18284. Farmers & Merchants State Bank (Conroe, TX)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
October 1, 1930*
Location
Conroe, Texas (30.312, -95.456)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
69c8cbeda4540742

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles (Oct 28, 1930) describe the Farmers & Merchants State Bank as a failed bank; reports mention burned records, embezzlement charges against the cashier and related felony charges, indicating bank-specific adverse information leading to failure/closure. No mention of a depositor run in these articles.

Events (2)
1. October 1, 1930* Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank described as failed; records found burned and cashier charged with embezzlement/theft and falsifying records, indicating bank-specific malfeasance and insolvency.
Newspaper Excerpt
J. M. Griffith, cashier of the failed Farmers' and Merchants' state bank, whose records were discovered recently to have been burned, also faced a felony charge
Source
newspapers
2. October 28, 1930 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
In connection with an investigation into records of the First State Bank of Conroe... J. M. Griffith, cashier of the failed Farmers' and Merchants' state bank... faced a felony charge Previously he had been charged with theft on the bank's records and with embezzlement. He was at liberty on bond.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. October 28, 1930 Brownsville Herald Brownsville, TX
Article from Brownsville Herald, October 28, 1930

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Article Text

# Judge Charged In # Bank Investigation CONROE, Tex. Oct. 28—(P)— In addition to ouster proceedings, A. W. Morris, suspended county judge, today faced three felony charges, filed by state rangers in connection with an investigation into records of the First State Bank of Conroe. The charges accused Morris with giving false testimony to a state bank examiner with reference to the security of a note executed by the H. A. Budde, the security on several notes aggregating $6,500 executed by the Wells Kennedy Company and with concealing an $8,000 liability due W. A. Trice. Having waived examining trial, the 56-year-old jurist, whose ouster suit was continued yesterday until Monday, was released under $500 bond in each case. He refused to discuss the charges other than to say his talking would be "done during my campaign for county judge on an independent ticket." J. M. Griffith, cashier of the failed Farmers' and Merchants' state bank, whose records were discovered recently to have been burned. also faced a felony charge, which asserted he had raised a $320.51 Item in the banks' books to read $2,321,51. Previously he had been charged with theft on the bank's records and with embezzlement. He was at liberty on bond.

2. October 28, 1930 Brownsville Herald Brownsville, TX
Article from Brownsville Herald, October 28, 1930

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Article Text

# Judge Charged In # Bank Investigation CONROE, Tex. Oct. 28-(AP)- In addition to ouster proceedings, A. W. Morris, suspended county judge, today faced three felony charges, filed by state rangers in connection with an investigation into records of the First State Bank of Conroe. The charges accused Morris with giving false testimony to a state bank examiner with reference to the security of a note executed by the H. A. Budde, the security on several notes aggregating $6,500 executed by the Wells Kennedy Company and with concealing an $8,000 liability due W. A. Trice. Having waived examining trial, the 56-year-old jurist, whose ouster suit was continued yesterday until Monday, was released under $500 bond in each case. He refused to discuss the charges other than to say his talking would be "done during my campaign for county judge on an independent ticket." J. M. Griffith, cashier of the failed Farmers' and Merchants' state bank, whose records were discovered recently to have been burned, also faced a felony charge, which asserted he had raised a $320.51 item in the banks' books to read $2,321.51. Previously he had been charged with theft on the bank's records and with embezzlement. He was at liberty on bond.