14987. Fidelity Trust Company (Buffalo, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
May 9, 1903
Location
Buffalo, New York (42.886, -78.878)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b14208bd

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple contemporaneous newspaper reports (May 9, 1903) describe a run on the Fidelity Trust Company in Buffalo caused by persistent rumors of a large defalcation. Trustees denied the story as false; other local banks offered to deposit $1,000,000 to support the trust company. The institution closed its doors for the day but there is no evidence of a suspension or permanent closure in these articles.

Events (1)

1. May 9, 1903 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Persistent rumors circulated (~2-3 weeks) that a large defalcation ($400,000) had occurred and that officers had misappropriated funds; trustees called the rumors false.
Measures
Trustees issued a public statement denying the rumors; bank closed at usual hour for the day; presidents of other local banks volunteered to deposit $1,000,000 to support the trust company.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was a run on the Fidelity Trust Company today... Trustees pronounce the story to be absolutely false... the company has $4,000,000 to provide against any demand.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (10)

Article from Albuquerque Daily Citizen, May 9, 1903

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Article Text

Run on a Bank. Buffalo, May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust company today. The board of trustees of the institution has issued a statement which alludes to a rumor current during last week that there was a large deficit in one of the banks and pronounces it utterly false. The bank offers a reward for the person originating the rumor.


Article from Santa Fe New Mexican, May 9, 1903

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RUN ON A BANK. e Rumors of a Deficit are Declared to be Abso* lutely False. Buffalo, May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust Company today. The board of trustees of the institution has issued a statement which alludes to rumors- current during the last week that there was a large deficit in one of the banks, and pronounces them utterly false. The bank offers a reward for the person originating the rumor.


Article from Evening Times-Republican, May 9, 1903

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RUN ON A BANK. Rumor of Defalcation Causes Stampede of the Depositors. Buffalo, May 9.-Owing to a rumor of heavy defalcations there was a run on the Fidelity Trust Company today. The trustees denounced the shortage story to be absolutely false and say there is no defalcation whatever and company has four million available to provide against any demands.


Article from The Salt Lake Herald, May 10, 1903

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Article Text

RUN ON BUFFALO BANK Rumors of a Deficit or Defalcation Caused a Stampede of Depositors. Buffalo, N. Y., May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust company today. The board of trustees of the institution has issued a statement which alludes to rumors current during the last week that there was a large deficit in one of the banks, and says: "On Thursday and Friday the rumor took the form of a statement that the defalcation existed in the Fidelity Trust company of Buffalo. It was said that the president had used $400,000 of the money. Another statement was that George L. Williams had used $400,000 of the money of the company." The results thus far have been the withdrawals of some accounts, aggregating possibly $100,000. The bank has offered a reward for information disclosing the name of the person originating the rumor. The trustees pronounce the story to be absolutely false in every particular. Neither Mr. Forman nor Mr. Williams nor any other trustee or official owes to the bank a single dollar. There has been no defalcation of any kind, and the company has $4,000,000 to provide against any demand. The run had almost ceased when the trust company closed its doors for the day. Owing to the known stability of the company, the presidents of the other banks in the city volunteered the announcement that they stand ready to deposit $1,000,000 in the Fidelity bank at once.


Article from Omaha Daily Bee, May 10, 1903

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Article Text

RUN ON A TRUST COMPANY Fidelity of Buffalo Experiences Dimculty Due to Rumors of Defalcation. | BUFFALO, N. Y., May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust company today. The board of trustees of the institution has issued a statement which first alludes to rumors current during the last week, but there was a large deficit in one of the banks, and says: On Thursday and Friday the rumor took the form of a statement that the defalcation existed in the Fidelity Trust company of Buffalo. It was said that the president had used $400,000 of the money. Another statement was that George L. Williams had used $400,000 of the money of the company. The results thus far have been the withdraway of some accounts aggregating possibly $100,000. The bank has offered a reward for information disclosing the name of the person originating the rumor." The trustees pronounce the story to be absolutely false in every particular. Neither Mr. Forman nor Mr. Williams nor any other trustee or officer owes the bank a single dollar. There has been no defalcation to the extent of a dollar, they say, and the company has $4,000,000 available to provide against any demand.


Article from New-York Tribune, May 10, 1903

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RUN ON BUFFALO BANK. But Panic Is Averted by a Proffered Deposit of $1,000,000. Buffalo, May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust Company to-day. It was caused by a rumor of a defalcation which has been afloat about two weeks. Owing to the known stability of the company, the presidents of other banks in the city, without any solicitation on the part of the Fidelity company, volunteered the announcement that they stood ready to deposit $1,000,000 in the Fidelity Bank at once. Although the usually large number of withdrawals on Saturdays was increased to-day, the line had dwindled, when the bank closed its doors, to not more than a score of persons who desired to draw their money. In consequence of this President Forman, who had intended keeping the doors open until evening, decided to close at the usual hour. A statement issued by the trustees pronounced the rumor absolutely false, and added: The company never was stronger than it is today. To provide against any demands that may be made we have $4,000,000 of cash available, and can readily have $3,000,0000 more the moment its use becomes necessary. The public can rest satisfied that there is no occasion for any anxiety whatever touching the company or its absolute solvency. It is earning its dividends of 12 per cent per annum, and carrying about as much more in surplus.


