14960. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Cincinnati, OH)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
trust
Start Date
February 6, 1888
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio (39.103, -84.515)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
162e7578b92714b7

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspaper accounts (Feb 6–8, 1888) report a run/heavy withdrawals on the Metropolitan Bank of Cincinnati on Feb 6, 1888; directors briefly suspended payment, then formally suspended and the bank went into the hands of government examiners/receiver with arrests of officers (Vice‑President J.R. DeCamp and later President Wm. Means). A receiver was appointed and later (May 24, 1888) the receiver turned the bank back to the directors/stockholders for reorganization. Causes in the press point to improper loans/insider dealings and speculation by officers rather than mere random rumor. I corrected OCR typos in personal names (e.g., DeCamp/Decamp, Krohn) and used the published reference to “Metropolitan National Bank” to infer bank_type = national.

Events (5)
1. February 6, 1888 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals precipitated by revelations and suspicions of insider loans, speculation by Vice‑President J.R. DeCamp and others; examiners found large improper loans and impaired reserve.
Measures
Other Cincinnati banks advanced assistance (multiple banks loaned $25,000 each or offered aid); paying resumed briefly at the payer's desk before formal suspension.
Newspaper Excerpt
Pending the meeting the payment of checks was suspended, and a long line of depositors gathered, reaching from the payer's desk to the street.
Source
newspapers
2. February 6, 1888 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Directors resolved to suspend after inability to meet clearing house checks and discovery of large improper loans/impairment of reserve tied to officers' speculation and loans to insiders.
Newspaper Excerpt
The directors passed a resolution after 8 o'clock to-night to suspend. The bank is now in the hands of the government.
Source
newspapers
3. February 7, 1888 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The affairs of the bank were at once turned over to the Government Bank Examiner Sanders. The next movement will be the appointment of a receiver.
Source
newspapers
4. February 8, 1888 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
President Wm. Means Arrested... examination of the bank's books and papers showed a gross violation of the banking law, in loans to officers and others connected with the bank very largely in excess of the limit allowed by the law to any one. The charge... is the misapplication of upwards of $200,000 of the funds of the bank.
Source
newspapers
5. May 24, 1888 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
Receiver McConvill made a report and turned the bank over to the directors and stockholders.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (23)
1. February 6, 1888 Evening Star Washington, DC
Article from Evening Star, February 6, 1888

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A CINCINNATI BANK IN TROUBLE. The Metropolitan Stops Payment for a Short Time-The Directors in Session. CINCINNATI, Feb. R.-The Metropolitan Bank directors held a sesston this morning at 10 o'clock. Pending the meeting the payment of checks was suspended, and a long line of depositors gathered, reaching from the payer's desk to the street. In a very few minutes, however, the payment of checks began, and at this writing, 11:20, the line is much decreased. The directors are still in session, and what is transacted is not yet known, except that Vice-President Decamp's resignation has been accepted and Louts Krohn has been cirosen in his place. Bank Examiner Sanders is at the bank, but me says he is too busy to say anything for the benefit of the public. SAYS NO ORDER FOR SUSPENSION WAS GIVEN. The directors took no other action than to elect Mr. Krohn vice-president, in place or Mr. Decamp. President Means. referring to the stoppage of payment, says there was no order for it and no reason for it. and that he did not know there was any suspension. He supposes the story must have arisen from some accidental delay at the payer's desk, as no order for suspension was given. Everything is quiet at the bank at this hour, 12 o'clock.

2. February 7, 1888 The Morning News Savannah, GA
Article from The Morning News, February 7, 1888

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A BANK UNDER A CLOUD. After Vascillating on the Brink of Ruin It Plunges Over. CINCINNATI, Feb. 6.-The Metropolitan Bank directors held a session this morning at 10 o'clock. Pending the meeting the payment of checks was suspended and a long line of depositors gathered, reaching from the payer's desk to the street. In a very few minutes, however, the payment of checks began. Vice President DeCamp's resignation was accepted by the directors, and Louis Kropen was chosen in his place. There was more than the usual demand upon the bank all day, but at the clearing house it was only $10,000 behind. While bankers agreed that the bank was solvent, they recognized the fact that it could not meet every possible demand in a day, so eight of the banks loaned it $25,000 each. Other offers were declined. The objections made to Mr. Decamp, the retiring Vice President, was that he had been speculating too much in real estate. At Toledo to-day two mortgages on Toledo property were filed, representing $10,000 each, by John R. Decamp and by Decamp & Means to the Merchants National Bank of Cincinnati. The Metropolitan directors passed a resolution after 8 o'clock to-night, however, to suspend. The bank is now in the hands of the government. Vice President J. R. Decamp has been arrested.

