17642. First National Bank (Niles, OH)

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 4190
Charter Number: 4190
Start Date: September 8, 1905
Location: Niles, Ohio (41.183, -80.765)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 786d3da2

Response Measures

None

Description

Juvenile robbery (6- and 7-year-old boys) on/around Sept 8–9, 1905 led to a short, 'slight' run fueled by wild stories. The run was stopped the same day and there is no mention of suspension or closure.

Events (1)

1. September 8, 1905 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Wild stories and exaggerated reports circulated after the $700 robbery, prompting depositors to withdraw funds; run was stopped once true extent was known.
Measures: Bank officials attempted to keep the matter secret; reassurances and disclosure of recovered funds halted the run by evening.
Newspaper Excerpt: The robbery created intense excitement. Wild stories served to create a run on the bank at once, and not until late in the evening, when it was learned just how much money was taken, was the run stopped.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (9)

1. September 9, 1905 The Minneapolis Journal Minneapolis, MN

Article from The Minneapolis Journal, September 9, 1905

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Article Text

TWO CHILDREN ROB OHIO BANK Boys of 6 and 7 Steal $700 and Strew Bills in Their Flight. New York Sun Special Service. Youngstown, Ohio, Sept. 9.-With two men seated in the bank and hundreds of persons passing on the street, two juvenile bank robbers, Clyde Lenney and Leonard Parks, aged respecively 6 and 7 years, robbed the First National bank of Niles of. $700 yesterday and had they not been seen coming out of the basement window with their arms loaded with bills, they would have got safely away. The two young desperadoes had planned the raid well. The bank was closed during the noon hour and only two men were in the building at the time. Vice President .William Herbert and Judge T. I. Gillmer were in the directors' room, and did not hear the barefooted boys in the banking room. The youngsters entered the bank thru a window in the basement. A newsboy and another boy saw the two boys climbing out of the basement window and chased them. Scattering bills at every step, the two boys ran for several blocks before they were caught and forced to disgorge the bills they had stuffed in nearly every pocket. Of the $700 stolen, $326 was recovered. The robbery created intense excitement. Wild stories served to create a run on the bank at once, and not until late in the evening, when it was learned® just how much money was taken, was the run stopped. The lads had hidden a large part of the money in an alley and several packages containing $50 each in $10 bills were hidden in the basement of the bank itself. The boys were not arrested, and every efn fort was made by the officials to keep e the story of the affair secret.

2. September 9, 1905 The Fairmont West Virginian Fairmont, WV

Article from The Fairmont West Virginian, September 9, 1905

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Article Text

YOUTHFUL ROBBERS WHO STEAL $700 FROM A NILES, OHIO, BANK WILL NOT BE PROSECUTED. NILES, O., Sept. 9.-Because of their age, Leonard Parks, aged seven, and Clyde Lenny. aged six, who took 3700 from the First National Bank here yesterday afternoon, will not be prosecuted. With many people on the streets and Vice President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer, of War ren, seated in the directors room, the boys entered the bank through a base ment E window, secured $700 and caused a slight run on the Institution. The boys emerged from the build ing with some of the bills in their hands, were pursued and captured in an alley nearby and taken to a hard ware store, where the money was recovered. The boys were taken to the police station where. they were released because of thir youth. They say they simply climbed through the window and walked upstairs where, seeing the money on a table they took it. The clerks were at dinner at the time and had locked the doors of the bank. Herbert did not know of the robbery until the money which had been recovered was taken back to the bank. The bank is capitalized at $100,000 and has a surplus of $40,000. Evan J. Job is president. The run caused by some of the wild stories told after the robbery was stopped before the bank closed for the day. Young Lenny is the son of John Lenney, a well to do man. The Parks boy is the son of Mrs. George Parks, who supports a family of four by taking in washing.

