16439. Ocean National Bank (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
1232
Charter Number
1232
Start Date
June 27, 1869
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
64ce32d3

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
100.0%
Date receivership started
1871-12-13
Date receivership terminated
1882-04-20
OCC cause of failure
Losses
Share of assets assessed as good
66.5%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
33.5%

Description

Ocean National Bank (New York) suspended in December 1871 and a receiver was appointed; it did not resume operations as a going bank and was liquidated over subsequent years. Articles document insolvency (poor/unmarketable securities, loans to/exposure from Bank Examiner Callender) as the cause; a separate 1869 burglary is included as an earlier 'other' event. No clear isolated misinformation-triggered run on this specific bank is described.

Events (5)

1. June 6, 1865 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. June 27, 1869 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
The Ocean National Bank Robbed of $2,000,000 in Bonds and Securities...the vaults of the bank were reached by cutting through the ceiling...robbers succeeded in making good their escape.
Source
newspapers
3. December 12, 1871 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
receiver appointed... Mr. Davis, the receiver, reports liabilities and assets and later pays dividends to depositors
Source
newspapers
4. December 12, 1871 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank insolvency owing to large holdings of unmarketable bonds and questionable securities (Portage/Portage Lake bonds and other unavailable paper), loans and checks involving Bank Examiner Callender, and alleged irregularities and bad banking practices.
Newspaper Excerpt
the Ocean National Bank was suspended from the Clearing House and receiver appointed the same day
Source
newspapers
5. December 13, 1871 Receivership
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (20)

Article from The Evening Telegraph, June 28, 1869

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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. A Heavy Robbery in New York-The Ocean National Bank Mulcted Out of Two Millions in Securities Doings in Washington. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Minister Curtin's Arrival in EuropeThe New Ocean Cable-The Fenian Prisoners. FROM NEW YORK. The Ocean National Bank Robbed of $2,000,000 in Bonds and Secarities-The Mannerin which the Robbery was Committed. Special Despatch to The Evening Telegraph. NEW YORK, June 28.-The - street greatly excited this morning over the announcement just made of the robbery of the Ocean National Bank, which is situated on the corner of Greenwich and Fulton streets. The total amount stolen, which consisted mostly of bonds, checks, and securities, is estimated at about two millions of dollars. The burglars succeeded in making good their escape, and the fact that the bank had suffered any loss was not known until the opening of the vaults this morning. A short time since parties secured a room directly under the bank for the alleged purpose of carrying on the broker business. The vaults of the bank were reached by cutting through the ceiling of this room, and it is now definitely known that the pretended brokers were expert English thieves, who have been arranging in a very quiet manner to rob the institution for the past two months. The bank was compelled to close its doors this morning until 11 o'clock, when the officers promised to resume business as heretofore. Other banks and money dealers are coming forward with assistance, and it is hoped, upon closer examination, the total loss will not be as large as now reported. Two mail-bags of gold coin were found in the gutter near the bank by the porter, early this morning, which was the first intimation that a robbery had taken place. A New Holiday. NEW YORK, June 28.-The official Ottawa Gazette contains a proclamation setting apart the 1st of July, Dominion Day, as a general holiday for the present and subsequent years. An Embezzler. H.G.C. Reiffenstein, Chief Clerk in the Receiver-General's Department, has been arrested and sent to jail, charged with appropriating public money passing through his hands. A Substitute. A. W. McLenan, of Nova Scotia, has been appointed Senator, in place of B. Weir, deceased. A Collision. ALBANY, June 28.-There was a smash-up on the Susquehanna Railroad, fifty-miles west of this city, yesterday. No lives were lost and no one hurt. Two engines were smashed and some cars wrecked. Horse Thief. BUFFALO, June 28.-Frederick Snyder was arrested and lodged in jail here last night, having in his possession a horse and buggy, the property of Bella Lloyd of St. Clairsville, Chautauqua county. The Storm. A violent storm prevailed last night, and it is feared much damage was done to the shipping on the lake.


Article from The New York Herald, December 13, 1871

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TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Wednesday, December 13, 1871. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY'S HERALD. PAGE. 1-Advertisements. 2-Advertisements. 3-Washington: Sumner's Solemn Joke Over the Final Adjonrnment; Attorney General Ackerman Said to Have Resigned; Proceedings in Congress-Another Bank Suspension: Failure of the Ocean National Bank-Failure of Three Cotton Firms-New Hampshire: Assembling of the Democratic State Convention-Rough and Readys. 4-Rossel-Ferre-Bourgeois : The Execution of the Three Condemned Criminals-L'internationale: The Committee and the Commissioners of Police-New York State in Congress: Incisive Sketches of Fenton and Conkling; the Influence of the Empire State Dissipated-Two Boys Drowned Near South Norwalk, Conn.-Virginia Matters-A Sneak Ensnared-Views of the Past. 5-Laura D. Fair: Letters from Her "Lonely Cell" to Mr. George Lionel Stevens, of New York-The Maudlin Murderer: Governor Randolph Respites Botts Until January 26-Affairs at the Public Departments-That Poisoned Mistress-Anglo-Hibernian Revolution-Amusements-The Presidential Question-Free College for Women-Cannibalism in New Jersey-Trenton's Defaulting Treasurer. 6-Editorials: Leading Article, "The Impeachment Question in Its Political Aspect and Bearing"-Amusement Announcements. 7-The Prince of Wales' Iliness: Condition of the Patient Yesterday and this Morning; Medical Bulletins from Sandringham; The Regency Question-The Geneva Conference-News from European States-Mexico: Progress of the Revolution-Interesting from Cuba-The Gulf Cables-Trials of South Carolina Ku Klux-Lectures Last Night-Miscellaneous Telegrams-Business Notices. 8-Counterfeiting: Continuation of the Trial of Miner, the Alleged Counterfeiter: Extraordinary Developments-A Friend of Miner in Trouble-Proceedings in the Courts-The Great Social Evil: Conviction of Mrs. Byrnes, the Female Rosenzweig-The Alleged Brooklyn Conspiracy: The Abduction of Michael Reynolds and His Second Will-The Drowning of Mr. Hall-The Centre Street Homicide-Another Prisoner "Newkirkeu" at Jefferson Market-Iron Shipbuilding in the West. 9-The Imports of 1870-71: Details and Value of What We Bought of Foreign Countries-St. Stephen's Church Fair-Denninger's Dogs-Crushed by Rail Cars-Army and Naval Intelligence-Bursting of a Locomotive-Financial and Commercial Reports-Domestic, European and Havana Markets-Deaths. 10-The Latest Wife Murder: Harrowing Particulars of the Ulster County Horror-The Trial of Mrs. Wharton at Annopolis-Art Sale-News from Utah-The Grand Duke in Boston-Wallock's Theatre: First Night of "John Garth"-Frozen to Death-Shipping Intelligence-Advertisements. 11-Advertisements. 12-Advertisements.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 14, 1871