3. February 7, 1888 Wheeling Register Wheeling, WV
Article from Wheeling Register, February 7, 1888

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METROPOLITAN BANK Suspends Payment-DeCamp Resigns and Is Arrested. CINCINNATI, February 6.-The Metropolitan Bank directors held a session this morning at 10 o'clock. Pending the meeting the payment of checks was suspended, and a long line of depositors gathered, reaching from the payer's desk to the street. In a very few minutes, however, the payment of checks began. The directors are still in session, and what is transacted is not not yet known, except Vice President DeCamp's resignation has been accepted, and Louis Krohn has been chosen in his place. Bank Examiner Sanders is at the bank, but says he is too busy to say anything for the benefit of the public. The directors took no other action than to elect Mr. Khrom Vice-President, in place of Mr. DeCamp. President Means, referring to the stoppape of payment, says there was no order for it, and no reason for it, and he did not know there was any suspension. He supposes the story must have arisen from accidental delay at the payer's desk, as no order for suspension was given. 10 P. M. -The Metropolitan National Bank directors passed a resolution after 8 o'clock to-night to suspend. The bank is now in the hands of the government. Vice President J. C. De Camp bas been arrested. It is said that Mr. De Camp has been speculating extensively in Findlay and other "boom" places. The affairs of the bank were at once turned over to the Government Bank Examiner Sanders. The next movement will be the appointment of a receiver.

4. February 7, 1888 Press and Daily Dakotaian Yankton, SD
Article from Press and Daily Dakotaian, February 7, 1888

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The Metropolitan Bank. CINCINNATI, O., Feb. 6.-When the Metropolitan bank opened Monday morning there was quite a crowd on hand waiting to draw out deposits, but they were disappointed. The bank people claimed to have securities, but not cash, on hand. They said the latter would be forthcoming. The paying teller of the bank asserts that they have not suspended. The reason for temporary suspension of the Metropolitan bank was to organize, which has just been done by electing Louis Krohn vice president, vice J. R. Decamp, resigned. The bank is now paying out on demand, and doing business as usual.

5. February 7, 1888 The Salt Lake Herald Salt Lake City, UT
Article from The Salt Lake Herald, February 7, 1888

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More Cincinnati Bank Trouble. CINCINNATI, O., 4 February 6.-The Metropolitan Bank directors held a session this morning at I0 o'clock. Pending the meeting, the payment of checks was suspended and a long line of depos itors gathered. In a very few minutes, however, the payment of checks began, and at 11.10 the line was much decreased. Directors are still in session, and what was transacted is not yet known, except that President DeCamps' resignation was accepted and Louis Krohn chosen in his place. Bank Examiner Sanders is at the bank, but says he is too busy to say anything for the benefit of the public. The directors took no other action than to elect Krohn vice-president in place of De Camp. President Means, referring to the stoppage of payment, says he supposed the story must have arisen from some accidental delay at the payer's desk, 88 no order for the suspension was given. Everything is quiet at the bank.

6. February 7, 1888 Sacramento Daily Record-Union Sacramento, CA
Article from Sacramento Daily Record-Union, February 7, 1888

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TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES. John Geiger defeated Otto Johnson in a three-round fight at Milwaukee. Bitter feeling exists between two factions of the Methodist Church at Cleveland, O. A large concourse attended the funeral of William Henry Mitchell at Grass Valley. An English company has agreed to operate the Sunrise copper mine at Wyoming. There was a run on the Metropolitan Bank of Cincinnati yesterday. The bank met all demands. Several Russian frontier towns last week received extra regiments of infantry and six squadrons of cavalry. Mrs. William Harvie, of Brooklyn, after four days of married life, eloped with the best man at her wedding. Mrs. John Jacob Astor's collection of laces has been given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Chapman & Gates' jewelry store at Norfolk, Va., was robbed Saturday night of diamonds, gold watches and jewelry to the value of $30,000. Parnell has summoned his party to a meeting in the Parliament building on Thursday, prior to the opening of the House of Commons. The Prefecto of Guaymas has information from the vicinity of Punta del Agua to the effect that a band of fifty Yaqui Indians are depredating that vicinity. Miss Royce, the Nebraska school teacher, three of whose pupils died in the schoolhouse during the recent blizzard, will lose both feet and one arm as a result of exposure. The big mob below Fourteenth street in New York city is supposed to be controlled by such agitators as Henry George and Denis Kearney, and the Gorman Bourbons have bagged these agitators. Henry George and Denis Kearney are both engaged for the next campaign.