3. September 9, 1905 New-York Tribune New York, NY

Article from New-York Tribune, September 9, 1905

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Article Text

BOYS ROB OHIO BANK. In Broad Daylight, Too-Caught After Chase. [By Telegraph to The Tribune.] Youngstown, Ohio, Sept. 8.-With many people on the streets and Vice-President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer, of Warren, seated in the directors' room, Clyde Lenny, six years old, and Leonard Parks, seven, entered the First National Bank at Niles through a basement window at noon to-day and stole $700 in bills. They emerged from the building with the bills in their hands, and were chased and captured in a nearby alley by Charles Richards and William Nye, and taken to Eaton's hardware store, where part of the money was recovered. Later they were taken to the police station, but on account of their youth were released. Nearly half of the money was recovered, the rest having been lost or hidden. The robbery caused a slight run on the bank, stories telling of a large haul having been made being circulated.

4. September 9, 1905 The Washington Times Washington, DC

Article from The Washington Times, September 9, 1905

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Article Text

BOY BANK ROBBERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED Though They Caused Run on Institution, the Youths Will Not Be Prosecuted. NILES. Ohio, Sept. 9.-Because of their age, Leonard Parks, aged seven, and Clyde Lenny. aged six, who took $700 from the First National Bank here yesterday, will not be prosecuted, say the bank officials. With many people on the street, and Vice President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer, of Warren, seated in the directors' room, the boys entered the bank through a basement window, sécured $700, and caused a slight run on the Institution. The boys emerged from the building with some of the bills in their hands. They were pursued and captured in alley nearby and taken to a hardware store were the money. was recovered. The boys were taken to the police station where they were released because of their youth. They say they simply climbed through the window walked upstairs. where. seeing the money or. the table. they took it. The clerks were at dinner at the time, and had locked the doors of the bank. Herbert did not know of the robbery until the money which had been recovered was taken back to the bank. The bank is capitalized at $100,000. and has had a surplus of $40,000. Evan J. Job is president. The run, caused by some of the wild stories to the effect that the bank had been robbed, was stopped before the bank closed for the day. Young Lennev is the son of John Lesney. a well-to-do-man. The Parks boy is the son of Mrs. George Parks, who supports washing. a family of four by taking in

5. September 13, 1905 The Spokane Press Spokane, WA

Article from The Spokane Press, September 13, 1905

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Article Text

TOTS ROB BANK OF 700 DOLLARS NILES, O., Sept. 13.-Because of their age Leonard Pages, aged 7, and Clyde Lenny, aged 6, who took $700 from the First National bank here, will not be prosecuted, the bank officials say. With many people on the streets and Vice President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer of Warren seated in the directors' room, the boys entered the bank through a window, secured $700 and caused a slight run on the institution. The boys emerged from the building with some bills in their hands, were pursued and captured in an alley nearby and taken to a hardware store, where the money was recovered. The boys were taken to the police station, where they were released because of their youth. They say they simply climbed through the window and walked upstairs, where, seeing the money on the table, they took it. The clerks were at dinner at the time, and had locked the doors of the bank. Herbert did not know of the robbery until the money which had been recovered was taken back to the bank. The bank is capitalized at $100,000, and has a surplus of $40,000. Evan J. Job is president. The run caused by some of the wild stories told after the robbery was stopped before the bank closed for the day.

