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BUSINESS TROUBLES. Building and Loan Officers Short-Bank Failures, CHICAGO, ILL., March 23.-A bill for a receiver for the Christopher Columbus Building and Loan Association was filed in the Superior Court yesterday by the president of the association, who charges that David B. Sachsel, secretary, and Karl Kronenberger, treasurer, are short in their accounts to the amount of $35,000. The bill states that Sachsel admitted that he had appropriated $10,000 of the funds. Judge Ball appointed Arthur Nollan receiver of the association. The liabilities are stated to be $113,500, and assets $7,500. Police officers were sent to guard the offices to-day to prevent a threatened breaking open of the safe and conhscation of the property. Mrs. Sachsel says her husband is in Indiana and will return. WEST POINT, GA., March 23.-The West Point State Bank closed its doors yesterday. It was supposed to be a branch of the State Savings Bank of Atlanta, and since the failure of that institution it has been weakened from lack of patronage. W. C. Hale, who was connected with the State Savings Bank, being the vicepresident of the West Point State Bank, caused a heavy run upon the bank here soon after the failure of the State Savings Bank, and it has been in a shaky condition since. The West Point State Bank had a capital of $25,000, and the nominal assets amounted to about the same. PARIS, TEX., March 23.-At 1 o'clock this morning the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, one of the oldest, and thought to be the strongest of the financial institutions in North Texas, with a paid-up capital of $200,000, and a surplus of $60,000, made an assignment to Judge D. H. Scott. This action was precipitated by the failure of the cottom firm of Martin, Wise & Fitzhugh yesterday. It was known that the firm owed the bank money, depositors became alarmed, and a run begun. All checks presented yesterday were promptly cashed. The bank officials foresaw that if the run was kept up it would be forced to the wall. An appeal to the other local banks for assistance was made, but refused. When the doors opened this morning the run was renewed, and continued until the bank was forced to close. This set people wild, and a rush was made for the City National, which was also a large creditor of Martin, Wise & Fitzhugh. A great crowd gathered in front of the building. and it became cessary for the police to clear the sidewalks. At 11 o'clock Colonel George E. Hicks, vice-president of the First National Bank, walked in and laid $100,000 on the City National's counter, and told the people to come forward and get their money. This was followed by the announcement that the bank would remain open until 6 o'clock to pay depositors. This allayed the fears of some, but many continued to withdraw their money. Apprehensions are felt for banks in neighboring towns who are involved in the failure of Martin Wise & Fitzhugh.