17043. Weedsport Bank (Weedsport, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
July 23, 1867
Location
Weedsport, New York (43.049, -76.563)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b4ed0d5f

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple July 1867 newspaper items report the collapse/defalcation of the Weedsport Bank caused by a prominent officer's stock speculations; a receiver is reported to be appointed and the bank is described as suspended/failed. No article describes a depositor run; sequence is a suspension/failure with receivership.

Events (2)

1. July 23, 1867 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs.
Source
newspapers
2. July 23, 1867 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Defalcation: a prominent officer speculated in stocks, pledged assets and insured life for collateral; losses swept capital.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Weedsport Bank has gone to the dogs, and a pretty bad failure it has made... We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (7)

Article from New-York Tribune, July 23, 1867

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Article Text

This recapitulation contains no returns from the following customs districts, the Collectors of the same having failed to render their warehouse returns in time for publication, viz. Portland, Me.; Oswegatchie, N. Y.; Wilmington, N. C. Philadelphia, Pa.: Passamaquoddy, Me., and San Francisco, Cal. Returns from all the other districts (numbering 100 collectorships and 25 surveyorships) are contained in the recapitulation. The Rochester Union says: "The Weedsport Bank has gone to the dogs, and a pretty bad failure it has made. The Auburn Advertiser says that the failure is in consequence of dabbling in stocks by a prominent officer of the bank, who, finding himself in a close corner, pledged everything in order to carry the speculations along while awaiting a rise in stocks, and effecting insurance to the amount of $30,000 on his life to be used as 'collateral.' The failure sweeps the entire capital of the bank-$100,000. We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs." The earnings of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway for the second week in July were: $5,998. Decrease $101,886 I 1867 $95,888 I 1866 Receipts of the Grand Trunk Railway for the week ending June 29 were: Decrease $9,793. 1866 I 1867 $119,844 $110,051 TABLE of the Loans, Specre, Circulation, Deposits, and Legal Tenders in the Banks of the City of New-York for the week ending Saturday, July 20, 1867.


Article from The New York Herald, July 23, 1867

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Console and American securities were quoted Litts in London to-day and on previous dates:July1. June 13. July 22. 9414 94 7-16 9414 Consols 72% 72% United States Ove-twenties 73 43 4514 Erie 401/2 7914 79% 77 14 Illinois Central Mining shares were inactive, and public interest in them has died out. At the first board Coryden closed 5c. bigher than at the same time on Saturday, selling at $1 65; New York and Eldorado 10c., selling at $3 35. Quartz Hill sold at $2 10; Davidson Copper, $1 60; Walkill Lead, 59c. The Rochester Union thus chronicles the failure of another country bank:The Weedsport Bank has gone to the dogs, and n pretty bad failure it has made. The Auburn Advertiser says that the failure is in consequence of dabbling in stocks by a prominent officer of the bank, who finding himself in a close corner pledged everything available in order to carry the speculations along while awaiting a riso in the stocks. and effecting insurance to the amount of $30 000 on hia life to be used as "collateral." The failure sweepa the entire capital of the bank-$100,000. We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs. The following is an abstract of quarterly reports of the national banking associations of the United States, showing their condition on the morning of the first Monday in July, 1867:-