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THE BANK CRASH. TWO MORE FAILURES. THE UNION-SQUARE AND EIGHTH NATIONAL BANKS IN THE HANDS OF RECEIVERS. Wall-st. was filled with startling rumors of bank failures, yesterday, and anticipations of more to day, but when the facts were uscertained. it was diecovered that the only banks which had actually sum pended during the day, were the Union-quare National Bank, and the Eighth National Bank, at No. 660 Broadway, neither of which was a member of the Clearing-House Association. On Tuesday, when failure of the Ocean National Bank was announced, suspicion at once fastened upon the Union square National Bank, us it redeemed through the former, and, it was believed, conld hardly fail to be affected by the sudden stoppage of its clearing facilities. A TRIBUNE reporterfcalled at the bank in Union square, in the evening, and was informed by the President that a meeting of the directors WHE then in progreen; that the Union Square Bank did not lose fo dollar by the saspension of the Ocean Bank, and that it had made arrangements whereb the National Shoe and Leather Bank. at Chamberent. and Broadway, would become its redeeming agent in the Clearing-House from and including Wednesday. This information WAR verified at the Shoe and Leather Bank, which, on Tuesday evening and yesterday morning, caused notice to that effect to be seut to the different banks connected with the ClearingHouse. Later in the morning, however, they sent another notice to the banks, revoking the former, and declaring that the Shoe and Leather Bank would not be the Clearing-House medium for the Unionsquare Bank. This created new distrust, and the latter bank, though it continued to do business for some hours, was compelled about noon to cease payments. and, by the action of Controller Hurlburt, to accept as receiver Honjamin F. Beekman, President of the Merchante Life Insurance Company of this city. A. .Stout, President of the National Shoe and Leather Bank, when applied to for information concerning the reconsideration of the Clearing-House arrangement, stated that the collaterals which bad been promised by the Union-equare National Bank to secure the former bank in its dealings with the Latter, were not forthcoming, and although Mr. Stout urged them to present them at once, they did not do so, and his bank was compelled to send out the second notice to its associates. It IN believed and stated that the Union-square Bank did not have the necessary collaterals, as it had been impaired to a considerable extent, though by what means 18 not yet known The officers of the Union requarefBank admit that Bank Examiner Callender of this district had the name facilities with them that he had at the Ocean National Bank, only not to NO great an amount. his memoraudum checks in them representing only about $15,000 or $20,000. The bank has been in existence about 1) years and has a capital of $200,000. The Receiver states that he has not yet familiarized himself with the affairs of the bank. but hopes to make a statement soon, and to pay the depositors in full. It 18 stated by the bask officers that the assets will be sufficlent to moet the liabilities. Much excitement was ex hibited by dealers with the bank when it was authoritatively announced an suspended. THE EIGHTH NATIONAL BANK. This bank suspended business at about 10 a. ro. yes. terday, in consequence of the refunal of the Butchers' and Drovers' Bank, at Bowery and Grand-st., to advance them money, or to act as their redeeming agent in the Clearing House any longer. The Eighth National Bank had transacted business with the Butchers' and Drovers' Bank since the former's foundation in 1866, and had always met its obligations until recently when it was compelled to depend upon the Butchers' and Drovers' Bank for assistance. The refusal of the latter bank to extend any further aid was not due to any loss sustained by it, but at a meeting of the Directors, on Tueeday evening, the recent failures were taken into consideration, and it was deemed necessary to discriminate in advaneing loans. The President declined to state how much the Eighth National Bank owed the Butchers' and Drovers', but he said that he held sufficient security for advanced. the amount Many of the depositore, upon the announcement of the failure of the Stuyvesaut and two Savings Banks, becam frightened, and withdrew their deposite with the view of placing them in a larger and safer institution. This weakened the bank considerably, as a great amount of its assets was locked up in real estate, one portion of which is the old Maison Doree building OD Union-square, now occupied by clothing-house. Among the deposits is the Police Monument Fund. amounting to more than $15,000. The sum necessary to pay off the Tremont Police, amounting to $400 or $500. was also deposited there. Several of the officials at Police Headquarters had accounts iu the same bank Yesterday afternoon a TRIBUNE reporter applied for information at the bank, the iron doors of which were locked and guarded to prevent unpleasant demonstru tions from excited depositors, who had flocked to the bank in the earlier portion of the day. A gentleman behind the desk handed the reporter the following communication, remarking that it contained all the information be could impart at present the " The immediate occasion of the suspension of Righth National Bank was the refusal of its request to continue redemption through the Clearing-House, its assets not being available for such prompt realisation as the present unsettled state of the public mind required. Albon Man of No. 194 Broadway has been appointed reoelver by Controller Hurlbut, and has taken possession to-day, but cannot at once, of course, give a full state ment of the bank's affairs. It is hoped that the deponitors will be paid in full. A statement will be prepared at the earliest possible moment." The statement of the bank, on Saturday, showed the following: ASSETS $165,900 Legal tenders LIABILITIES. $354.400 Deposite 250.000- $584.400 Circulation. The cupital of the bank is $250,000 and its officers are President, Union Adams Cashier, Charles Hudson D1 rectors, Union Adulted, Charles G. Cornell, Henry Smith, George Caulfield, Maltby, G. Lane, Thomas McLellan, John Fow Jer, jr., William Wade, and Alfred T. Conklin. THE OCEAN NATIONAL BANK. Additional feeling has been excited against Bank Examiner Callender by the announcement that when he examined the Ocean Bank, early in October, he had checks to the amount of several thousand dollars, which were marked as legal-tenders in the cash. some of these checks. it is represented, were on banks in which Mr. Callender had NO money. The resolution passed at the meeting of the Clearing-House Association, Tuesday, in reference to Mr. Callender is appended Resolved That is is the deliberate and natured delaion of the bank of Dears here researc that theiscombeat of the office iner of Bashe for this city has caused to command the confidence of the this attys and of banks Recoved That the President of the Clearing House Association be requested to address & letter tothe Controller or the Currency asking that is place. his of the matter con not ob-


Article from The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, December 14, 1871

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NEW YORK CITY. NEW YORK, December 13.-At the scenes disorderly Republican primary occurred election in last several called night of the districts. The police had to be in to preserve order. Judge Cardozo, of the Supreme Court, decided that an band suit for a yesterday may bring divorce insane against hushis wife by his next friend. It is proposed to make the office of t Register, which is now worth in fees $7,500 per year, a salaried office at $5,000 per annum. It is stated that on investigating the affairs of the Ocean National Bank, the only assets in the bank were $90,000. of which $75,000 were checks of the United States Bank Examiner, Callendar, COVered notes of the and other stocks at unknown by miscellaneous mining, this market, canal the West, were entirely comparatively to Callendar worthless. in The used $75,000 aud to in a promises advanced build a canal statement Michigan. to-day. The Receiver of unpaid laborers yesterday made threats and Cady on the A number Paymaster against Comptroller account of Green of wages. althat their families are non-payment lege The suffering laborers trouble for fuel and food. The cause of the is that the pay rolls are withheld at Tweed's department. National is number of The a Eighth regular Bank, the which assessed the Butchers banks, not modations was by to-day refused further and Drovers accom last statement of the Eighth was: seems to in $584400. Bank. National The Confidence Assets, $155,900; be shaken liabilities the banks by the the Bank ing that outside Examiner, disclosures of the Callender, Ocean showthe money build the that two in are had Bank rumors been to using Portage other Canal. banks There are a difficulty, but it is not verified. NEW YORK, December 13.-The sus pension of the 3th National Bank has been announced. R. B. Phillips, of Princeton, had his pooket of sixteen in stage a Broadway picked yesterday thousand River afternoon. dollars Monfound in East on day to be that of S. a merchant and once a formerly The proves body B. Turkington, candidate for the mayorality of San Francisco. The statement of the Receiver of the Ocean Bank, to-day, shows the liabilities Of to be $1,316,000; assets $2,600,000. the latter $1,630,000 are good. of a pilot boat a ferry boat gave rise to A collision this morning with unfounded reports of serious disasters on East river. The stock of the Ocean Bank sold nt 20 per cent to-day agaiast 80 per cent two daysago. St. Petersburg papers received to-day by Java express tion given to the at the ship reception great the satisfac- Grand Duke. The German papers ridicule the reception. Atnoon to-day a report obtained circuWall street that was in a lation tional in Bank House difficulty. it Eighth On ascer- Na inat the Clearing was this bank is not a of the but did tained quiry Association, that Drovers' its member clearances Bank. through the Butchers' and Upon inquiry among the Wall street banks it showed that there was good foundation for the rumor-that the Butchers' and Drovers' Bank had this morning discontinued their accommodations to the Eighth National Bank, The statement of 8th National Bank on Saturday showed the following: Assets, legal-tenders, $155,200; liabilities, deposits $854,400; circulation $250,000. Since the disclosures in the Ocean Bank case, where among the assets. was included a $70,000 check of Callander, Bank Examiner, on the Portage Canal, security and confibeen shaken in of the banks, a in statements dence has and into the their close weekly vestigation is being made true character. The Clearing House Association has re solved that Bank Examiner Callender has ceased to command the confidence of the banks, and ask the the Currency to some one place. appoint Comptroller in his had of B. Davenport, of Brooklyn, his pocket picked to-day of $6,000 in Government bonds. Grand Central Depot and the of the Franklin on Mill street, building Company, The Patterson, Manufacturing N.J. were burned this morning. 000. insured in Largely New Loss York $150, City and Hartford companies. At 2 P. M. to-day the Eric Railway restored 50,000 shares of Erie stock English Company claimed by bondholders. to CommisThe certificates were handed sioner White, who transferred them to the counsel for the claimants. The re. maining 10,650 shares claimed by Gould & as their personal Fisk property, to decide are still held subject to reference the ownership


