15704. County Trust Company (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
January 1, 1929*
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
25ed95d2

Response Measures

Borrowed from banks or large institutions, Capital injected

Other: Syndicate purchased stock to bolster confidence; prevented a run rather than describing an actual depositor run.

Description

Newspapers describe a syndicate organized (Raskob, Alfred E. Smith, others) to prevent a run on the County Trust Company after the 1929 suicide of its president James Riordan. No suspension, closure, reopening, or receivership is mentioned; the syndicate bought stock and borrowed funds to bolster confidence.

Events (1)

1. January 1, 1929* Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Suicide of James Riordan, then president of the bank (1929), which threatened public confidence and prompted action to prevent a run.
Measures
Syndicate led by Raskob and Alfred E. Smith purchased large blocks of County Trust Co. stock (3,794 shares reported) financed in part by a loan (transferred to Chase National) to restore public confidence; syndicate later dissolved and stock distributed.
Newspaper Excerpt
organized syndicate to prevent run on the County Trust company of New York
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Evening star, November 9, 1933

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Article Text

BARES OIL POOL PROFITS Says He Obtained $3,000,000 Without Putting Up Explains. Page.) syndicate formed to prevent stock the County Trust Co. from pressed after what described James Riordan, its president. Bought 3,794 Shares. The syndicate. Raskob said purchased total Raskob the syndicate was cluded November 1932, when the and Smith said statement New York last night that the syndicate was directors borrowed money simply to 'buy the trust Cutten said the Sinclair and and in addition from company and his varying 1,702,760 testified Harry wealthy oil operaSinclair appear his testimony was postponed until next on account illness. began his testimony today stories He statements that the still open and the obligation true. Raskob said, with story of the death Riordan. News the death was withheld until the next Raskob said, of the bank and others means to prevent run the bank said take the syndicate prevent the being depressed when the market Monday He the bank might cause the price 100 points reason, the formed the directors except 230 Raskob find out why did that.' Lists Pool Participants. Listing the and had Raskob Michael Meehan. he said, Other 500; Pulleyn, 100, and Peter Carey, 100. Later, Raskob the bank managereorganized Edward take the tion, Raskob on shares. the but never the stock, voice, Testifying Raskob "unfair" the that the syndicate operations. He added were particularly unfair Raskob stand for only was few minutes expresto the committee for hearing Cutten Tells of Deal. Cutten asked the pool in SinPecora stock. over the table, Cutten that ble that Sinclair others called him in August, and suggested shares the the purchase Sinclair Cutten the stock $30 share. said, offering trader he had replied and pointed out the price was high market price was then the handle to for less than $30 and refused was and the details. not the matter had been "Did he say directors? Pecora Cutten replied. Wiggin Listens Closely. listened closely to the tesChase Bank, timony from seats back Cutten. trader was settled The Hutton Co., acting Ruloff member of the Hutton witness Cutten then submitted statement attorney, Millard Tompkins New York. statement the Pecora. Sinclair, Cutten said, wanted raise ditional made plain he did Cutten said not want take large block. Others Took Balance. To replied that shares


Article from Bradford Evening Star and The Bradford Daily Record, November 9, 1933

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Article Text

RASKOB TELLS OF MART DEAL Former Democratic Nation al Chairman Explains How He and Smith Or ganized Syndicate to Prevent Run on N. Y. Bank. former Democratic national chairman, today told the Senate banking inquiry how he and Alfred E. Smith. former governor of New York, organized syndicate year ago to prevent run the County Trust company of New York Raskob said the syndicate traded only stock of the County Trust Co. He explained this step was taken to retain public confidence the bank following the suicide of James Riordan. then president of the bank, in 1929 Raskob voluntary witness. He said the syndicate purchased 3.79: shares of the bank's stock for total of $916,609.56 It sold 1,230 shares for Its net holdings were 2.564 shares, which cost the syndicate $649,013.03. Raskob revealed the syndicate had borrowed total of $511.549 from the Chase National Bank The money was borrowed at the Bankers Trust Co., but this institution immediately transferred the loan to the Chase National Bank He said he didn't learn of the transfer "until long afterwards. He added the loan had been repaid. Raskob said was dissolved and "the stock distributed among members of the syndicate.' Other members of the side Raskob and Michael Meehan, Kenny, Arthur Lehman, Vincent Astor, John Cavanaugh, John Pulleyn. Peter Carey, Ralph W. Long, P. F. Saylor. Kelly and Daniel J. Mooney.