Article from The Wheeling Daily Register, July 26, 1867

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Article Text

Financial and Commercial Items. The July quarterly statements of the Banks are all in, and the has published Comptroller National his the abstract figures t) reof. An analysis of gives some interesting facts. The items which can be legitimately counted as be a of the reserve required to on hand show an average 30 cent. of the amount of kept portion per considerably circula- of full whichis The of the legal as tion in excess and deposits, requirement. specie, banks hold $9,602,000 in The $10,400,000 in April. is amount against of assets bearing interest $1,150,000,000, out of a total of $1,491,000,000. The conds deposited to secure United States deposits and the deposit in of disbursing officers are $6,000,000 and excess of the deposits. The surplus to undivided profits are about equal one-fourth of the capital stock. The weekly statement of the banks in of Philadelphia shows an increase every item except circulation and clear the ings. The loans increased $348,017: deposits $285,192; the legal tenders The $373,946, and the specie $22,345. twolast named cash items amount to $16,950,604, against 48,808,069 of demand liabilities in deposits and circulation-a very considerable increase on by of 25 per cent. required of the week than a million and three more law. the reserve The clearings quarters. fell seven- off and the balances increased over ty-tive thousand dollars. The gold de- 81,in banks at New York fell off in700,000, posit and the currency deposits the creased about $3,000,000-leaving the general deposit line $2,000,000 They highthan Monday of last week. er increase their loans nearly $2,000,009, and add $1,000,000 to their greenbacks and These figures, both at New York insays the Philadelphia Ledger, dicates here, a very easy condition, and point the continuance of an easy money market. The Chicago Republican says: It transpires, in connection with the effort of some of the banks to increase their deposit accounts, that the officers are not only offering the merchants extra inducements in the way of selling them Eastern exchange at lower rates than other banks, but they also offer to put bonds with their depositors securi- really up their balances. We are that any bank shortsuch proposition. in astonished make ty for any officer It result is should sighted policy. and can only it. We loss to any bank that pursues believe that there is a bank in that requires to resort to increase its this do not an expedient city dividends, business, to such are all paying fair our best merchants are but small profits, the But all this and for ing they when bankers is the ought mak- reof over the interest on deposits. It banker sult ing to be satisfied. breaking line and idduces payreckle ssness, which every sound will guard against. either on the part of his own officers or that of his customers. The Rochester Union thus chronicles the failure of another country bank The Weedsport Bank has gone to has the dogs, and a pretty bad failure it made. The Auburn Advertiser says that the failure is in consequence of dabbling of the stocks by a prominent officer close bank, in who, finding himself 111 a in corner, pledged everything available order to carry the speculations along and a rise in the stocks, of insurance to the on his life to be used as a $30,000 effecting while awaiting amount the entire "collateral." The failure sweeps capital of the bank-$100,000. We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs. The Agesays: The tidings from the growing crops continue to be of the most cheering character. Apprehensions felt that the heavy rains would have an injurious effect upon the yield knowlhave proved groundless The edge of these facts has created a more cheerful feeling, and an impulse has been given to business pursuits in general. The prospect of a heavy freight this fall has improved the of stocks of many of the and those of the roads, price of breadstuffs Pennsylvania Western railroad have advanced for the same The unusually low temperahas prevailed has had its number of our and fortnight, ing ture reason. are a which our jobbing-heuses merchants influence for and in the in others town, keep- last the the peried last year. corresponding doing more than brisk at All fall signs of the times indicate a in trade. The manufacture of goods the Eastern establishments is in excess of the demand, and this may lead to in prices. any advance, concessions prevent Certainly Telegrams for will the by cable give 72j as the quotation in the below previous This five-twenties is t English advices. markets. In Frankfort they are held at 764. Cotton is reported quiet but steady.


Article from The New York Herald, July 28, 1867

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THE WEEDSPORT BANK DEFALCATION. The Auburn Advertiser prints the following respecting the collapse of the Weedsport Bank:We are informed that the failure is in consequence of dabbling in stocks bv a prominent officer of the bank, who, finding himself in a close corner, pledged everything available in order to carry the speculations along while awaiting a rise in stocks, and effecting an insurance to the amount of $80,000 on his life to be used ad "collateral." The failure sweeps the entire capital of the bank - $100,000. We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs.