Article from The New York Herald, December 14, 1871

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Assets over ilabilities. $1,299,210 It wiil be seen from the above statement that the circulation has not been incinded in the liabilities; but a reference to the last report shows it to be $796,800, which is fully covered by deposits of bonds with the Comptroller of the Currency. Ninety per cent of these deposits, under the law, is forfeited to the government if it redeems the circulation, and the balance-$79,680, or ten per cent-comes back to the bank and becomes an asset. The Impression entertained by many not familiar with commercial transactions that deposits are made at Washington to secure individual depositors is erroneous. These deposits are merely to cover circulation. Mr. Davies is very sanguine of the ability of the bank in time to meet all its obligations, without loss to the stockholders or depositors, and thinks each of the latter's claims is worth ONE HUNDRED CENTS UPON THE DOLLAR. He also expressed his confidence in the genuineness of all the items given as the assets. He was ques-tioned as to the transactions Mr. Collender, the United States bank examiner, had with the bank, but on this point he was not so positive. He could not tell the amount of loans made to Mr. Collender, but replied that he would be in a position to do só this afternoon. He was, however, certain that all the loans made were fully covered by first mortgage bonds of THE PORTAGE CANAL COMPANY, an institution chartered by the State of Michigan. Mr. Davies expressed his belief that these mort-gages were worth all that had been loaned upon them; but in this other commercial men do not agree with him. Several gentlemen informed the re-porter that the Portage Canal Company's bouds are not negotiable upon the market at any price and not considered good securities, although Mr. Frothing-ham, the President of the company, a and other officers of it are responsible gentlemen. Mr. Collender was not to be found yesterday, and of course his expla-nation of the transaction could not be obtained. Much dissatisfaction has been shown and com-ment made at the appointment by the Comptrolier, who is a brother-in-law of Mr. Coilender, of Mr. Da-vies as the receiver, who was for some time, if not up to the time of the suspension, one of the counsel of the bank. This was on the part of de-positors, who do not for a moment doubt that Mr. Davies will give a faithful account of his stew-ardship, but who fear that the bank officers have induced this action to cover up some of ITS ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES. One gentleman suggested that the depositors had the right to apply to the State Courts for the ap-pointment of a receiver; but as this is a national bank this view of the case is a very questionable one. Mr. Davles reports that the bank will resume busi-ness. ### The Union Square National Gone Down-A Receiver Appointed. Notwithstanding the rumors of Tuesday that the Union Square National Bank was affected by the demise of the Ocean its credit remained unimpaired until yesterday. On Tuesday evening the direc-tors arranged with the Shoe and Leather National Bank to attend to its clearances and amply secured them for this accommodation. They opened the bank yesterday as usual, and PAID DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. on all checks made upon them, until half-past two in the afternoon, when Mr. Hurlburt, Comptroller of the Currency, without a word of warning, entered, and, taking possession, appointed as receiver a re-tired merchant, Mr. Benjamin F. Beekman. A reporter of the HERALD had an interview with the directory of the institution later in the day, and they declare their ability to pay every cent due de-positors and expect to have a large balance to dis-tribute among the stockholders. They attribute their difficulties to ### A BREACH OF COMMERCIAL FAITH on the part of the Shoe and Leather Bank, who, after entering on Tuesday night into an agreement to become their Clearing House agent, yesterday morning withdrew from their compact without notifying them, and they first learned of its action from the East River National Bank. Up to fifteen minutes past three o'clock yesterday afternoon the Shoe and Leather Bank had not notified them of their breach of contract, notwith-standing the Union Square Bank had deposited with them ONE HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO COVER CLEARANCES. "It is a remarkable course to pursue," said one of the directors, "and had any other bank in the city-even tire Unemical-been treated as we have been treated by the Shoe and Leather, it would have suc-cumbed and been forced to go under. The truth is, the Shoe and Leather was "panicked," and we are the victims of it. Since the present board of direct-ors entered upon their duties last spring the deposits have more than trebled. We are a bank of small circulation-only $50,000-and the rules of the Clearing House are so arbitrary and


Article from Public Ledger, December 15, 1871

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NEW YORK. The Ocean National Bank Failure The Internationals-Pugilistie. NEW YORK, December 15.-The meeting of depositors of the Ocean National Bank, called for noon yesterday, was largely attended, and a committee of five was appointed to examine the securities and condition of the bank and report. Sam Kelley, the well known English pugilist, has challenged Joe Coburn to fight for $2500 aside, to come off within one hundred miles of New Orleans, within four months of signing the articles. Kelley named Rufus Hunt as stakeholder. Generals Wrobleowsky and Megy, Communists, are in New York. Wrobleowsky was reported dead. The suit of Jane Madden against the Staten Island Ferry company for $50,000 damages for the loss of her husband by the Westfield disaster, resulted in the same manner as the first trial, the jury disagreeing, when they were discharged accordingly. A meeting of the Board of Police yesterday discussed the revocation order of the Governor prohibiting the International parade. The Commissioners passed an order directing the Superintendent to take all necessary steps to prevent a breach of the peace, and protect the public from disorder and violence. Mayor Hall proposed a resolution that the Board of Police memorialize the Legislature to pass an act to regulate processions. The resolution was laid on the table. The excitement in financial circles over the failures of the national banks continues. There was a run on the Bank of the Commonwealth yesterday, in consequence of groundless rumors, but the officers of the Clearing House testified to its solvency, when the excite-


Article from Public Ledger, December 15, 1871

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FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. MONEY. PUBLIC LEDGER OFFICE, MEMPHIB. TENN.. December 15. 1871. The monetary situation is unchanged, and rates of discount remain steady at 10 to 12 per cent. Checking is active at all of the banks, and business generally is active. Exchange is offering more freely and the supply is now largely in excess of the r demand. Rates remain steady at I to 1c discount buying on cotton bills, and to 1 discount selling on Eastern checks. I Gold is worth 109 to 1091 in New : York to-day. Dealers here pay 109 to I 109 , and get barely sufficient to supply the local demand. f Local securities are quiet and without marked change. Mississippi warrants and Alcorn money are in demand at 80c 8 for the former and 85c for the latter. City securities are held firmly at 60c for the currency bonds and 63 to 64c for the gold issue. County warrants are strong at 93 to 95c buying and selling; Tennessee money is held at 88 to 90c. There is now outstanding of the old issue but $581,312 and of the new issue $1,685,712. Memphis and Charleston railroad shares are steady and held firmly at from 45 to 50c. Arkansas levee bonds are weak and large amounts could not be sold at over 23 to 24c, if they would even bring that price. Memphis and Little Rock railroad shares are held firmly and sellers cannot be found at less than 12 to 13c. The affairs of the Ocean National Bank of New York, which suspended, are in a much better condition than was at first supposed. The receiver states that its assets are over a $1,000,000, while its liabilities are but $17,000. Its suspension will not in any manner affect its correspondent here, and it is more than probable that the Ocean National will again resume business in a few days.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 28, 1871