7. February 7, 1888 Richmond Dispatch Richmond, VA
Article from Richmond Dispatch, February 7, 1888

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Suspends Payment. (By telegraph to the Dispatch.] CINCINNATI, O., February 6.-The Metropolitan Bank suspended payment for a short time this morning, but resumed in a few minutes.

8. February 8, 1888 Wheeling Register Wheeling, WV
Article from Wheeling Register, February 8, 1888

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A GREAT BANK'S RUIN. SENSATIONAL FEATURES OF THE METROPOLITAN FAILURE President Wm. Means Arrested--A Prominent Citizen and Ex-Mayor of Cincinnati ImplicatedCondition of the Bank-The Examiners at Work. CINCINNATI, O., February 7.-Another sensational feature has been added to the Metropolitan Bank suspension. It is the arrest of Hon. Wm. Means, President of the bank. The warrant was issued this morning but was not served in the usual manner out of regard for Mr. Means. District Attorney Burnett notified him after twelve o'clock of the issuance of the writ, and arranged for Mr. Means to go voluntarily with his bondsmen to the commissioner's office at 2 o'clock With the Fidelity cases fresh in mind, and with the proof they gave of the relentless power of the Government where there has been a plain transgression of the law, this arrest causes a decided sensation. Mr. Means has held a leading position among business men for a number of years, has been reputed quite wealthy, served a term as Mayor, when he was elected, not by a party vote, but by a combination, whose support was a compliment to their candidate. To have a man of such prominence put in peril of imprisonment causes a profound feeling. There is 3 fairly well authenticated statement that the examination of the bank's books and papers showed a gross violation of the banking law, in loans to officers and others connected with the bank very largely in excess of the limit allowed by the law to any one. It is possible that this wrong doing may have been carried to such an extent as to imperil the bank's solvency. It is not thought that other arrests will be made, but of this no one can speak with certainty, because there has not been time for a thorough examination of the bank's affairs. President Means appeared this afternoon at the office of United States Commissioner Dorger, with Henry Hanna, Maj. Fechheimer, Patrick E Roach and C. M. Holloway as sareties, and gave bond for his appearance in the sum of $20,000. The charge against him in the warrant is the misapplication of upwards of $200,000 of the funds of the bank.

9. February 9, 1888 St. Paul Daily Globe Saint Paul, MN
Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, February 9, 1888

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SERVED FOUR HOURS. Krohn Was Vice President Four Hours and Says He Was Deceived. CINCINNATI, Feb. 8.-Louis Krohn, who served four hours as vice president of the Metropolitan bank, speaks out plainly about the way he was deceived. He says he knew nothing of any cause of embarassment until informed by the bank examiner that the reserve was impaired. He insisted on its being made good, and it was done. Then he thought all was right, but on Friday last the bank examiner called him to his hotel and told him that there was a ring or syndicate among the directors that had borrowed and loaned the funds of the bank in a shameful manner to the amount of between $500,000 and $600,000. The bank examiner then said that Mr. De Camp would have to resign, and perhaps would be called on to answer a criminal charge. Mr. Krohn says that he and Col. Dayton that night saw Means and the other directors named as belonging to the syndicate, and insisted on having better securities for their loans. Next morning Means and De Camp turned over for themselves and Directors Roth, Duckworth and Gerke, what appeared to be a lot of good securities. Mr. Krohn then went to other banks an 1 got some assistance, but it was impossible to stem the tide. He avers that the truth was kept from him until it was too late to prevent the catastrophe. Cashier Edwards makes a statement of the condition of the bank. showing that after all claims are paid there will remain a total of $820,000 for the stockholders, or 82 per cent. There have been no further arrests this morning, and it is not likely that any more will now be made. SECURED BONDSMEN. John R. Decamp, after being under custody in the United States commissioner's office from noon until 3:20 p.m., obtained four bondsmen and was released. Albert Netter reconsidered his action and signed the bond, The others were W. F. Decamp, Henry C. Gilmour and Richard Smith. District Attorney Burnet resents the statement which has been freely made that the arrest of Mr. Decamp on Monday night was the cause of suspension. He states that two weeks ago the government was in possession of information that warranted an arrest, but the arrest was not made. In the meantime causes for suspensión were in operation, and on Monday afternoon after practically exhausting the help from other banks the Metropolitan failed to pay its clearing house checks. The other banks offered to advance $50,000 for Tuesday, but it was difficult to find securities to justify that loan. In addition to the clearing house balance there was telegraphic orders to change balances of correspondents to other banks, which would have eaten up the $50,000 and more, and a suspension was inevitable. The arrest was made after this fact became clear to the government officers. The course of District Attorney Burnet in delaying the arrest SO long as he did has been commended by the Washington authorities.