Article from The St. Louis Republic, May 10, 1903

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RUN ON FIDELITY TRUST CO. Startling Rumors Cause Depositors to Withdraw. Buffalo, N. Y., May -There was a run on the FideMty Trust Company to-day, The board of trustees of the institution has issued a statement which first alludes to rumors current during the last week that there was a large deficit in one of the banks, and says: "On Thursday and Friday the rumor took the form of a statement that the defalcation existed in the Fidelity Trust Company of Buffalo. It was said that the president has used $400,000 of the money. Another statement was that George L. Williams had used $100,000 of the money of the company. The results thus far have been the withdrawal of some accounts aggregating possibly $100,000. The bank has offered a reward for information disclosing the name of the person originating the rumor." The trustees pronounce the story to be absolutely false in every particular. Neither Mr. Forman nor Mr. Williams nor any other trustee or officer owes the bank a single dollar. There has been no defalcation to the extent of a dollar, they say, and the company has $4,000,000 available to provide against any demand. The run had almost ceased when the trust company closed Its doors for the day. Owing to the known stability of the company, the presidents of the other banks in the city volunteered the announcement that they stand ready to deposit a million dollars In the Fidelity Bank at once.


Article from The Indianapolis Journal, May 10, 1903

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Article Text

RUN ON TRUST COMPANY BUFFALO INSTITUTION THE VICTIM OF UNFOUNDED RUMORS, Which Caused Withdrawal of $100,000 -Person Who Started Report to Be Punished if Caught. BUFFALO, N. Y., May 9.-There was a run on the Fidelity Trust Company to-day. The board of trustees of the trust company has issued a statement which refers to rumors current during the last week that there was a large deficit in one of the banks, and says: "On Thursday and Friday the rumor took the form of a statement that the defalcation existed in the Fidelity Trust Company of Buffalo. It was said that the president had used $400,000 of the money. Another statement was that Geo. L. Williams had used $400,000 of the money of the company. The results thus far have been the withdrawal of some accounts, aggregating possibly $100,000. The bank has offered a reward for information disclosing the name of the person originating the rumor." The trustees pronounce the story to be absolutely false in every particular. Neither Mr. Forman nor Mr. Williams nor any other officer owes the bank a single dollar. There has been no defalcation to the extent of a dollar, they say, and the company has $4,000,000 available to provide against any demand. The run had almost ceased when the trust company closed its doors for the day. Owing to the known stability of the company the presidents of the other banks in the city volunteered the announcement that they stand ready to deposit $1,000,000 in the Fidelity Bank at once.


Article from The Sun, May 10, 1903

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RUN ON A BUFFALO TRUST CO. RUMORS OF A DEFALCATION ALARMED DEPOSITORS. The Fidelity Trust Company's Office Filled to the Doors With Men Demanding Their Money-The Company Offers $5,000 to Leorn the Source of Rumor. BUFFALO, May 9.-A run was started on the Fidelity Trust Company here this morning as a result of rumors which have been circulated in Buffalo for about three weeks. The run is the second one within two years in the history of the institution. and like the first run, the bank officials assert, will be weathered without trouble. The run to-day started at about 10 o'clock and was at its height shortly before noon, when the bank was crowded to the doors with persons who were anxious to take out their money. The rumors which started this run were to the effect that there had been a large defalcation in some bank in this city. The sum that was mentioned was $400,000 The first story was that the defalcation consisted of trust funds. The rumor died down, then it was revived, and this time the name of the Fidelity Trust Company was mentioned. It is believed that the run made on the institution upward of a year ago had its effect in starting the second run. The first run also originated from a baseless rumor involving a branch bank which the company had at the PanAmerican Exposition. A reward of $5,000 has been offered by President George V. Forman of the Fidelity Trust Company for information leading to the source of the present rumor. A meeting of the trustees of the bank was held immediately after the bank was closed at noon to-day. After the meeting the following statement was issued: For some three or four weeks persistent rumors have been in circulation to the effect that there was a large defalcation in some bank in this city. Different banks have been mentioned as involved. On Thursday and Friday the rumor took the form of a statement that the defalcation existed in the Fidelity Trust Company of Buffalo. It was said that the president had used $400,000 of the money Another statement was that George L Williams had used $400,000 of the money of the company The results thus far have been the withdrawal of some accounts aggregating, possibly, $100,000. The bank has offered a reward for information disclosing the name of the person originating the rumor The story is absolutely false in every particular. Neither Mr. Forman nor Mr. Williams nor any other trustee or officer owes the bank a single dollar. There has been no defaleation to the extent of a dollar. Every account is in perfect shape. The company never was stronger than it is to-day. To provide against any demands that may be made we have $4,000,000 of capital available. and can readily have $3,000,000 more the moment its use becomes necessary. The public can rest satisfied that there is no occasion for any anxiety whatever touching the company or its absolute solvency. It is earning its dividends of 12 per cent. per annum, and carrying about as much more to surplus.


Article from The Ohio Democrat, May 14, 1903

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THIS AND THAT. Crisp Items of Information From Every Clime. An explosion of dynamite blinded Thomas Angus of Stanhope, N. J. A false report started a run on the Fidelity Trust company at Buffalo. A heavy defalcation was alleged. An infernal machine was found aboard the big Atlantic liner Umbria. The Mafia is said to have been in the plot- to wreck the ship. Twenty-five thousand members of the National Association of Brick and Tile Makers of America are on strike in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginal. Cornelius Badger, Wooster, O., deliberately plunged into a well headforemost. The body was found sticking feet upward in several inches of mud. Despondency. Jessie Morrison was declared guilty of killing Mrs. Olin Castle three years ago at the Castle home in Eldorado, Kan. The supreme court upheld the decision, which means 20 years' imprisonment.