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BANK AFFAIRS. INVESTIGATION BY THE CONGRESS COMMITTEETHE CENTRAL SAVINGS BANK. The sub-Committee of the Committee on Banking and Currency. consisting of Representatives Worthington C. Smith, Merriam, and Randall, appointed to investigate the bank suspensions in this city, met at the Clearing-House in Wall-st. yesterday morning, to confer with Messrs. Leverich and Tappen, representing the Clearing-House Committee, on the best means of preventing such disasters as have befallen the Ocean, Eighth, and Union Square National banks. Messrs. Leverich and Tappen were of the opinion that the failure of the banks named was attributable to bad banking. They recommended that a proper compensation should be attached to the office of Bank Examiner, and that it should only be filled by men of approved ability and integrity. They further recommend that Bank Examiners should be moved from one center of finance to another. and not allowed to remain in one place, as in the case of Callender. It is understood that the Committee will urge the passage of an act making it a misdemeanor for a Bank Examiner to borrow money. directly or indirectly. from any bank examined by him, and making it a similar offense for any bank officer to lend a Bank Examiner any money even upon the most approved securities. The Committee have investigated the affairs of the Ocean and Union Square National Banks, but will not report until Congress reassembles. Mr. Merriam informed 8 TRIBUNE reporter last evening that nothing had been discovered calculated to throw discredit on the National Banking system. Mr. Smith has been suddenly called away from the city, and the investigations will be conducted by Mr. Merriam. The Central Savings Bank. at Sixthave. and Fortysecond-st., was organized four months ago, and having had $12,000 on deposit in the Ocean National Bank at the time of its suspension, has been unable to meet all the demands which its depositors have made upon it. Several days have elapsed before checks made by depositors have been honored, and considerable Anxiety prevails among them. officers of the bank have stated that the institution has not paid expenses. The rest of the building which the Bank occupies*is a large one, and although the number of depositors IN considerable, yet the aggregate amount of money intrusted to its care is comparatively small. A TRIBUNE reporter was informed yester day by Mr. Davis, Receiver of the Ocean National Bank, that the amount due the Savings Institution will ulti. mately be paid in full. and there is no doubt from the statement of Mr. Peek, President of the Central Bank, that the bank will be able to pay all its depositors.


Article from New Orleans Republican, January 18, 1872

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NEW YORK. Arrived-Franklin Statue Unveiled-New Colonel of the Ninth-The Weld Sugar Case-Mayor Hall. NEW YORK, January 17.-Arrived-Wisconsin. Adger, Tarita and San Salvador. Arrived out-Maine. The Franklin statue was unveiled in Printing House square to-day. James Gordon Bennett, Jr., is mentioned in connection with the coloneley of the Ninth Regiment. Ex-Bank Examiner Caliendar has been held for the action of the grand jury. It is stated that the Secretary of the declined to & case on the basis Treasury Co. sugar compromise of the $500,000, Weld and the case will be re-tried Mayor Hall assumed the duties of his office to-day. Evening.-Governments inactive; 1881s 1153; five-twenties of 1862 110 1/s; 18641101/>; 1865 111 1/8; new 110 1/8; 1867 112; 1868 1121% ten-forties 110. Money easy at 5@6. Prime business paper passes at 7@10. Exchange dull at 91/2@93. Gold dull at 108% @ 109. State bonds not very active; Tennessee sixes 65 1/2, new 655; Virginia sixes 53; Louisiana sixes 55, new 62; levee sixes 68, eights 70; Alabama eights 90, fives 60; sevens 33, new new A. at the Georgia Charles sixes 16; South 75; Meigs, Carolinas 83; the North desire 48, Carolinas of 27. clearing house, has been appointed national bank inspector, vice Callendar. The receiver of the Ocean National Bank pays twenty-five per cent to depositors on the twenty-tifth instant. Eliza Logan Wood was buried at Greenwood cemetery to-day. The funeral services were performed at the residence by the Rev. Mr. Tyng, Jr. The parlor was thronged with members of the theatrical profession. Frank H. Finkham has sued ex-Collector Shook, of the thirty-second revenue district, for the value of a number of barrels of whisky alleged to have been transferred illegally by Collector Bailey from the fourth to the thirty-second district. The bank report states a continued influx of currency, and money is pouring in here from all points. To-day national bank notes were offered free of interest for five days on the condition that the amount was returned in legal tender notes. The banquet this evening in celebration of the birth of Franklin was a fine affair. Rev. Dr. Prime presided, and among the speakers were Horace Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Dr. Chapin, Erastus Brooks and others. The Chamber of Commerce has sent a memorial to Congress representing that the of with and is the higher peting used prevent cost foreigners, American American labor ship builders and principal material comof our to a more to ocean liberal cause Congress compensation is the urged depression give relief, of American and marine. steamers carrying the mails is suggested as a measure. A telegram from the Haguestates that a treaty has been adopted by the upper


Article from The Wheeling Daily Register, January 23, 1872

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WASHINGTON. Naval Affairs. WASHINGTON, January 22.-Lieut.Commander Mahon has been ordered to the receiving ship Vermont at New York; Midshipman Perkins to torpedo duty; Chief Engineer Sidney Albert to the Canandagua; Second Assistant Engineer Ryan to the naval rendezvous at San Francisco. The Scrip Dividend Case. Commissioner Douglass has received the report of the Advisory Committee in regard to the scrip dividend case. The company has made application for another hearing in the case, which will probably be obtained, and the final decision of the case may not be reached for several weeks. Sentence Commuted. The sentence of the dismissal from the service in the case of First Lieutenant Palmer, of the Twelfth infantry, which was tried by court martial at Camp Halleck, Nevada, on October 14, on the charge of conduct unbecoming an officer, has been commuted by the President to suspension from his rank as First Lieutenant for the period of twelve months, and to forfeiture of all pay for the same period, except $50 per month. The Syndicate Transaction. The Ways and Means committee have under consideration Secretary Boutwell's syndicate transaction, and will probably make their report to the House to-day, with a majority report exonerating Boutwell from any blame. = The Naval Appropriation Bill. The committee on Appropritions had the naval appropriation bill under consideration, and adjourned without completing the bill, 80 it will not be completed before Wednesday. Nomination Withdrawn. The President to-day sent a communication to the Senate withdrawing the nomination of Willard Warner to be Collector of the port of Mobile. The Ocean National Bank. The Comptroller of Currency will commence on the 26th inst., to pay 35 cents on the dollar on all approved claims to the creditors of the Ocean National Bank of New York.


Article from The New York Herald, January 26, 1872

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THE OCEAN NATIONAL BANK. Depositors Paid a First Dividend of Thirty Per Cent-Statement of the Receiver. The Ocean National Bank on yesterday made its first dividend to depositors since the suspension of the institution. Daying thirty per cent on all deposits. The officials of the bank have been able to realize considerable money on its securities, such as loans, mortgages, stocks and bonds. The prospect of the depositors now begins to wear a more hopeful aspect, and the receiver expresses his confidence that they will be able to pay the full amount of its indebtedness, and stockholders will receive eighty cents on the dollar. The prompt action of the committee appointed to watch the affairs of the bank on behalf of the depositors has contributed in a great degree to bring about the satisfactory state of things at present. When the bank suspended payment, some tour or five weeks ago, there was very little chance of a speedy settlement, as the assets and liabilities of the bank seemed to be hopelessly complicated; and it is very cheering to the depositors when they find that there is now a fair chance of full payment or their claims. Ms. Theodore M. Davis, the receiver, says that the full amount of all claims will probably be paid three months from date. when the securities will have been realized. Quite a large number of depositors attended at the bank yesterday to receive their money, but there was not anything like a rush or a panic. A single policeman was on duty, and his efforts were amply sufficient to preserve order. Each depositor on entering presented his bank book at the desk, and If his claim was found to be valid a printed form was filled in. with his name and the amount of his deposit. He then took his place 1a the line, and when his turn came, on handing in his paper the thirty per cent was promptly paid by the cashier. The total amount to be paid on the first dividend at thirty per cent will amount to $385,000, and or this more than half was accounted for yesterday. Nearly all the city depositors have been paid, and to-day those from the country are expected to come in. As the bank is a government institution it cannot resume business after being placed in the hands of a receiver. The following is the official statement of Mr. Davis:-