10. February 10, 1888 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Journal, February 10, 1888

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THE BROKEN BANK. Nothing of Interest Developed-No Further Arrests Contemplated. CINCINNATI, Feb. 9.-No developments occurred to day in the Metropolitan Bank matter. At the bank everything wasquiet. Occasionally the more curious of the passers-by would stop and look into the magnificently fisted-up rooms inside. Cashier Edwards sat at his desk, but his face was flushed and wore a distressed look. Receiver Armstrong, of the Fidelity Bank, and. Bank Examiner Sanders were busy conducting their examinations. Speaking of his work, Mr. Sanders said that small amounts carried as cash items, from $5 to $40, he would not consider, but a check carried as cash and for $5,000, or even $500, would excite an inquiry into why it was not entered up, and he would proceed to ascertain its nature. Among the possible receivers for the Metropolitan is Charles H. Law, one of the managers of the Royal Insurance Company, president of the Corrugated Company, who was urged by President Cleveland to take the assistant treasuryship of the United beStates sub-treasury here. His ing a personal friend of Comptroller Trenholm improve his chances of securing the position. To-day it is definitely stated by District Attorney Burnet that no more arrests will be made, and affairs are in statu quo. Mr. Benj. Hopkins, late cashier of the Fidelity bank. to-day said to a reporter that the bank was considered among business men a fairly substantial one; but that even two years ago rumors were current coupling it with real estate speculation at Findlay, Ohio, and other points; by experienced bankers, Mr. Means was not regarded as having special qualifications for his position; he doubtless was selected because he was a popular man and would draw business to the bank.

11. February 10, 1888 Wichita Eagle Wichita, KS
Article from Wichita Eagle, February 10, 1888

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A METROPOLITAN VICTIM. CINCINNATI, Feb. 9.-Frank V. Sowles, a lumber dealer in Avondale, has assigned to Chas. J. Hunt. Liabilities, $35,000; assets, $40,000. The failure is attributed to the suspension of the Metropolitan bank. Sowles is a brother-in-law of John R. DeCamp, late vice-president of the bank.

12. February 11, 1888 Sacramento Daily Record-Union Sacramento, CA
Article from Sacramento Daily Record-Union, February 11, 1888

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To break the record Guerrero, the Californian, must do ninety-eight miles in the next twenty-two hours. California Wines and Brandies. (Copyright, 1888, by the California Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 10th.-The arrival of California wines last month by the Pacific Mail were 82,047 gallons. Last January there were received by the same line 15,396 gallons, and in the same month of 1886, 125,569 gallons. Of brandies there were received during January of this year 768 gallons, against 30 gallons last January and 85 gallons in the same month of 1886. Likely to Go Again. [Copyright, 1888, by the California Associated Press. NEW York, February 10th.-Inspector Byrnes said to-day that Moses Strauss, a merchant at 508 Broadway, who is accused of conspiring with Jacob Samuels, of 246 Bowery, to burn up Samuels' store and get money out of insurance companies, has been fully identified as an ex-convict. He served seven years in Trenton prison for receiving stolen goods in Jersey City in 1871. Claflin and Woodhull Again. (Copyright, 1888, by the California Associated Press.] NEW York, February 10th.-Lady Cook, Viscountess of Mont Serat, is one of the recent arrivals here from London. Fourteen years ago she was known here as Tennie C. Claflin. Her sister, Lady Bidolph Martin, formerly known as Victoria C. Woodhull, will soon follow. They will soon return to England. A Deplorable State of Affairs. LOUISVILLE, February 10th.-The legislative committee which has been investigating the condition of Kentucky's famous Rowan county returned to Frankfort this morning. A very deplorablestate of affairs was found to exist, and it is probable that the county will either be abolished or transferred to another judicial district. Heavy Dose for a Stockholder. CINCINNATI, February 10th.-E. N. Roth, of the St. Nicholas Hotel, one of the Directors and stockholders in the Metropolitan Bank, will lose, it is estimated, from to $30,000 bank. President $40,000 by Means' the suspension brother, of John the Means, is here to give what assistance he can to his brother. An Ex-Official Dying. [Copyright, 1888, by the California Associated Press.] PLATTSBURG (N. Y.), February 10th.William E. Smith, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Daniel Manning, is very ill of Bright's disease of the kidneys, at his home here, and is not expected to live. Canadian Pacific Tickets. NEW YORK, February 10th.-The Canadian Pacific to-day signed the joint circular referring to the abolishing of the payment of commissions to agents selling tickets in the trunk line territory. The tickets of the road will be placed in all trunk line offices to-morrow. Teemer Wins the Championship. TRABUE (Fla.), February 10th.-A singlescull race took place to-day for a purse of $1,000 and the championship of America. The rowers were John Teemer of Pittsburg, Albert Hamm of Boston, and John McKay of Halifax. Teemer won in 20:04, McKay 20:08, Hamm 20:10. A Ball-Catcher's Salary. PITTSBURG, February 10th.-Geo. Miller, the ball-catcher, signed with the Pittsburg club this afternoon for the same salary as Carroll receives, which is said to be $2,800.