6. September 14, 1905 The Evening Statesman Walla Walla, WA

Article from The Evening Statesman, September 14, 1905

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Article Text

TWO CHILDREN ROB A BANK. Boys of 6 and 7 Years Stea! $700 and Strew Bills In Their Flight. YOUNGSTON, O., Sept. 14.-With two men seated in the bank and nundreds of persons passing on the street, two juvenile bank robbers, Clyde Lenney and Leonard Parks, aged respectively 6 and 7 years, robbed the First National bank of Niles of $700 yesterday and had they not been seen going out the basement window with their arms loaded with bills, they would have got safely away. The two young desperadoes had planned the raid well. The bank was closed during the noon hour and only two men were in the building at the time. Vice President William Herbert and Judge T. L. Giffner, were in the directors' room, and did not hear the barefooted boys in the banking room. The youngsters entered the bank through a window in the basement. A newsboy and another boy saw the two boys climbing out the basement window and chased them. Scattering bills at every jump, the two boys fairly flew for several blocks before they were caught and forced to disgorge the bills they had stuffed in nearly every pocket. Of the $700 stolen $326 was recovered. The robbery created intense excitement. Wild stories served to create a run on the bank at once, and not until late in the evening, when it was learned just hof much money was taken, was the run stopped. The lads had hidden a large part of the money in an alley and several packages containing $50 each in $10 bills were hidden in the basement of the bank itself. The boys were not arrested, and every effort was made by the officials to keep to keep the story of the affair secret.

7. September 15, 1905 Eagle River Review Eagle River, WI

Article from Eagle River Review, September 15, 1905

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Article Text

BOYS STEAL $700 FROM BANK. Juvenile Offenders, Aged 6 and 7, Gain Entrance Through Basement. With many people on the streets and Vice President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer of Warren seated in the directors' room, Clyde Lenny, aged 6, and Leonard Parks, aged 7, entered the First National Bank at Niles, Ohio, through a basement window at noon Friday and stole $700 and caused a slight run on the institution. The boys emerged from the building with the bills in their hands and were chased and captured by Charles Richards and William N. Nye in an alley near by and taken to Eaton's hardware store, where part of the money was recovered. At night $326 had been recovered and the rest is believed to be hidden in the alley and in the basement of the bank building. The youthful burglars were taken to the police station, where they were released because of their youth and the announcement is made that they will not be prosecuted. They could give no reason for their deed.

8. September 15, 1905 The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal Norfolk, NE

Article from The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal, September 15, 1905

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Article Text

TWO CHILDREN ROB BANK. Boys of 6 and 7 Steal $700 and Strew Bills in Their Flight. With two men seated in the bank and hundreds of persons passing on the street, two juvenile bank robbers, Clyde Lenney and Leonard Parks, aged respectively 6 and 7 years, robbed the First National bank of Niles, Ohio, of $700 yesterday and had they not been seen coming out of the basement window with their arms loaded with bills, they would have got safely away. The two young desperadoes had planned the raid well. The bank was closed during the noon hour and only two men were in the building at the time. Vice President William Herbert and Judge T. I. Gillmer were in the directors' room, and did not hear the barefooted boys in the banking room. The youngsters entered the bank through a window in the basement. A newsboy and another boy saw the two boys, climbing out of the basement window and chased them. Scattering bills at every step, the two boys ran for several blocks before they were caught and forced to disgorge the bills they had stuffed in nearly every pocket. Of the $700 stolen, $326 was recovered. The robbery created intense excitement. Wild stories served to create a run on the bank at once, and not until late in the evening, when it was learned just how much money was taken, was the run stopped. The lads had hidden a large part of the money in an alley and several packages containing $50 each in $10 bills were hidden in the basement of the bank itself. The boys were not arrested, and every effort was made by the officials to keep the story of the affair secret.

9. September 19, 1905 Wausau Pilot Wausau, WI

Article from Wausau Pilot, September 19, 1905

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Article Text

BOYS STEAL $700 FROM BANK. Juvenile Offenders, Aged 6 and 7, Gain Entrance Through Basement. With many people on the streets and Vise President Herbert and Judge Thomas I. Gillmer of Warren seated in the directors' room, Clyde Lenny, aged 6, and Leonard Parks, aged T, entered the First National Bank at Niles, Ohio, through a basement window at noon Friday and stole $700 and caused a slight run on the institution. The boys emerged from the building with the bills in their hands and were chased and captured by Charles Richards and William N. Nye in an alley near by and taken to Eaton's hardware store, where part of the money was recovered. At night $326 had been recovered and the rest is believed to be hidden in the alley and in the basement of the bank building. The youthful burglars were taken to the police station, where they were released because of their youth and the announcement is made that they will not be prosecuted. They could give no reason for their deed.