Article from The Evening Telegraph, July 29, 1867

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NATIONAL BANK TROUBLES. Reported Collapse of the Unadilla National Bank-Liabilities $200,000. A report reached the city yesterday that the National Bank at Unadilla, in Otsego county, liaNew York, had made a bad break, with bilities said to amount to $200,000. The bank was chartered about twelve years ago, under the old Safety Fund law of this State, and about two years since it took its national character, with a capital of $150,000, and power to increase to $250,000. Its officers were Arnold B. Watson, President and Clark J. Hayes, Cashier. The President, it is said, owned $100,000 of the capital, and the balance was in the hands of the Cashier and some relatives in Albany. will It is reported that the assets of the bank not go far towards meeting its liabilities. Fast living on the part of somebody connected with the institution, together with wild and unprofitable speculations in produce and mining stocks, contributed to its downfall. Its redemption agency is said to be the house of Watson & Co., leather dealers, of Albany. N. Y. Heraid. TROY, N. Y. July 27.-It appears upon trustworthy information that the management of the Unadilla National Bank has been of an exceedingly reckless character. The managers of the bank own a large majority of the stock, and it understood that they have lost it in extravagant mining and produce speculations. In doing this they have not only used up the capital of the bank, but have also taken the special deposits, at a very heavy rate of interest, from all the old farmers and other confiding people in the neighborhood. On these special deposits they have paid seven per cent. interest, while the usual interest upon such deposits ranges not to exceed five per cent., and oftentimes as low as four per cent also learn that many of the merchants in and around that neighborhood have been sending certific ates of deposit on this bank to pay their debts in New York, which, having been returned to the bank for New York funds, have remained in the hands of the Unadilla Bank unpaid. It 18 probable that the holders of these certificates will be compelled to await the action of the receiver, to be appointed, before the they can ascertain what proportion of assets they will receive as dividends. For some time the authorities of this bank have struggled to get back under the old State system, to the end that they might administer their affairs much more economically and with less popular suspicion. Of course the innocent people of that section of the country are in the highest state of alarm and indignation at the reckless acts of the bank officers. Corresponding banks throughout the country, which have sent the Unadilla items for collection, have in no instance received a response for some time past. Hence it has been found necessary to send special agents to Unadilla to ascertain the true status of affairs. It appears that the Government Examining Agent some time since paid the bank an official visit to ascertain its standing, and to learn it it was complying with the National Banking law. It is understood that the bank was then very deficient in the number of legal-tenders which the law required it to have on hand. This shows full well that the law can be violated at any time by all national bank officers. In the case of this failure, as in many other similar instances, it has been ascertained that the legaltender security to be kept in the bank for the benefit and safety of depositors has always been found missing when the receivers are appointed. The assets of the bank are very light compared with the liabilities. Defunct Newton (Mass.) National Bank. BOSTON, Mass., July 27. -The newly appointed receiver of the Newlon National Bank, lately defunct, has collected the liabilities and forwarded the amount to Washington. The discount notes amount to $ 110.000, of which a nearly $90,000 has been collected. The balance, f $10,000, is considered good, and $10,000 doubtfulor bad, including in the latter category $2500 a of forged paper of William H. Lane. The authorities having charge of the bank 0 propose, in case it is wound up, to resist the payment of the checks obtained through the cashier, Mr. Dyer. e d The Weedsport Bank Defalcation. The Auburn Advertiser prints the following e respecting the collapse of the Weedsport Bank:'We are informed that the failure is in conseo quence of dabbling in stocks by a prominent y officer of the bank. who, finding himself in a close corner, pledged everything available in le order to carry the speculations along while h awaiting a rise in stocks, and effecting an insuh rance to the amount of $30,000 on his life to be f used as 'collateral.' The failure sweeps the entire capital of the bank $100,000. We une derstand a receiver is to be appointed at once to is wind up its affairs." ts Additional Particulars of the Collapse of S the Unadilla National Bank. TROY, N. Y., July 28. The assignment of the Unadilla National Bank is a general one. and the institution is still kept open according y law. though doing no business. A receiver al from Washington has been applied for, and will a probably arrive in a few days. The owner of of $20,000 ot the stock in Albany is a son of Mr. Watson, the President of the bank. s tated or by the President and Cashier that had the bank al been closed some months ago, something would e. have been saved; as it is, the loss will, I am told, be total. ed I telegraphed last night, great distress prent vails in ali the country surrounding Unadilla. a he my information showing that one woman, nt widow, has become crazed by her losses, and that another has attempted to commit suicide. eir The losses cover a wide extent of country, and as will be desolating in their effects. Probable Collapse of the Whole National he Bank System. ny The following National Bank failures have ny been reported within the past few days. The weakness of the whole system is here exhibited. hip If in piosperous times these institutions cannot set sustain themselves, what effect would a sudden as financial crisis have upon them? They would go off by the bundred:ter UNADILLA NATIONAL BANK, OTSEGO COUNTY, as NEW YORK. Cause of failure. of Provision and stock speculations. rk. President Arnold B. Watson. Cashier int Clark J. Hayes. $150,000. Capital $200,000. Liabilities. ng Redemption Agents Watson & Co., Albany. W WEEDSPORT NATIONAL BANK CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK. eld Cause of failure. Stock speculations. D.E. Havens. President ect Cashier W. Lawrence. $100,000. gh Capital $100,000


Article from The Evening Telegraph, July 29, 1867

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The Weedsport Bank Defalcation. The Auburn Advertiser prints the following respecting the collapse of the Weedsport Bank:"We are informed that the failure is in consequence of dabbling in stocks by a prominent officer of the bank, who, finding himself in a close corner, pledged everything available in order to carry the speculations along while awaiting a rise in stocks, and effecting an insurance to the amount of $30,000 on his life to be used as 'collateral.' The failure sweeps the entire capital of the bank-$100,000. We understand a receiver is to be appointed at once to wind up its affairs."


Article from The New York Herald, July 31, 1867

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Mining shares were lightly dealt in. At the first board Corydon closed 5c. lower than at the same time yesterday, selling at $1 60: Smith & Parmelee 5c., selling at $5 95; Rocky Mountain sold at $1 25 (s.3): Davidson Copper $1 95; Consolidated Gregory Gold, $6 95 (s.3). The tendency of the recent national bank failures and frauds is to bring to light defects in similar institutions throughout the country by provoking investigation in suspected quarters and inducing caution on the part of depositors. That there is a great deal of unsoundness among the national banks the revelations beginning with the Merchants' Bank at Washington, and ending with that of Unadilla in this State, have abundantly shown. It would be, of course, unreasonable to expect perfection in any banking system that could be devised; for banks failed before the National Currency act was thought of, and the suspension of the Weedsport Bank, of this State, a few days ago, is a case in point, the latter not having been enrolled under the new system. But the pablic bad reason to look for more security from Institutions organized under a national law and circulating currency issued to them by the government than they had been previously accustomed to, and this the more particularly as they subsidised to the extent of twenty millions a year