Article from The New York Herald, January 26, 1872

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STATEMENT OF THE RECEIVER. Resources. Nominal Value. Estimated Value. Loans $417,859 17 $282,859 00 Bills discounted. 659,000 UC 914,574 48 Stocks and bonds 443,431 68 233,431 OU 5,793 33 5,793 33 Mortgages 213.513 48 Real estate. 188,000 00 Furniture and fixtures 21,552 € 62 10,000 00 00 77,000 111,149 34 Suspense account 884,098 49 384,098 49 Cash in United Stated Treasury Cash in bank 22,459 49 22,459 w Total $2,535,432 08 $1,867,641 31 Liabilities. $1,280,328 Amount due depositors Excess of resources at estimated value over 587,313 02 liabilities $1,867,641 31 Total I have made the above estimate with great care. and, in my judgment, the full amount thereof, to wit, $1,867,641 31, will be realized. With good management and good luck, the assets ought to yield a much larger sum. THEODORE M. DAVIS, Receiver of the Ocean National Bank, New York. A Card from President stevenson. NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 1872. To THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE OCEAN NATIONAL BANK:I have refrained from communicating with you since the action of the Clearing House in suspending this bank. My reason was that I preferred to wait until Mr. Davis, the receiver, made his first official report of the liabilities and his estimate of the assets of the bank. This he has done, showing the liabilities to be $1,280,328 29. The liabilities, so far as the circulation is concerned, against the bank ceased when the Comptroller sold the United States bonds: the government now has to redeem the notes. The assets, Mr. Davis estimates, will yield $1,867,641 31, leaving an excess of $587,313 02, which, of course, belongs to you. My reason for addressing you is to advise you not to seil your stock at the present market price-twenty or twenty-two cents on the dollar. I know the estimate Mr. Davis has put upon each item of asset, and he has very properly put it at a low figure. Still, 1 believe and think the result will show me to be correct, that the assets will produce $100,000 more money than Mr. Davis estimates. It is not improper for me to say to you that I believe a better selection for receiver could not have been made for your interests, and that Mr. Davis will get all the monev out or the assets that another man could under the circumstances. C. S. STEVENSON, late President.


Article from The New York Herald, April 3, 1872

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I was Just proposing to get back what was justly my own. but could not do nt I would not thought of these things If 1 had not been poor. SIGNING THE QUITTANCE. By Mr. Co State how you came to sign that release. A. Mr. Davis had detective or an ficer of some sort standing there. with little cane in his hand: he said to me he had a document writ ten and prepared for me to sign: told nim would not swear to any such document: then he told me down and write a letter yself and swear 16: told write him letter sign would and It, but would not swear to this is the letter wrote under and it wrote marked threat B. of Mr. Davis have me I signed it also in the of sum consideration $100. of did. Did you the money Is all your in this All handwriting ? A. except a portion of the two items below. office of Where was this signed? A. In the Davis street, What is his business? A. A lawyer Has he any other business A. He was reNational Ocean the of Bank. ceiver me He A. Did he give you the money gave a check for $100. On what bank A. do not remember. 9" What do you mean by eleasing all claims A Sumply that would release him from all obligathe under tions; when threats: lid thing Davis pronosed to arraign me said it was three years affairs the were bank since was the and closed, it ery remarkable thing to talk about prosecuting after three years me bank been had wound up: the Comptroller thought had failed in adminis tering the adairs or the Dank It should have been done years ago. LETTER WRITER. LUMINOUS Q Have you written any letters subsequent to that Yes, sir: have written hat full Q. Of the same tenor as that or October A. do character the have not know written persuasive letters and others: intended to get back the money to did that and when stop. By Mr. SMITH You remarked that the consideration had failed: what consideration You said you intended to get back the money because the con. sideration had lailed A. No. sir: said there was no consideration. for received none: have papers and memoranda which, had, could answer your questions more satisfactorily By Mr. MERRIAM W uere are they? A. Some of are in New York. them THE MAN WITH THE LIBRARY'S ADVICE Q Have you been approached since you have been here by any party in regard to your testimony to prevail upon you not to come so. by Whom When Washington came regrette exceed ingly that had written that letter to Mr. Randall did not suppose he was going to give the lettertothecommitte did not want to come and reall committee. would give now right arm it had not done it, because don't o give even facts to injure people: when came to Washington called upon Mr Albert Pike, an quaintance of mine from Tennessee: went to odice, and found him disabled. and theu went to private room to him and ask him about this thing: told should be called upon to say things that would reflect upon certain persons, and did not wan to do in could avoid it: said he, "Mr. Rutter, have but little in this world, outside of here: -that you library see but my advise you to go before that committee and tell straight ward, unvarnished story, let 10 hit Whom it may and bin. THE MAGIC NAME ON THE CARD. Q It has been testified here that you had been approached by Mr. Hulburd? met Mr. but when nobody's took to came burd, Washington went to get from Mr. Halburd tact to relieve the impression made upon the puolic that had robbed that bank or currency. stated in the NEW YORK HERALD: stopped the Owen the over and by sent colored House, card boy a Mr. Hulburo just simply my name upon and Mr. that asked came over Hulourd 11) card; about the matter spoke of. and he promised to furnish to me, but so far he has not done so; we had. the sir. conversation is The following are the letters referred to in the testimony HUNGRY I'M PAY UP. 1870. Oct. 3, YORK, DRAR STR- enclose draft upon 8500 and pay possible clearest due me. justly If does know not is not know hands the are You justice of the and hope you the lugging let make firmly from which me, family destroyed me fit. useless he only and not would pain at with the money once without me on and Bank, paya order else authorized one collect my your health draft My bad money TTER GEO. deplorable. Lewis & Co., 14 Wall street, New York. H.R. HULBURD, 1580 HE MUST PAY MR. LETTER "B." M. THEODORE 1867 made present of a carriage Washington city fortune. myself find want family rage upon my and Mr Hulburd was willing present this return pecuniar present he thus relieve greatly Yours d act my GEO. R. RUTTER. DEC. 13, 1870. THE QUITTA CR. G R. RUTTER Es pay you $100 in full for said carriage and harness THEO. M. DAVIS. Yours truly DEO. 13, 1870 DAVIS accept your proposition and release all claims to GEO. R. RUTTER. property. DEC. 13. 1570. THE EVIDENCE OF DAVIS. Mr. Theodore M. Davis, a lawyer, of New York, and receiver of the defunct Ocean National Bank of tnat city, was called in relation to the statement Mr. Rutter that ne (Davis) transacted the carriage business between himself and Hubbard He lated a long conversation between himself and Rutter, and told a fearful tale about Mr. Rutter's transactions. He denie story or Rutter's that he had offered him money to keepaway from Washington lu relation to the affairs of the Ocean National Bank. of which he ceiver, he sala Mr Callender was indebted to it $117,000. He then related the following as conversal non between himself, Hulburd au Callender:- Mr. Hulburd was in my office and said to him, Do you know Callender is borrowing money of the Ocean Bank He said No.' The next day, Caliender being in my office. asked the question, What was about his borrowing money he very much surprised and said. I intend to take to-morrow Mr. Hulburd said the thing must be stopped: he ltd not care what the security was money was borrowed it must be done outside: Callender went on to say a great deal: Mr. Huibure spoke very severely of what Callender had done. and Mr. said must Hulburd 10; resented Callender stop, and spoke very sharply about it: interfered because was a friend to Mr. ulburd: Callender had told me time ana again that his matters were all straight with the Ocean Bank, and old not know they were not until about two days before the bank failed, THE RESIGNATION. These are the material allegations on which the majority of the committee based the resolution in lavor of Mr. Hulburd's removal. The Comptroller was present at all the examinations. acquiesced at least what was in silence and by done The majority of the committee claim that make defence to ought made to nave he had he any it before them instead to Mr Bout In day will decided. question be whole the two said that ptroller Hulburd has placed resignation in the hands of Secretary Boutw To-day Mr. Hulburd turned over the Currency Bu


