19200. Third National Bank (Philadelphia, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
234
Charter Number
234
Start Date
May 9, 1891
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (39.952, -75.164)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
a58b49bf

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Capital injected, Books examined

Description

Depositors made a run on the Third National Bank beginning May 9, 1891 tied to the Bardsley/Keystone/Spring Garden scandals. The bank withstood withdrawals, did not suspend payments, and was reorganized/recapitalized by stockholders (July reorganization). No evidence of a suspension or permanent closure in the articles.

Events (3)

1. February 4, 1864 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. May 9, 1891 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Depositors, alarmed by City Treasurer Bardsley's misfortunes and failures/suspension of Keystone and Spring Garden banks, withdrew funds from Third National.
Measures
Doors temporarily kept closed; Examiner Drew reportedly in charge; bank management resisted withdrawals; stockholders later made a voluntary assessment and reorganized to restore capital.
Newspaper Excerpt
A run was made this morning by depositors on the Third National Bank. The City Treasurer has a large deposit with this bank, and his misfortunes with the Keystone and Spring Garden banks have made people timid.
Source
newspapers
3. July 21, 1891 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
The bank has within the past few weeks been reorganized after having withstood a severe strain in the shape of a run....a recent voluntary assessment by the stockholders has put the institution in a good condition. (director meeting elected new president).
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (10)

Article from The Evening World, May 9, 1891

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ANOTHER BANK IN TROUBLE. Run on the Philadelphia Third National This Morning. EPECIAL TO THE EVENING WORLD.1 Philadelphia, May 9. -A run was made this morning by depositors on the Third National Bank. The City Treasurer has a large deposit with this bank, and his misfortunes with the Keystone and Spring Garden banks have made people timid. The Third National hus always stood well, and its friends believe it will pull through all right.


Article from The Evening World, May 9, 1891

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WALL ST. STOCK REPORTS. Prices of Shares Slump All Along the Stock Exchange Lists. Gold Exports This Week Exceed Seven Millions. The West Is Bullish, but New York Traders Are Timorous. The situation abroad excited some alarm among local Stock Exchange operators this morning. but it should be stated that European financial advices did not reflect any serious disturbances there. The shipments of gold and the depletion in the bank reserve, however, occasioned distrust as to the immediate future of prices, and all the professionals took a hand in sewing the list. The market suffered quite a slump, the decline in prices ranging from ½ to 1%. Operators played no favorites but hammered everything on the list. Chicago, it was said, was inclined to be more bullish, and houses with Western connections did pick up some stocks at the lowest point. The West is strongly bu lish on the splendid outlook for the crops. The market closed heavy on the r. port from Philadelphi that there was a run on the Third National Bank of that city. The European steamships to-day took out $4,091.000 gold, making a total for the week of $7,291,000. The Bank Statement was unfavorable. showing a loss in reserve of $2,679,350, which reduces the amount held by the DADKS in excess of legal requirements to $4,763,950, The feliowing are the comparative figures: May 2. May 9. Changes. Loans $404,465,600 $403,021.400 Dec. $1,444,200 71.845,000 Specie.. 68,159,200 Dec. 3,686,800 37.38.800 L'g.ten. 37,509,300 Inc. 1.0.00 Deposits 407,166.0 0 403,618,200 Dec. 3,547,800 Cir'tion. 3,474,400 3,480,900 Inc. 6,500 The sales at the New York Stock Exchange to-day were 176,000 shares of listed stock, 45,000 ounces of silver and 5,000 barrels of Pennsylvania 01.


Article from Evening Star, May 9, 1891

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A RUN ON THE DEPOSITS. The Third National Bank of Philadelphia Put to the Test. PHILADELPHIA, May 9.-The Third National Bank of this city is standing a run from its depositors today. City Treasurer Bardsley has a large deposit with the bank and his misfortunes with the Keystone and Spring Garden banks are said to have made people uneasy. The bank has always stood well and its friends think it will pull through. The excitement among the depositors of the suspended Spring Garden National Bank subsided today and there was a noticeable absence of any crowd around the building. The doors of the bank were kept closed and it was stated that Examiner Drew was in charge and that no statement of the bank's position would be made at present.


Article from The L'anse Sentinel, May 16, 1891

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Another Bank in Trouble. A Philadelphia dispatch says: A run was made by depositors on the Third National bank. The city treasurer has a large deposit with the bank and his misfortune with the Keystone and Spring Garden banks has made people timid. The Third National has always stood well, and its friends believe it will pull through all right.