13. February 11, 1888 Los Angeles Daily Herald Los Angeles, CA
Article from Los Angeles Daily Herald, February 11, 1888

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A Meavy Leser. CINCINNATI, February 10.-E. N. Roth, of the St. Nicholas Hotel, one of the directors and stockholders in the Metropolitan Bank, will lose, it is estimated, from $30,000 to $40,000 by the suspension of the bank.

14. February 17, 1888 St. Paul Daily Globe Saint Paul, MN
Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, February 17, 1888

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The Metropolitan Bank. CINCINNATI, Feb. 16.-The first work of Receiver McConville, of the Metropolitan bank, is the collection of debts due the bank by the late directors and officers. It now appears that it will be the policy of the officers to make a total settlement of all civil claims before going into the legal fight for alleged violations of the banking law. President Means' account has been examined and he has paid to the receiver $125,000 for his paper held by the bank. George K. Duckworth has paid $50,000 on account, and will pay the remainder as soon as it is ascertained. Director Roth is doing the same. What effect this course will have upon the criminal proceedings remains to be seen.

15. February 17, 1888 The Iola Register Iola, KS
Article from The Iola Register, February 17, 1888

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pieces and forty other persons injured, fourteen seriously. Immense damage was done, several tons of powder being exploded. EIGHT hundred marble workers of Boston have struck for nine hours' work at ten hours' pay. THE WEST. THE Methodist Church at Fremont, O., was destroyed by fire recently and two persons in the parsonage adjoining were injured by falling walls. Loss, $35,000. Br the explosion of a burr stone of a corn mill at Broadhead, Champaign County, IIL, recently, two men were killed and two fatally hurt. A SENSATIONAL feature of the failure of the Metropolitan Bank, of Cincinnati, was the arrest on the 7th of Hon. William Means. its president. Other arrests were expected. THE North Chicago rolling mill at South Chicago resumed work on the 6th after two months' idleness. THE lockout of the Cincinnati shoemakers has practically been settled by the giving way of the employes under the persuasion of the district master workman. A RECEIVER has been appointed for the firm of E. A. Spyer & Co., wholesale teas and coffees, of Chicago. The principal cause of their embarrassment is said to be the recent decline in the coffee market. The liabilities have not been made known. TWENTY-FIVE prominent persons of Chicago have taken steps to erect a crematory. OIL was struck at Lehigh, I. T., recently at a depth of 917 feet and is flowing at the rate of a barrel an hour. By the derailing of an accommodation train near Athens, III., the other night, eight passengers were injured and six freight cars ditched. THE people of Albuquerque have subscribed $40,000 in cash to the Rio Grande & Utah railroad. THE striking Cincinnati shoemakers have been ordered to return to work. THE Territorial miners' convention at Helena denounced the Northern Pacific. McCLELLAN & Co., insolvent Minneapolis stove dealers, schedule shows assets, $3,262, and liabilities, $5,296. THE Springfield, O., Manufacturing Company has been placed in the hands of a receiver. THE National Convention was in session in Cincinnati on the Sth. AGENT KINNEY'S Dakota blizzard stories have been again contradicted. THE Manitoba railroad bridge across the Missouri river at Great Falls, Dak., has been completed. It is 900 feet long. D. R. LOCKE, "Petroleum V. Nasby," of the Toledo (0.) Blade, was reported on the 8th to be dying of consumption. A DISASTROUS cable accident occurred at Kansas City, Mo., on the night of the Sth, on the incline at the Union Depot, caused by the grip breaking. Two persons were fatally injured and seven others were hurt, one quite seriously. The incline had been noted for several bad accidents previously to the late disaster. A PHASE in the railroad war on the Sth was a cut of $3.00 in the passenger rate from Chicago to Kansas City. THE American Newspaper Publishers' Union held its annual meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., on the Sth. AMOS S. SNELL, a capitalist worth $3,000,000, was murdered by burglars in his residence, 425 Washington boulevard, Chicago, on the morning of the Sth. One arrest was made. What the robbers succeeded in taking away was not known, excepting that with the property was a check for $5,000 made by A. J. Stone, Sne:l's son-inlaw. THE Oklahoma convention met in Kansas City, Mo., on the Sih at the Board of Trade Hall with a large attendance, Governor Morehouse, of Missouri, occupying the chair. A memorial to Congress was adopted as well as resolutions looking to the opening of the Indian Territory and favoring the Springer bill for the creation of the Territory of Oklahoma. FIRE in Cleveland, 0., the other day, caused $65,000 damage to J. L. Hudson's clothing store. Cause, electric light wires. BENJAMIN EGGLESTON, ex-member of Congress and one of the most prominent of Ohio political leaders, died recently in Cincinnati, aged seventy-two. J. C. EVANS, of Harlem, Mo., has been elected treasurer and Parker Earl, of Cobden, III., president of the American Horticultural Society. THE Andrew Jackson Club, of Chicago, has taken steps to call a meeting of Democratic Clubs of America in Chicago June 1. FIVE cases of trichincsis have occurred in the family of William Man, a resident of Toledo, 0. All five were in a dangerous condition. BENSLEY BROS., of the Chicago Board of Trade, failed ou the 9th. Liabilities were not definitely known, but were thought to amount to $300,000. THE Columbia Theater, of Chicago, IS reported in financial difficulties. GEORGE W. CLARK. a real estate dealer of Duluth, Minn., formerly a newspaper writer under the late Daniel Manning on the Albany Argus, died recently. WOLVES have become dangerously numerous in the vicinity of St. Cloud, Minn. The other night several made a raid on a pig pen, almost within the city limits, and destroyed nearly 2,000 pounds of live hogs. IN Liberty township. Wabash Coun y, Ind., recently J. I. Smith and Joel Hale were killed by the explosion of the boiler of a portable engine. The explosion was caused by pumping cold water into the superheated boiler. Two men were recently digzing up some dynamite which had been buried to protect it until wanted to use in a gas well near Bellevue, O., when one of them struck the explosive material with his pick. The explosion instantly killed the two men. WILLIAM DONALDSON & Co.. dealers in pictures and frames, Cincinnati, have failed with $75,000 liabilities and $40,000 assets. THE SOUTH THE people of Arkansas are preparing remonstrances against the Dawes bill to levy a tax on lard manufactured by the aid of cotton seed oil. THE Commercial Printing Company. of

16. February 18, 1888 Huntsville Gazette Huntsville, AL
Article from Huntsville Gazette, February 18, 1888

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A CHECK FOR $125,000. Presid snt Means Settles His Indebtedness to the Metropolitan. CINCINNATI, Feb. 17.-Receiver McConville took hold at the Metropolitan bank yes-

17. March 21, 1888 The Indiana State Sentinel Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indiana State Sentinel, March 21, 1888

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NOTES. Fire at 311 and 313 Arch street, Philadelphia, Thursday night, caused a loss of $34,000. Medicis belts are to be used in the spring suits. The girdle is made with a pointed front of pasteboard covered with the dress goods, and the front half only studded with opal, garnet or jet beads. The Metropolitan Bank stockholders of Cincinnati will petition Comptroller Trenholm to order the receiver to pay off all claims, for which he has enough money, and turn the bank over to them. The C., B. and Q. to day surprised all the Western roads, by assenting to the restoration of rates, which it has all along opposed It is expected that the Burlington and Northern will also come in now. The Grand Jury at Washington, Tass. day. indicted C. P. Benedict for embezzling $7,460 from the Adams Express Company. He pl ded guilty and was sentenced to Albany, New York for three years and a. half. A lamp is the popular wedding gift. A young bridal couple recently received seven table lamps in one day. The gift is really a pretty piece of furniture. If the shades are not to one's liking it is an easy matter to have them changed. Preserved roses made with a rich sirup and put up in small packages, of a dozen boxes, sell at $2. The boxes are hermetically sealed, and the contents used on bread and butter sandwiches, tartcakes, or fritters, to which they impart a flavor superior to any jelly or jam in the market. If you don't like your name, change it. If that is impossible, veil yourself in mystery and eliminate the hateful Annie, Martha, Frances, Jessie, Mary or Cora that is so unfashionable. Be Miss Tery, Miss Chief, Miss Fortune, Miss Take or Miss Nomer, but keep the world from knowing your baptismal name. So much money, time and attention are lavished on the doily that it seems useless to strive for the possession of pretty plates. Those used in the center of the table for crackers, wafers, rolls, bread, fruit, or conserves are first covered with a doily large enough and 80 close in grain as to conceal the decorated design. The tendency is to cover up the pretty decorations, for with a salad the plate is laid under lettuce; if the course is a cream or ice a mass of spun sugar is first laid on the plate, and with fruits there is a background of leaves or rose petals. The only time one is certain of the privilege of studying a plate is in the soup course. Then the brim is always on display, and the elegant host never serves more than the quantity necessary to fill a chocolate cup. A boot with Dongola top, curaco vamp, and patent leather tips, sold at $5, is the best for this season that the trade can offer for general wear. Better shoes are to be had, but, anticipating the rainy weather, it is an extravagance to pay more money for a street shoe. Unlike the men's foot gear, ladies' fine shoes are ruined by the rain. Where rubbers are held in abhorence the best plan is to buy castom-made boots, in which the material is especially adapted to slush and water. Properly made, & boot of this sort will retain its shape to the last. There is no wisdom in freighting the feet with double soles and heavy upper, and thrusting rubbers over all this leather. With rubbers one needsa very light boot; otherwise locomotion becomes 8 punishment. A very stylish boot, now in stock, is modeled on the last of the gentlemen's street shoe. being laced in front over top buttons with silk cord. The shoe is vamped with straight goat, and the uppers of undressed kid, give 8 glove fit about the ankles. There are half shoes of beach brown, maroon, scarlet, bronze and black morocco, made with a French heel and pointed that is recommended for house wear, being a great convenience, too, for carriage use. These shoes sell for $5, and are the same cut that found favor in the east last summer among the fashionable resorts.

18. May 21, 1888 The Memphis Appeal Memphis, TN
Article from The Memphis Appeal, May 21, 1888

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General News. THE City of Providence passed up from Natchez to St. Louis last evening with a fine trip. THE palatial steamer Coahoma is receiving to leave this evening at 5 o'clock for Helena and Friars Point. THE elegant passenger steamer Rosa Lee will back out this day at 5 o'clock p.m. for Osceola and all way landings on the upper coast. THE Gayoso clears this evening for Tiptonville and way points on the upper const. Capt. W. P. Hall commands, with Mr. W. Mitchell in the office. The large side-wheel Centennial is offered for sale at St. Louis. She is 318 feet long, with forty-two feet beam, and is the longest boat in the western waters. THE Belle Memphis, from St. Louis, passed down to Natchez yesterday, loaded flat. She put off sixty tons of merchandise and twenty-five tons of freight for way points. THE Kate Adams leaves this afternoon at 5 o'clock for Helena, Friars Point, Concordia, Terrene and Arkansas City. Messrs. Mark R. Cheek and William Blanker are her chief officers. It is said that 1,300 Hungarians have signed articles with John A. Wood to go to work at his Fremont mine, at Allenport, Pa., at a reduction of 25 per cent. The miners of the Connecticut mine, same place, have also accepted the reduction. Capt. Hegler says the sale to him and associates of Coney Island, which has been in the hands of a receiver since the failure of the Metropolitan bank, of Cincinnati, has been confirmed, and the Guiding Star will hold up her end in the excursion business this season. Last season his boat handled 198,000 excursionists.—New Orleans Picayune.

19. May 24, 1888 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Journal, May 24, 1888

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TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES. William Patterson, who was to be hanged May 25, under expiration of Governor Buckner's ninety-day respite, has received a second reprieve till June 22. James W. Schooler, colored, of Nickolasville, was yesterday admitted to practice before the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He is the first colored man to attain this distinction. The case of Allen O. Myers, charged with being implicated in the tally-sheet forgeries of 1885, at Columbus, O., has been conunued to June 7 on application of the defendant. It is expected that to-day Mr. M. C. Connville, receiver of the Metropolitan Bank of Cineinnati, will be chosen agent to receive the assets of the bank for the government, preparatory to its reorganization. Private Hoolahan, of Company A, Eighth Infantry, stationed at Fort Niobrara, was fatally shot, on Tuesday, while on target duty. He had arranged the target, and was in the act of backing away from it, when he received the fatal-shots in the arm and body. At St. Joseph, Mo., while playing on the commons, on Tuesday, Lizzie and Lena Baker, aged twelve and thirteen, were struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm. Their clothes were torn from their bodies, and the older child, Lizzie, who wast struck on the head, will die.

20. May 24, 1888 The Worthington Advance Worthington, MN
Article from The Worthington Advance, May 24, 1888

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Saved by a Bluff, General Mike Ryan, in talking of the Metropolitan Bank failure, recently told a Cincinnati Telegram reporter a good story ilustrating the power of bluff. It was in connection with his assertion that with little further aid from the other banks in the city the Metropolitan might have been saved. He said: "I have a brother connected with a bank in Leavenworth, Kan. There are two banks there, and the rival to that of my brother was in a shaky condition. The president came to Matt and told him the circumstances, and that if there was a run the bank would be unable to stand it. Matt told him to keep a stiff upper lip, for he knew that the failure of the other bank meant the failure of his own. He jumped on the train, went to Kansas City, got $40,000 in coingold and silver-in barrels, ran back to Leavenworth with the specie, and got half я dozen drays to the depot to take the barrels to the bank. Meantime the the crowd of depositors had begun to gether at the bank, demanding their money, and the old man was talking to them to gain time. All at once they saw the drays coming up, loaded down with these barrels. Matt was with the treasure, and shouted to the crowd to wait about five minutes and they'd get their money, as it was there in the barrels. "In unloading the barrels, one of them dropped and broke, so that, through a crack, the anxious depositors could see the shining gold, and, as it rolled up the steps of the bank, $5gold pieces kept dropping out, and were picked up by the janitor. When the coin was all rolled in, Matt came out and told us all who had money there to go in and get it, as the bank proposed to pay them all off andstart fresh, and didn't want such acowardly lot of depositors any way. All the time he was niling on the indignation he didn't want to be taken at his word, as the bank had only $10,000 cash on hand, against $90,000 of deposits made. He had brought $40,000, but there was still a shortage of $40,000. However, the game worked. The people were reassured by the sight of the barrels of coin and went away satisfied. The run was averted and the bank pulled through all right."

21. May 25, 1888 Wichita Eagle Wichita, KS
Article from Wichita Eagle, May 25, 1888

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METROPOLITAN BANK ASSETS. CINCINNATI, May 24.-Stockholders of the Metrepolitan bank met today. Receiver McConvill made a report and turned the bank over to the directors and stockholders. The receiver reported: Good assets, $415,000; doubtful assets, $576,000: worthless assets, $133,000; total, $1,194,000. Of the doubtful assets the receiver thinks $300,000 can be made good.

22. October 21, 1888 The Daily Times Richmond, VA
Article from The Daily Times, October 21, 1888

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THE METROPOLITAN BANK. The Family of the Late President to Settle all its Liabilities. CINCINNATI, OHIO, October 20.-It was learned to day that the family of William Means, president of the late Metropolitan Bank, will offer to settle his entire direct and indirect indebtedness. This sum would run up to something less than a quarter of million dollars. Mr. Means is now a physical and mental wreck. The Metropolitan disaster has so pressed upon him that he has given way under the fearful strain. His family wish to clear him in the eyes of the world and SO they have resolved to pay every dollar of the losses of the bank that were in any way attributable to the president.

23. October 23, 1888 Press and Daily Dakotaian Yankton, SD
Article from Press and Daily Dakotaian, October 23, 1888

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His Family Will Settle. CINCINNATI, Oct. 22.-The family of William Means, president of the late Metropolitan bank, will offer to settle his entire, direct and indirect, indebtedness to the institution. This sum would run up to something less than $500,000. Mr. Means is now a physical and mental wreck. The Metropolitan disaster has so preyed upon him that he has given way under the fearful strain. His family wish to clear him in the eyes of the world, and have resolved to pay every dollar of the losses of the bank that were in any way attributable to the president.