Article from New-York Tribune, May 7, 1872

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NEW-YORK CITY. Controller Green paid to the Health Department, yesterday, $22,000 for salaries and expenses. Emma R. Couch, who is indicted for attempting to blackmail the Rev. Mr. Carter, was admitted to bail, yesterday, in $5,000 by Judge Brady. Alderman Vance declined, yesterday, 'the appointment of Commissioner of Public Instruction on the ground of official and other engagements. An additional dividend of 20 per cent will be declared, June 1, by Thomas M. Davis, receiver, in behalf of the depositors of the Ocean National Bank, making in all 70 per cent. In the suit of the United States agt. C. H. Lilienthal, for the condemnation of $200,000 worth of tobacco, the jury found a verdict for the Government, and the defendant moved for a new trial on the ground that the Judge erred in charging that absolute proof of the alleged frauds was not necessary, as they could be inferred from surrounding circumstances. In the United States District Court, yesterday, Judge Blatchford denied the motion. BROOKLYN. Seventy-two cases of small-pox and 35 of spotted fever were reported last week. The Common Council has directed the City Railroad Company to sprinkle Fulton-st. daily from the ferry to Myrtle-ave. The "May walk" of the Protestant Sundayschools of Brooklyn, E.D., has been changed from the 30th to the 23d of May. Controller Schroeder expended during April $1,747,378 08 of the General Fund account, and has a balance of $1,909,469 22. The seventeenth annual report of the Superintendent of Public Schools shows that there are 102,033 pupils, including 1,670 colored children; the average register is 40,935, and the average attendance, 36,044 ; and the annual expenses have amounted to $719,800 14. The Troy nine beat the Atlantics on the Capitoline Grounds, yesterday, by the following score: INNINGS.


Article from New-York Tribune, May 28, 1872

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Dividend Notices. CEAN NATIONAL BANK DIVIDEND.-A DIVIDEND of TWENTY (20) PER CENT will be issued to the depositors of this bank on the 27th of May, 1872 Payable at the office of TREODORE M. DAVIS Receiver. No. 19 NHSBRU-ST. JOHN JAY KNOX. Controller of Currency.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, March 11, 1874

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# RUMORED CONSPIRACY IN A NATIONAL BANK The New York Herald says it is reported the Sub-Committee of Banking and Currency of the House of Representatives has discovered that certain officers of the suspended Ocean National Bank, by collusion with certain parties in Wall street, made all the necessary arrangements for having the bank closed up at a particular time and that their arrangements were perfected months previous to the time the bank really closed. Among other features of the arrangement it is alleged that the testimony shows that Mr. Davis was decided upon as the referee from the first day the conspiracy was resolved upon, and that to make the conspiracy a success it was found necessary to secure the official assistance of a prominent and well-known official of the government at Washington.


Article from The New York Herald, March 18, 1874

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the Portage Lake bonds forced on the market, be- cause the Ocean National Bank was interested in keeping up the price of the bonds; another reason was Mr. Callender had very close relations with the bank, as bank examiner, and was quite inter- ested in the Portage Lake bonds and in securing a loan on them; I was aiding him in carrying on this negotiation for the benefit of the Portage Lake bonds; this resulted as a benefit for the Ocean Bank by indirectly keeping up the value of the bonds; there was nothing said about his action as bank examiner; Mr. Callender told me that there were negotiations on hand for a sale of a million and a half of those bonds by a house in Nassau street; I do not know at what price; I first became connected with the Ocean National Bank in 1865, as cashier, and in 1870 as its president; I think the bank became possessed of the securities I have spoken of in 1866; I cannot say if they got any after that; Mr. Callender first discharged the duty of bank ex- aminer for the Ocean National Bank in 1867; Mr. Hedges and Mr. Morgan, constituting the execu- tive or exchange committee of the bank, partici- pated with me in making these loans to Mr. Cal- lender; the effect of the Chicago fire on the bank was to cause deposits to be drawn out very rapidly by Western depositors, the money in the Chicago banks having been locked up; about $800,000 were drawn out of the bank in the course of a few days; that, of course, crippled the bank considerably; I have no opinion upon the question whether the bonds would have brought as much after the Chicago fire as before. Q. How did it affect the negotiations for the loans? Ruled out. Q. Would not this bank have sustained itself but for the Chicago fire? Ruled out. Q. In your judgment was not the failure of the bank a consequence of the Chicago fire? The Court ruled the question out. Other questions were put by counsel to show that the bank had lost considerably at a time preceding the Chicago fire, but the Court excluded them on the ground that the defendant could not be found guilty because the bank had lost property. The witness, in reply to other questions, went on to state that in 1869 the bank met with great difficulty; it was robbed in that year by burglars to the extent of $70,000 and of a large amount of bonds belonging to its customers. That crippled the business of the bank and it ran down very considerably. After the rob- bery the business decreased by the deposits being decreased. Subsequently the bank got into estima- tion, and from that time till the Chicago fire the deposits increased and the progress of the bank was gratifying. A. Was the progress of the bank up to the 3d of October, 1871, gratifying to those who had charge of the institution, including yourself? A. It was gratifying; having a larger amount of deposits its business was more profitable; it was in a more flourishing condition on the 3d of October, 1871, than for years before, so far as its business was concerned. Q. In your judgment would not entire harmony and earnest work on the part of all concerned have made the institution a grand success? A. I cannot tell what it might have produced; in my judgment if there had been no Chicago fire and if there had been entire harmony and earnest work on the part of all concerned in the bank, I believe the prophecy in Mr. Callender's report would have been realized. Redirect-My impression is that I would not have loaned Mr. Callender any money if he had not been bank examiner; that is one of the reasons why I loaned him the money; one of the reasons was to keep the Portage Lake bonds off the mar- ket; I do not remember how many of those bonds the bank had; the bank, in its own right, owned $100,000 of those bonds; the checks of Callender were carried as legal tenders; there were other checks carried in the same way, but I cannot say whose checks; the result of the loans show that they were an injury to the bank unless the receiver can collect them: I think that after the Chicago fire one lot of the Portage Lake bonds sold for fifty cents on the dollar; I had been selling them before the fire, at private sale, for ninety cents on the dollar; I refer to a series of those bonds other than those deposited by Mr. Callender; of the latter bonds I never sold any; the capital stock of the bank when I came there as cashier was $1,000,000; I cannot say positively that Mr. Callender examined the bank in 1867; he ex- amined it In June, 1869, after the robbery, and I do not remember that he examined it again until he made the examination of October, 1871; the capital stock of the bank consisted of real estate, bills receivable, &c.; Mr. Callender came into the bank very frequently, looked at whatever he wished to, and was familiar with its affairs. Q. From the time you came into the bank was it not a fact that Mr. D. R. Martin, its President, had an overdraft of $250,000? A. No, sir; that was in 1855; I think that was paid back before Mr. Callen- der came there; I can tell by the books, if the receiver will allow me; I cannot tell what was the indebtedness of Mr. Callender to the bank at the time of the examination of October, 1871, when I loaned him this $76,000; I do not remember when Mr. Callender got his first loan from the bank; I cannot positively say that his indebtedness had been increasing up to October, 1871, but my im- pression is that it had been increasing; after the 3d of October, 1871, I did not want to loan him any more money, because the bank had no more money to loan. In reply to a question as to whether the bank was in a sound and solvent condition at the time Mr. Callender made the examination, the witness re- plied that if it was meant by this that the bank could pay its depositors and stockholders 100 cents on the dollar, he would say "No;" he thought it could pay all its liabilities except to its stock- holders, and these would have got 80 cents on the dollar; he had left out of this estimate the liability of the bank for stolen bonds; thinks one suit had been brought for $60,000. Q. If Mr. Callender, as bank examiner, had made a true and exact statement of the condition of the bank to the Comptroller of the Currency would it not, in your judgment, have resulted in putting the bank into liquidation? Mr. Fullerton objected to the question. The law determined when a receiver should be appointed. The Court ruled out the question. To Mr. Fullerton-I said that Mr. Callender often came into the bank from 1867 to 1871; he expressed himself satisfied with the improvement of the bank. ### TESTIMONY OF JOHN S. LANGWORTHY. John S. Langworthy, an official employed in the office of the Comptroller of the Currency, produced from the files of that office certified copies of all the reports made by Mr. Callender, as bank examiner, in relation to the affairs of the Ocean National Bank; he had looked on the file for all reports made by Callender as to this bank; he found two, one dated August 29, 1867, and the other July 1, 1869; If he had made any other reports they would have been found on the files of the office; witness also produced a paper, which he described as the ordi- nary form of the commission of a bank examiner; the country was divided into districts, and for each district there was a bank examiner, whose duty it was to examine and report upon the condition of the banks in his district at least once a year, and oftener if he deemed it necessary: the Comptroller of the Currency receives his information as to the condition of the banks from the reports of the ex- aminers and from the quarterly reports of the banks. To Mr. Fullerton-In special cases the examina- tion is conducted under the order of the Comp- troller; under extraordinary circumstances he re- quests a special report; if there was anything in the reports from the banks that required it he would cause a special examination to be made; I think the examiner, in some cases, reports by special letter, without making up a formal report. ### TESTIMONY OF BENTHAM T. BRUNDIGE. B. T. Brundige deposed:-On the 7th day of Octo- ber, 1871, I was cashier of the Union Square Na- tional Bank; I have examined the books of that bank lately. Q. Can you say that the check of Charles Callen- der on that bank for $20,000 on the 2d of October, 1871, was good? A. I would say it was not good. Q. Did he ever receive any money from the Union Square National Bank? Objected to by Mr, Fullerton. On this objection a long legal argument ensued, Mr. Purdy claiming that under the law he could go into other transactions to prove motives and con- duct of the defendant. The Court reserved its decision and adjourned until this morning at eleven o'clock. ### BUSINESS IN THE OTHER COURTS. SUPREME COURT-CHAMBERS. Decisions. By Judge Van Brunt.