Article from Telegram-Herald, May 24, 1891

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JUST A LITTLE T00 LATE Pennsylvania's Guard Against Further Loss of Funds. BARDSLEY'S MUCH MIXED AFFAIRS Parplex the Philadelphians Whose Prospects of Recovering Much of Their Missing Wealth Are Very Discouraging. Harrisburg, Pa., May 23.-Both houses of the legislature have concurred in the following: "Resolved, That all borough, city, county or state officers authorized to collect end receive taxes or license fees for the commonwealth shall make returns of the same on the first of every month. and within ten days thereafter pay the amount mentioned in said return in to the state treasury. "And further, it shall be the duty of the state treasurer to immediately notify the at. torney general of any failure on the part of any officer to account as aforesaid." Philadelphia, May 23.-Friday after. noon Mayor Stuart, tired of seeing the city's money float off in $100,000 pieces, decided to demand of the Third national bank that it return to the city at once $885,000 of deposits. The bank cannot stand this drain, as there have been runs upon it since the present scare, and it is feared the institution will collapse to-day. The bank, it is said, will be able after a settlement to pay the depositors all the money it owes. Thus three banks will have failed within one month owing the city $966,000. Nobody knows how much of this sum can be saved. The sureties of the city treasurer are released from paying all but $11,000. John Bardsley, the treasurer, will go to jail. Although he has not yet been arrested there is no doubt that he has perverted state and perhaps city money to his own use. William H. Wanamaker, a brother of the postmaster general, will have to pay $20,000 on account of Marsh's flight. He has the city posted with descriptions of Marsh offering $1,000 reward for him. The state treasurer and the auditor general will come in for a share of the blame in not making Bardsley hand over the state funds in his care. They knew of the money being retained, but made no effort to get it. An attachment was taken out Friday morning against the Bradford mills, of which City Treasurer Bardsley is owner, by John and James Dobson, his sureties on his bond. Friday morning Mr. Bardsley made an assignment of all his property for the benefit of the city to Edwin W. Magill. At the office of the United States marshal it was said that the rumor that the absconding president of the Keystone bank had been arrested in Montreal was without foundation. As the matter is further probed the chances of the state recovering any money at all from the Keystone bank, into which Bardsley dumped $930,000 of state funds, is growing beautifully less. He gave all this money to President Marsh and accepted in lieu there. of the bank's due bills on the clearing house. These are not worth a penny, but they are held to be receipts for money loaned. They do not even give or state the claim of a depositor to participate in the pro rata distribution among the depositors. Auditor General McCamant says that if the money is not paid into the state treasury by the 28th inst. suit will be entered against Mr. Bardsley and his bondsmen His bonds to the state


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 29, 1891

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Another Philadelphia Institution Suffers a Run. SPRING GARDEN AFFAIRS BAD, Some of Collateral is Notes Signed by Fictitious Persons. Collapse of the Rubber Trust Caused by Recent Failures-Burt & Company, Shoe Manufacturers, Assign-Business Troubles in the South. PHILADELPHIA, May 28.-During the expose of the business methods of the Keystone bank and City Treasurer Bardsley the Third National bank was given unpleasant connection with them, and in consequence has since lost $1,000,000 of deposits. Today President Lewis and Vice-President Myers have resigned. From a few developments that took place in the affairs of the Spring Garden bank today, it is evident that when the full story of the bank's management is told, it will rival that of the looted Keystone bank. Receiver Fisher said today that the further he examined into the affairs the blacker the outlook became for the depositors. Much of the collateral is of the most dubious character A member of the depositors' investigating committee investigating the affairs of the bank, said that among the collateral of the bank were two notes, one for $50,000 and the other for $20,000, drawn by a person who has no existence. The suspension of the Spring Garden bank has been far-reaching in its effects, and many business houses have been seriously crippled. Yesterday the American Machine Company was forced to assign by reason of the bank failure, and today the Millard Cliff Cracker Company made an assignment from the same cause. The assets are thought to exceed the liabilities. Francis W. Kennedy, president of the suspended Spring Garden National bank, was arrested this morning on a warrant charging him with making false entries in books and false returns to the comp troller of the currency, and embezzlement of the bank's funds. Herry W. Kennedy, cashier of the bank and brother of the president, was also arrested, charged with conspiracy to commit the same crimes. They were held under heavy bonds to appear for a preliminary hearing next Monday. TRENTON, N. J., May 28.-The Hamilton Rubber Company went into the hands of a receiver today. It was in a trust with the Star Rubber Company and others. The liabilities are $100,000. At a secret meeting last night the central rubber trust was dissolved by action of the companies composing it. It was charged that a few firms used it to their own advantage, while others suffered. BOSTON, May 28.-W. & F. Burt, boot and shoe manufacturers of Cochituate, are financially embarrassed, and will probably settle through insolvency. Their liabilities are estimated at $150,000, and the assets consist of machinery, a factory and real estate. OMAIIA, May 28.-William Darst & Co., wholesale liquor dealers, assigned this morning. Liabilities, $80,000; assets about the same. NEW ORLEANS, May 28.-A Times-Democrat special from Eagle Pass says the mercantile banking and commission house of J. W. Riddle, of Piedras Negras, has assigned. There is no statement, but the assets and liabilities will reach hundreds of thousands.


