed at $70,000. Leve claims that he had no accomplices and the money was lost in speculation.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 17, 1899

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DEFAULTER RELEASED FROM PRISON. Watkins, N. Y., Dec. 16.-John W. Love, the defaulting cashier of the defunct First National Bank of this village, has been released from Auburn Prison, having completed his five years' sentence. The time served was about three years and a half. The bank is still in the receiver's hands. Dividends amounting to 35 per cent have been paid.