Article from New-York Tribune, March 20, 1874

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THE TRIAL OF CALLENDAR. BANK EXAMINER MEIGS STATES THAT THE OCEAN NATIONAL BANK WAS INSOLVENT BY A MILLION. At the resumption, yesterday, in the United States Circuit Court of the trial of ex-Bank Examiner Charles Callendar for accepting a bribe of $76,000 for reporting favorably upon the condition of the Ocean National Bank, National Bank Examiner Meigs was recalled, and he testified that he had examined the state. ment-book of the Ocean National Bank: that in his judgment, the books show that the bank was insolvent on Oct. 3 and 4, 1871. Ex-Judge Fallerton objected to the witness's giving the result of his judgment, and Judge Benedict ruled that he must confine himself to telling just what the book in question showed, and that it was for the jury to determine whether, according to such showing, the bank was insolvent on the days men* tioned. The witness then said the book showed that on Oct. 3 and 4, 1871, the assets of the bank did not differ materially from its assets on Dec. 12, 1871, when it failed. It was then shown from the book that on those days the assets of the bank amounted to $1,535,000, and that, after paying all its liabilities, it had a surplus of $130,000. The witness was asked if he knew the value of those assets or securities on or about Oct. 3, 1871, and answered that, with a few exceptions, the assets or securities had no quotable market value. and that they were not worth within $1,000,000 of the amount stated in the book. The witness then stated that he had discovered an irregularity in a real estate transaction. where real estate said to be worth $216,000 had been taken as security for money loaned when it was not worth any such sum. The witness also said that the real estate was 'sold for a great deal less than what it was taken-for," and that its alleged value, $216,000, was credited to the loan account. The cros3-examination elicited nothing new, except that Mr. Meigs had only a general knowledge of the value of Portage Lake bonds, Marietta and Cincinnati bonds, Susquehanna bonds, Grand Rapids bonds, and Decatur and Mattoon bonds, and other collaterals given by Callendar for money borrowed from the Ocean National Bank. Mr. Purdy resumed the direct examination, and asked the witness what kind of a report he would have made if he had examined the affairs of the Ocean National Bank, on or about Oct. 3. 1871. Ex-Judge Fullerton objected, and the question was not allowed. Re-cross-examination-Q You say that the Ocean National Bank was insolvent on Oct. 3, 1871, by over $1,000,000; how do you make that out A. By taking off the following amounts from the items stated as assets: From the item of loans, 8200,000; from the items of bills discounted, $400,000; from the items of Portage Lake bonds, $90,000: from the item of Brunswick and Albany Railway bonds, $60,000; from the item of Susquehanna bonds, $29,000; from the item of Decatur and Mattoon bonds, $50,000: from the item of realestate, $100,000; from the item of furniture, &c., $11,000; from the item of suspense account. $20,000; from the item of suspended debt, $20,000; from the item of expense account, $24,600; from the item of legal tenders, $50,000; from the item of discrepancy account, $519; from the item of general bond account, $100,000; total, $1,158,119. F. D. Tappan, the President of the Gallatin National Bank, testified in substance: On Dec. 11 or 12, 1871, the Ocean National Bank owed the Clearing-house about $83,000; and on one of those days Callendar told me that the Ocean National Bank was solvent, and that it only needed a little assistance to get out of a little difficulty; he said also that it would in a few days obtain all the money it wanted; the Gallatin National Bank then agreed to loan the Ocean National Bank enough money to pay its debt to the Clearing-house.


Article from New-York Tribune, March 24, 1874

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THE COURTS. TRIAL OF CALLENDAR. EVIDENCE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. At the resumption yesterday in the United States Circuit Court of the trial of ex-Bank-Examiner Charles Callendar for accepting a bribe for reporting favorably upon the condition of the Ocean National Bank, Edward Wolcott, a clerklin the office of the Controller of the Currency, produced certified copies of Callendar's reports upon the condition of the following banks in this city Union Square National Bank, American National Bank, Atlantic National Bank, and the Commonwealth National Bank. These reports were favorable to the banks, and, as they either failed or went into liquidation soon after they were made, Mr. Purdy claimed that they were 'blackmailing reports, or false reports, for the making of which Callendar received bribes." T. O. Edaugh, who is also a clerk in the office of the Controller of the Currency, produced Callendar's report upon the condition of the Fourth National Bank of Philadelphia, and his reports upon the condition of the following banks in this city: Continental National Bank, First National Bank, Third National Bank, Mechanics' National' Bank. National Currency Bank, Central National Bank, Ninth National Bank, Metropolitan National Bank, Broadway National Bank. None of these banks have failed, and only one of them, the Fourth National Bank of Philadelphia, went into liquidation. Mr. Purdy introduced the reports referred to only in connection with the fact that Callendar had borrowed money from the banks reported upon and the allegation that he had threatened to m ake unfavorable reports if the mony he wanted were not loaned to him. Mr. Stevenson, who was President of the Ocean National Bank when it failed. repeated his testimony to the effect that Callendar's first transaction with that bank took place in January, 1868; that the bank's reserve fund was not up to the standard on Oct. 3, 1871, and that to raise it to the required amount Callendar's checks for about $50,000 were counted as legal tenders. The recently-published matter of Callendar's indebtedness to the Ocean National Bank was again considered, but nothing was elicited from the witness, except that, as was claimed, the bank had, on Oct. 3, 1871, loaned Conant, Wild & Co. about $100,000 more than it had any right to loan, and that, at that time, it had $112,000 in Portage Lake bonds, and $100,000 in Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon bonds. Au examination of the statement-book of the bank corroborated National Bank-Examiner Meigs's testimony that it was insolvent by over $1,000.000, and that it had on hand when it failed about $1,811,450 in unavailable bonds, stocks, and notes. It is claimed by the prosecution that the bank had that amount in such bonds, stocks, and notes on hand for two years before it failed, and that Callendar knew it when he reported that the bank was in a prosperous' condition. It also appeared that the unavailable paper referred to was supposed to be good security where money was loaned on it, and that since the failure of the bank over $152,000 worth of it had been paid. It was further shown from the books, that between July and October, 1871, the business of the bank had increased to the extent of $30,000, and ex-Judge Fullerton remarked that such increase corroborated Callendar's statement that the bank was in a prosperous condition. Isaao H. Bailey, the Receiver of the Common wealth National Bank. testified that he found in that bank notes showing that Callendar owed It about $30,000, and that the notes were indorsed by Wild, Avery & Conant, and Callendar, but that Callendar appeared as the borrower. The Court then adjourned till to-day, when Frank L. Taintor, who is serving out a term of seven years' imprisonment for embezzling the funds of the Atlantic National Bank, will be a witness for the prosecution.