Article from Deseret Evening News, May 29, 1891

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was arrested this morning on a warrant charging him with making false re- turns to the comptroller of the currency and embezzlement of the bank's fonds. Henry W. Kennedy, cashier of the bank and a brother of the president, was also arrested, charged with conspiracy. They were held under heavy bonds to appear at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. From the few developments that took place in the affairs of the Spring Garden bank it is evident that when the full story of the bank's management is told it will fairly rival that of the looted Keystone bank. Receiver Fisher said today that the further he looked into the affairs of the bank the more dubious it looked for depositors. A member of the depositor's investigating committee investigating the bank affairs, said that among the collateral of the bank were two notes, one for $50,000 and another for $60,000, drawn by a person who has no existence. The suspension of the Spring Garden bank has been far-reaching in its effects, and many business houses have been seriously crippled. Yesterday the American Machine company was forced to assign by reason of the bank failure, and today the Milward Cliff Cracker company made an assignment from the same cause. The assets are thought to exceed the liabilities. During the expose of the business methods of the Keystone bank and City Treasurer Bardsley the Third National bank was given unpleasant connection with them, and in consequence has since lost a million dollars of deposits. Today President Lewis and Vice-President Myeas resigned.


Article from The Valley Virginian, July 16, 1891

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# A Healthy Financial Reaction. Comptrollor of the Treasury Lacey said last week that the financial conditon of Western banks is growing better every day now that the unnatural causes which led to trouble and collapse have ceased to exist. "Now that the Keystone Bank matter has practically been settled by the action taken in Examiner Drew's case," continued the Comptroller, "affairs are looking much better in Philadelphia, and particularly by the Third National Bank. Here is an institution the deposits of which aggregated $1,700,000, which stood a run to the extent of a million and a half dollars and still stands high in the world of finance. A meeting of the stockholders has been called for this week, when further steps will be taken to put the Third National upon a firmer foundation than ever, and incidentally to congratulate each other upon the magnificent stand it made when occasion required. Reports received from all parts of the country indicate a healthy reaction in all parts of the financial world, and every thing points to one of the most successful crop seasons ever known in the United States. This will have its due effect upon the country saving banks and will penetrate to the money centers in course of time. Bank examiners will be held to a strict accountability for the necessary reports on the condition of the banking institutions committed to them for examination and the list will be very carefully revised by me before preliminary steps are taken. There is no salary attached to the position of an examiner, but they receive fees for so much upon the capital stock of the bank which they investigate."


Article from The Democratic Advocate, July 18, 1891

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Another Bank in Trouble. The capital of the Third National Bank, of Philadelphia, which held one of Bardsley's active accounts as city treasurer, is said to have been impaired mainly, it is believed, by the run forced upon it through the Keystone failure and the impairment of public confidence in all institutions closely related to Bardsley. The bank has paid out $1,400,000 of private deposits out of $1,500,000 since the storm first broke. The city has $300,000 in the bank which is bing reduced week by week. At a meeting a few days ago it was agreed that there should be no attempt to withdraw this at once, the directors becoming responsible for its return. Bank Examiner Sheppard has been examining the bank's affairs, and it is said stockholders will reorganize it by putting in more capital.


Article from Evening Star, July 21, 1891

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Careful Management Floated the Bank. PHILADELPHIA, July 21.-At a meeting of the directors of the Third National Bank today Gen. Louis Wagner, recently director of public safety, was elected president. The bank has within the past few weeks been reorganized after having withstood a severe strain in the shape of a run. At the time of the failure of the Keystone Bank a run was started on the Third National, the depositors being nervous because of the fact that it had large deposits of city money. Careful management kept the bank afloat, however, and a recent voluntary assessment by the stockholders has put the institution, in a good condition.