Article from The New York Herald, March 28, 1877

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MEMENTO OF A GREAT BURGLARY. THE OCEAN NATIONAL BANK'S LAST REMAINING ASSETS SOLD AT AUCTION YESTERDAY-THE GREAT ROBBERY IN 1869 AND THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. The remaining assets of the Ocean National Bank having been carefully swept together, were yesterday disposed of at auction in the Exchange salesroom The event attracted a good many persons other than buyers, who manifested an eager interest in the proceedings. The stockholders, it supears, desired post ponement of the sale until such time as they could investigate the work of the receiver, and at meeting at the office of ex Mayor Opdyke, a few days ago, a committee was appointed to call upon the Comptroller of the Currency and ask such postponement On Monday, Mr. Knox telegraphed Mr. Morrel, of the committee**I decline to order postponement of sale." Property of various kinds was sold, comprising mainly real estate, collaterals and judgments. The Irondale coal and iron property in Preston county, W. Va. comprising 1,120 acres of land, together with structures and improvements, was sold to James Hodges, one of the shareholders of the institution, for $20,000. This was the most Important item on the schedule. Seven thousand acres of prairie farming land in the southern portion of the State of Illinois was sold in tracts at seemingly low figure; 1,260 acres of 11 in Massac county brought thirty cents an acre, Jackson county lands brought from thirty cents to $2 80 an acre; Williamson county from twenty five cents to $4 acre, and Johnson county from $2.27 to $2.30 an acre. A farm lot in Carbondale, III., was knocked down for $12. mass of call loans, collaterals and judgments were sold at from $1 10 $100. On call loan of J. K. Gapin for over $41,000, 150 shares of Portage Lake Canal Company stock as collateral, were sold for $15 50. This is the same security that was deposited by Bank Inspector Callendar on call loan when he became in, the time the failure, A number of notes and drafts sold from $1 $5 each. BONDS, STOCKS AND LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES. A list comprising 500 shares Warner Petroleum Min ing Company of Indianapolis, Ind 200 shares Anticlinal Oil Mining Company of Indianapolis, Ind. 1,000 shares Houman Gold Mining Company of Colorado, and 10 shares Salisbury Economic Fuel Furnace Company New York sold for $6 10 shares CarbonRailroad Company of Illinois $2: 485 shares first preferred stock of the Brunswic and Albany Railroad Company and 970 shares Brunsw and Albany Railroad Company. common stock, sold for $18 SOU shares Portage Lake and Lake Superior Ship Canal Company sold for 100 shares and Gordonsville Railroad Company and $5,000 of bonds issued by the Logan County Mining and Manufacturing Company, of Virginia, sold for $12; $500 bond of Mount Vernon Railroad Company, of Immois brought $10 470 shares Washington, Alexandria Georgetown Railroad Company stock and 420 shares Merchants National Bank, of Washington, D. brought $21 first mortgage bond the Toledo, Lo gansport and Northern Indiana Railroad Company for $1,000 brought $15 lot 800 shares Gold Hill Min ing Company stock, 50 shares American Plate Glass Company, 178 shares Waterbury Kuitting Company, 50 shares Craftsmen's Life Assurance Company shares Miners National Bank, of Salt Lake, and 754 bonds issued by the Brunswick and Florida Railroad Company, brought the astounding value of $55 50. paid up policy for 1.650 on the life Mutual Benefit of Newark, James the Davett, sold for $505. paid up policy in the Mutual Lile of Alfred Jr Smith, brought life $3,570 on the $2,450. policies on the life of Samuel S. Bowman one the Home for $5,000, and one the Manhattan for $10,000, sold respectively for $1,150 and $3,025. The total proceeds of the sale. which was made by Adrian Muller & Son, auctioneers, will reach per haps $35,000 Mr M. Davis, receiver of the bank, stated yeater day that ne should pay deposito another dividend of three per cent on April 5. not from the proceeds of this sale, which will make seventy-five cents paid thus far in all. BANK STORY THE THK OF with The Ocean National Bank has history filled events that are well fixed the memory of the pub lic. It was organized first State bank. about twenty years ago. After the noted robbery took place, in 1869, the institution gradually Bunk dow until was finally enguifed in bankruptcy in 1871 During the latter year had for one its directors no less a per Bouage than Mr William M. Tweed, who resigned alter a months term of office, RORBERT. GREAT THE The robbery of the Ocean Bank, on the 27th day of June, 1869, was remarkable for its skillal contrivance and successful execution. It created sensation at the time, and afforded the detective epartment such case for vestigation as seldom presented. The bank's office was then ou the corner of Greenw ich and Fulton streets. Below upon nent floor, leased to one O'Kell. were the offices of brokors, where, about two weeks before the robbery. desk room was obtained by stranger. who soon altor blazoned out sign over the Fulton street entrance of Newcomt & O'Neil. The actions of the newcomor were little singular from the outset. but not sufficiently 80 to cite any grave suspicions. He rarely spoke to other occupants, and gentleman occupying an Joining room was surprised to find one day that the systerious stranger had pailed down the sash intervening window. and had introduced as part his office furniture huge wardrobe, reaching nearly to the celling. He little thought, however, that this wardrobe served screen bide operations that were then progressing of cutting a hole through the overhanging floor the bank On Monday morning. the 27th of June, 1869, the porter of the bank discovered that an amazing burglary had been perpetrated. A strong smell of powder lirst attracted his attention. Scattered about the floor were half dozen caps, and a like number of overcoats, blouses and overalls, such as are usually worn by machinists. Oil cloths, rubber shoes, saws. jack screws, lanterns flasks, drills and other instruments, forming a burglar cabinet of fully 400 pieces, confusedly thrown around. Tne vault was open and all about in heaps were strewn bonds: arrency, gold coin, small wedges, pieces chilled iron, copper coin, gold and various other articles heavy bag of gold had been lifted from vault and placed on top of the receptacle. Tin boxes had been smashed and securities flung about the most reckless manner, When the public learned gathered crowd excited an operation the about great the bank, and the police had great difficulty in keeping back the frightened depositors They were finally quieted through the assurances of President Marun and Attorney Davis, who afterward became receiver. EFFECTED HOW Those who perpetrated the robbery did their planning well, and apparently with much consideration. On Sunday afternoon or evening, the 27th of June. 1869, they effected an entrance to the office the the lorced President of means through aporture by from the basement The job appeared to have been worked from the upper well as the under side of the floor, which formed strong argument favor of suspicion that the robbers had an accomplice in the employ of the bank. After gaining access to the office they openeo the outer door of the safe. having combination lock, without using any force whatever Just inside the first door hung the keys of the door leading to the interier of the vault which they passed, and forced open third door by means ol a power rful screw. Two sales 10 the inner department of the vault were broker open and rifled, one which contained the boxes belonging special depositors. The bank lost by the robbery about $40,060; but the loss to special 000. nearer $500, The deed was clothed with many suspicious circum. stances hich led great nquiry and public Indig. nation, though no person was over punished for the crime or complicity therein. A portion of the stolen property was found one morning in box trunk in Elizabeth street addressed to Police Superintenden Jourdan, Civil suits were instituted by depositors and the institution finally forced into insolvency. FAILURE OF THE BANK On the 12th et December. 1871. the Ocean Bank was suspended from the Clearing House and receiver ap pointedthesamo day The failure also brought about the ruin of the Union Square National Bank, and at about the same time several other similar institutions became involved, hich created the famous bank panic of that year. At the time of the insolvency of the Ocean Bank C. Stevenson was president and J. Hartshorn cashier The capital of the concern was $1,000,000, and its securities consisted mainly of real estate, which it was difficult to realize upon. was estimated that the depositors would be paid in fuil, but, as usual in such instance and as shown in the above. the expectation will not be realized. COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION