22415. Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma, WA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
August 17, 1895
Location
Tacoma, Washington (47.253, -122.444)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
c562524d

Response Measures

Full suspension

Other: Missing bank books, criminal charges against officers, and assignment/receivership litigation.

Description

Contemporary articles report a bank run that withdrew nearly all cash, an assignment/closing (filed Aug 19, 1895) and subsequent receivership/legal proceedings. Cause appears to be the bank's insolvency after months of poor condition and misuse of city deposits; not a mere rumor. OCR errors corrected (dates inferred from publication dates: Saturday before Aug 19 → Aug 17, 1895).

Events (3)

1. August 17, 1895 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank had been in bad condition for months; insolvency discovered; city deposits and prior bolstering by city treasurer Boggs concealed problems, triggering heavy withdrawals.
Measures
Directors passed a resolution placing the concern in the hands of an assignee (E. S. Alexander); assignment filed; later receiver appointed and legal actions pursued.
Newspaper Excerpt
the last straw was a run that took place Saturday, and which resulted in the withdrawal of all the cash but $444.18.
Source
newspapers
2. August 19, 1895 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Assignment/closure followed discovery of insolvency and the run; large city deposits ($228,664.77) exposed the bank's deficits and led to placing bank in assignee's hands.
Newspaper Excerpt
the assignment of the Bank of Tacoma ... which assignment was filed by Crowley & Sullivan. E. S. Alexander ... was named as assignee.
Source
newspapers
3. September 6, 1895 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The Bank of Tacoma, which failed here lately, having $228,000 of the city's money in its possession ... The books of the institution have disappeared ... Receiver Titlow ... was making preparations ... (and later A. R. Titlow appointed receiver). (articles through Sept–Oct describe receiver Titlow's activities and suits.) (combined reporting).
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (18)

Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 20, 1895

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THE BANK OF TACOMA ASSIGNS Boggs Bolstered It Up With $228,000 of City Money. Tacoma, Aug. 19.-Special.-One of the first documents filed in the auditor's office this morning was the assignment of the Bank of Tacoma, formerly the Tacoma Trust and Savings Company, which assignment was filed by Crowley & Sullivan. E. S. Alexander, who is regarded as a conservative business man, was named as assignee. W. B. Allen is president, John W. Berry vice president, G. H. Wheeler cashier. The capital stock is $120,000. The assignment of the bank was not unexpected. The bank is one of those which was bolstered up by George W. Boggs during his term of office as city treasurer. The city now appears as chief creditor, it having on deposit $228,664.77. Three of the bank directors, W. L. MoDonald, W. Burton Allen and John W. Berry, held a meeting Saturday afternoon and passed a resolution reciting the discovery of the insolvent condition of the bank, and placing the concern in the hands of Mr. Alexander as assignee. He was called in and asked to accept the charge. Mr. Alexander signified his willingness to do so. J. W. McCauley, the present city treasurer, never became responsible for the city money on deposit in the bank, Treasurer Boggs having turned it over to the finance committee. The committee has succeeded, since April last, in reducing the amount on deposit by $26,000, leaving still there $228,664.77. For this sum the city has as security notes, mortgages on real estate and stocks aggregating $157,000, and a bond given by the officers of the bank and about twenty-five others in the sum of $233,000. The city is hopeful of being able to get out of the bank the full amount of the deposits eventually, though it will be long in realizing on the collateral securities. The bank has been in a bad condition for months, but the last straw was a run that took place Saturday, and which resulted in the withdrawal of all the cash but $444.18. This le the bank's statement:


Article from Aberdeen Herald, August 22, 1895

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NEWS OF THE STATE. Seattle has 169 manufacturing establishments, which employ 2,288 people. Stetson & Post, of Seattle, are cutting 1,500,000 cedar blocks for paving Indianapolis, Ind., streets. Hibbard & Norton, who have been employing 35 men at their tannery at Fremont will increase their capacity 25 per cent. Hop prospects around Sumner are not quite so encouraging as they were. Lack of means to properly spray seems to be the cause. The Tacoma Mill Co. leads all other mills in Washington and Oregon in the month of July, having had a cargo trade of 12,066,354 feet. Peaches ripened so fast around Wilbur that it was impossible to market them, and many were fed to the pigs. Others were dried, and some made into cider. About one hundred and fifty men are engaged in constructing the new saw mill, flour mill and electric light plant at Spokane, all of which are to be operated by water power. Lewis county hop-growers will pay from 75 cents to $1 per box for picking. In the Pupallup valley many growers will pay by the 100 pounds, a method which is meeting with much favor. State Grain Commissioner Reed estimates the grain crop of Washington this year at 65 per cent of last year. The acreage has decreased 20 per cent owing to low prices for the last crop, and the yield of the acreage now in wheat is about 15 per cent less than usual. For the first Sunday in it history, Ellensburg was a dry town last Sunday. All saloons were closed Saturday night and no door to any was open Sunday. The saloonkeepers say that if the public wants the town dry they will gladly rest one day in the seven. The movement, it is said, originated with the saloonkeepers. The Bank of Tacoma made an assignment last Monday, owing the city $228,664.77. It was a sort of an annex of the Merchants National when that bank failed two years ago, and a run was made on it at the time. Its liabilities outside the debt to the city is only about $15,000. Assets, $378,916.64.


Article from The Diamond Drill, August 24, 1895

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THE sloop Jumbo, stone laden, was sunk at Newburyport, Mass. Capt. Stephen Orr and Seaman George Welch were asleep on her and were drowned. THE mammoth Patent Steel Whip company's works in Springfield, O., were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $100,000. NEAR Marion, Ill., Fred Hisholn shot and instantly killed William Malke and Wiliam Read in a quarrel over a game of cards. A PLEASURE boat capsized at Ocean City, Md., and William Storr and his wife and two children and Myrtle Stevens and Lina and Lulu Hall were drowned. JOHN WALSH walked from San Fran- cisco to Boston in ninety-three days, winning a wager of $500. THE Gumry hotel at Denver, Col., crowded with guests, was demolished by a terrific explosion and it was thought that forty or more persons lost their lives. THE Ocean Bay View house at Ham- mell station, Rockaway Beach, was completely destroyed by fire. All the guests were saved. A PARTY of lumber dealers who ar- rived at l'acoma, Wash., reported an unbroken chain of forest fires from the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean. FIRE destroyed a block of buildings at Algonquin, III., and F. D. Kozar and his daughter perished in the flames. WEST of Orlando, O. T., Eli Bourse and his bride of two months were both instantly killed by a stroke of light- ning which wrecked their house. C. H. MITCHELL and W. B. Taylor, bicyclists, arrived in Philadelphia from Denver, Col., having covered the en- tire distance on their wheels. THE wife and little son of Arthur Francis, of Englewood, Ill., were drowned in Spring lake at Grand Haven, Mich. THE visible supply of grain in the United States on the 19th was: Wheat, 36,893,000 bushels; corn, 4,293,000 bush- els; oats, 3,634,000 bushels; rye, 304,- 000 bushels; barley, 218,000 bushels. THE Bank of Tacoma at Tacoma, Wash., closed its doors with liabilities of $379,000. FIRES during the week ended on the 17th caused a total loss of $2,670,000 throughout the country, as compared with $3,102,000 for the previous week. FURTHER advices place the number of dead and missing by the fire in the Gumry hotel at Denver at twenty-five. ARTHUR BUTLER and his brother Walter and Florence Willard and Thomas Walsh were drowned in the lake in Chicago while bathing. EXPERTS reported that the accounts of ex-County Treasurer M. W. Stewart, of Wyandotte county, Kan., were short $33,885. HEAVY marsh fires were reported in Palmyra, Hebron and Cold Spring townships, Mich. Fires were running under the sod, destroying thousands of acres of meadows. THE main part of Bingham, U. T., was burned, the loss being estimated at $200,000. Thousands of people were homeless. THE business district of Camden, Mich., was almost wholly destroyed by fire. WILLIAM BLANCHARD, a prominent farmer of Prairie City, III., having sep- arated from his wife, went to where she was living and shot her dead and then killed himself. MRS. J. LONG, living near Madison, Mo., hanged her 4-year-old child and herself. Separation from her husband was the cause. AN explosion at furnace H of the Carnegie Steel company at Braddock, Pa., killed six men, fatally injured five more, seriously burned fifteen others and destroyed $30,000 worth of prop- erty. THE Pullman company has discon- tinued the sale of wines and liquors in its cars in Wyoming rather than take out a state license. THE twenty-eighth annual Peace union opened at Mystic, Conn., and would continue four days. FIELD and forest fires were doing great damage in many parts of south- eastern Michigan, and farmers were engaged night and day in efforts to save their buildings from destruction. A STEAM yacht foundered in Lake Erie at Buffalo and seven men were drowned. A RATE war prevailed among retail druggists of Kansas City which was demoralizing the trade. JOHN WESTER HARDIN, the terror of the Mexican border, was shot and killed in a saloon at El Paso, Tex., by Constable Sellman. A. J. LUSK, who while cashier of the First national bank of Wichita, Kan., two years ago was accused of stealing $80,000, was captured near Portland, Ore. FOUR men held up a Chicago & West Michigan express passenger train near Fennville, Mich., but got only seven dollars and two silver watches. THE Buffalo (N. Y.) driving park, the mother track of the grand circuit, which recently closed its thirtieth an- nual meeting, is to be closed up and pass out of existence as a race track.


Article from The L'anse Sentinel, August 31, 1895

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The News Condensed. Important Intelligence From All Parts. DOMESTIC. THE Bank of Tacoma at Tacoma, Wash., closed its doors with liabilities of $379,000. FIRES during the week ended on the 17th caused a total loss of $2,670,000 throughout the country, as compared with $3,102,000 for the previous week. FURTHER advices place the number of dead and missing by the fire in the Gumry hotel at Denver at twenty-five. ARTHUR BUTLER and his brother Walter and Florence Willard and Thomas Walsh were drowned in the lake in Chicago while bathing. EXPERTS reported that the accounts of ex-County Treasurer M. W. Stewart, of Wyandotte county, Kan., were short HEAVY marsh fires were reported in Palmyra, Hebron and Cold Spring townships, Mich. Fires were running tunder the sod, destroying thousands of acres of meadows. THE main part of Bingham, U. T., was burned, the loss being estimated at $200,000. Thousands of people were homeless. THE business district of Camden, Mich., was almost wholly destroyed by fire. WILLIAM BLANCHARD. a prominent farmer of Prairie City, III., having separated from his wife, went to where she was living and shot her dead and then killed himself. MRS. J. LONG, living near Madison, Mo., hanged her 4-year-old child and herself. Separation from her husband was the cause. AN explosion at furnace H of the Carnegie Steel company at Braddock, Pa., killed six men, fatally injured five more, seriously burried fifteen others and destroyed $30,000 worth of property. THE twenty-eighth annual Peace union opened at Mystic, Conn., and would continue four days. FIELD and forest fires were doing great damage in many parts of southeastern Michigan, and farmers were engaged night and day in efforts to save their buildings from destruction. A STEAM yacht foundered in Lake Erie at Buffalo and seven men were drowned. THE Pullman company has discontinued the sale of wines and liquors in its cars in Wyoming rather than take Ileense state R not A RATE war prevailed among retail druggists of Kansas City which was demoralizing the trade. JOHN WESTER HARDIN, the terror of the Mexican border. was shot and killed in a saloon at El Paso, Tex., by Constable Sellman. A. J. LUSK, who while cashier of the First national bank of Wichita, Kan., two years ago was accused of stealing $80,000, was captured near Portland, Ore. FOUR men held up a Chicago & West Michigan express passenger train near Fennville, Mich., but got only seven dollars and two silver watches. THE Buffalo (N. Y.) driving park, the mother track of the grand circuit, which recently closed its thirtieth annual meeting, is to be closed up and that race B SB existence JO quo ssed FOUR carpenters endeavored to extinguish a fire on a burning bridge near Coeur d'Alene, Wash., but the flames cut off their retreat and all four had to jump into a chasm 136 feet deep and were dashed to pieces. THE entire Salvation Army corps at Madison, Wis., were arrested for holding meetings in the street. DIRECTORS of the Atlanta exposition have decided to prevent the Mexican village commissioners from holding a bull fight during the exposition. THE wife of Joseph Layden, of Malden, W. Va., presented him with her twenty-eighth child. Mr. Layden is 74 years old and his wife 55 years of age. AN earthquake shock was felt at Maysville, Ky., and vicinity which scared people out of their houses. Clocks were stopped, dishes were rattled and tableware toppled over. THE People's Savings and Loan association of Minneapolis made an assignment with liabilities of $175,000. JOHN DARLING, of Bound Brook, N. J., murdered his friend, Henry Dunham, of Hornellsville, N. Y., in New-


Article from The Cape Girardeau Democrat, August 31, 1895

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The News Condensed. Important Intelligence From All Parts. DOMESTIC. THE Bank of Tacoma at Tacoma, Wash., closed its doors with liabilities of $379,000. FIRES during the week ended on the 17th caused a total loss of $2,670,000 throughout the country, as compared with $3,102,000 for the previous week. FURTHER advices place the number of dead and missing by the fire in the Gumry hotel at Denver at twenty-five. ARTHUR BUTLER and his brother Walter and Florence Willard and Thomas Walsh were drowned in the lake in Chicago while bathing. EXPERTS reported that the accounts of ex-County Treasurer M. W. Stewart, of Wyandotte county, Kan., were short $33,885. HEAVY marsh fires were reported in Palmyra, Hebron and Cold Spring townships, Mich. Fires were running under the sod, destroying thousands of acres of meadows. THE main part of Bingham, U. T., was burned, the loss being estimated at $200,000. Thousands of people were homeless. THE business district of Camden, Mich., was almost wholly destroyed by fire. WILLIAM BLANCHARD. a prominent farmer of Prairie City, Ill., having separated from his wife, went to where she was living and shot her dead and then killed himself. MRS. J. LONG, living near Madison, Mo., hanged her 4-year-old child and herself. Separation from her husband was the cause. AN explosion at furnace H of the Carnegie Steel company at Braddock, Pa., killed six men, fatally injured five more, seriously burned fifteen others and destroyed $30,000 worth of property. THE twenty-eighth annual Peace union opened at Mystic, Conn., and would continue four days. FIELD and forest fires were doing great damage in many parts of southeastern Michigan, and farmers were engaged night and day in efforts to save their buildings from destruction. A STEAM yacht foundered in Lake Erie at Buffalo and seven men were drowned. THE Pullman company has discontinued the sale of wines and liquors in its cars in Wyoming rather than take out a state license. A RATE war prevailed among retail druggists of Kansas City which was demoralizing the trade. JOHN WESTER HARDIN, the terror of the Mexican border. was shot and killed in a saloon at El Paso, Tex., by Constable Sellman. A. J. LUSK, who while cashier of the First national bank of Wichita, Kan., two years ago was accused of stealing $80,000, was captured near Portland, Ore. FOUR men held up a Chicago & West Michigan express passenger train near Fennville, Mich., but got only seven dollars and twosilver watches. THE Buffalo (N. Y.) driving park, the mother track of the grand circuit, which recently closed its thirtieth annual meeting, is to be closed up and pass out of existence as a race track. FOUR carpenters endeavored to extinguish a fire on a barning bridge near Coeur d'Alene, Wash., but the flames cutoff their retreat and all four had to jump into a chasm 136 feet deep and were dashed to pieces. THE entire Salvation Army corps at Madison, Wis., were arrested for holding meetings in the street. DIRECTORS of the Atlanta exposition have decided to prevent the Mexican village commissioners from holding a bull fight during the exposition. THE wife of Joseph Layden, of Malden, W. Va., presented him with her twenty-eighthchild. Mr. Layden is 74 yearsold and his wife 55 years of age. AN earthquake shock was felt at Maysville, Ky., and vicinity which scared people out of their houses. Clocks were stopped, dishes were rat tled and tableware toppled over. THE People's Savings and Loan association of Minneapolis made an assignment with liabilities of $175,000. JOHN DARLING, of Bound Brook, N. J., murdered his friend, Henry Dunham, of Hornellsville, N. Y., in New market, N. J., and escaped on a bicycle. IT was said that Ainsworth B. Spofford, librarian of congress, was short $35,000 in his accounts. L IT was stated at the treasury depart ment in Washington that the long-delayed world's fair medals would be ready for delivery early in September. THE Coliseum, the gigantic amusement building in Chicago, fell with a crash. It was within a week of its final completion. The loss was $125,000. JOSEPH KNEELAND, an inventor of valuable paper machines, was run over by a train and killed at Northampton, Mass. R. J. HINCHCLIFF. of Pittsburgh, Pa., coughed up a silver dime which had been imbedded in his windpipe for two years. THE New York produce exchange estimated the corn crop this year at 2,425,000,000 bushels. THE sealing schooner Walter Earle was reported to have sunk off Kodak island, Wash., and her crew of eighteen persons were drowned. GEORGE S. MONTGOMERY, of Oakland, Cal., a millionaire member of the Salvation Army, was organizing an expedition to invade Japan and Christianize the inhabitants.


Article from New-York Tribune, September 7, 1895

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A BROKEN BANK'S BOOKS MISSING. Tacoma, Wash., Sept. 6.-The Bank of Tacoma, which failed here lately, having $228,000 of the city's money in its possession, is proving an enigma to judges, receivers and every one having anything to do with 1t. The books of the institution have disappeared, and the most diligent search has failed to find them. This is not the first time they have disappeared. W. B. Allen, the president, went away quietly, and he is said to be in Chicago. It is rumored that he has the books. Grattan H. Wheeler, a former cashier of the bank, departed some time ago.


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 18, 1895

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ALLEN IN CUSTODY. President of Broken Bank of Tacoma Twice Arrested. THE FIRST TIME AT CHEHALIS. Taken to Tacoma, He Gives Ball, Comes to Seattle to Consult His Attorney, and Is Arrested Here. Tacoma, Sept. 17.-Special.-W. B. Allen, president of the defunct Bank of Tacoma, was arrested at Chehalls this morning by Sheriff Parker, of Pierce county, on the charge of receiving money at the bank when he knew it was insolvent. The warrant was served at 6:30 o'clock at the residence of Mr. Allen's father-in-law, exState Senator Henry T. Long, three miles from Chehalis Mr. Allen, accompanied by his wife and two children. and Sheriff Parker, arrived here on the Portland train at 5:30 this evening. The party was quickly driven to the court house. where the primoner was arraigned before Justice of the Peace J. L. McMurray. Quite a crowd had gathered at the court house when It became known early in the afternoon that Mr. Allen had been arrested. In the court room were a number of the banker's friends. The primoner waived the reading of the complaint. His attorney asked that the case be continued one week. so that he could communicate with counsel for the defense, and prepare the case. This the court granted. The justice fixed the amount of bond at $5,000. and It was signed by Martin A. Dillon, who was chief of police under the Rice administration, R. J. Davis. formerly assistant cashier of the Merchants' National Bank: George H. Purdon, a real estate dealer and Insurance man; F. A. Keasal, a contractor, and W. R. Brown. Dillon qualified in the full amount of the bond, Davis and Purdon in $500 each and Brown in $3,000. After the bond had been fixed. Deputy Prosecutor Davis came In and asked that hall be set at $10,000. This was denied by the court. The arrest of President Allen on a crimInal charge is the last and most sensational Incident in the failure of the Bank of Tacoma. The complaint is sworn to by P W. Tonneson, and charges that Allen recelved a deposit of $41.03 on August 12. 1895, at the Bank of Tacoma, knowing at the time that the institution was insolvent. It is believed that the attorneys for the receivers have other and graver charges to be laid against the prisoner. and that they will bring them out in due time To the Post-Intelligencer representative the prisoner said he did not wish to make any statement whatever, as to the charges against him till he had consulted his at torney. City Treasurer McCauley is the custodian of $151,000 in securities of the bank, placed in his hands by an arrangement between the finance committee and Allen a year ago to partially secure the city's deposit of $228,000. The city treasurer is keeping tight hold on them. but Receiver Titlow is making preparations to ask the court for an order to the city treasurer compelling him to turn the collateral over to the bank. The only question that will likely come up will be whether the city can realize on the securities to better advantage than the receiver. It is presumed the proceedings will be of a friendly nature. President Allen was arrested in this city at the Flyer's dock last night on the arrival of that steamer from Tacoma at 9:30 o'clock. The arrest was made by Chief Bolton Rogers and Detective Cudihee in response to a telegram from Sheriff Parker. of Tacoma, stating that he held a warrant for the arrest of W. B. Allen on the charge of receiving deposits of money while president of the bank after the bank had become insolvent. After the arrest had been made Allen was placed in the custody of Detective Wells, and while not locked up last night he was securely guarded. Allen's attorney, R. S. Jones. met him at the dock just as the arrest was made. When Allen was seen by a reporter he was seated in the rear room at police headquarters in company with Attorney R. 8. Jones. Attorney N. C. Richards, who had accompanied him from Tacoma, and Detective Wells. He appeared rather worried than cast down by the arrest. He said "The theory of my being engaged in an attempt to escape is absurd. When 1 was arrested yesterday morning in Chehalls, I was with my wife. my two little children and my wife's sister We had been down on a visit to my wife's father


Article from The Daily Morning Astorian, September 20, 1895

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BANK PRESIDENT SUED. To Recover on His Stock in a Defunct Bank. Tacoma, Sept. 19.-The receiver of the Bank of Tacoma today, by direction of the court, brought suit against W. B. Allen, president of the bank, to recover $70,000 on note which Allen gave the bank in payment of his subscription of 700 shares of the capital stock.


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 8, 1895

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HELD FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT Bank of Tacoma Officials in New Trouble-Attorney Jones Scored. Tacoma, Oct. 7.-Special.-President W. Allen, Cashier Carpenter and ex-Assignee B. E. S. Alexander, of the defunct Bank of Tacoma. were held to answer why should not be committed for con- this tempt they by Judge William H. Pritehard missfor not delivering up the of the Tacoma Trust afternoon. ing books Titlow. and Savings bank to Receiver The decision is one of the most important in the now famous case. which incidents up first today on the reply of the recame ceiver to the answer of Allen, Alexander and Carpenter, filed Friday last. This anwas in effect that they did not have and swer their possession the stolen books the had in delivered up all the property of wrecked banks to the receiver. The court in a very positive manner told three men that their answers were evasive the and not satisfactory to the court. Judge Pritchard rendered his decision in As clear, determined tones and in words all could understand. it was plain that of the that defendants realized the seriousness the case against them. was a bad day all around for It and his associates. On the beAllen two matters that came other the court. including Attorney Jones' fore attack on Receiver Titlow's bond, the held in favor of the receiver. today of The court first proceedings affidavits consisted pubreading in court of the the Sunday in the Post-Intelligencer. lished that of E. D. Morris, the Seattle who swears he the Starr-Boyd expressman. trunk including to building affidavit hauled for and W. a Allen. Receiver Titlow's were B. that of Bookkeeper Molvig also before the court. The attorneys each placed argued the matter at length, then being bitter in its arraignment of the side Judge Pritchard then announced as other. his decision, which was in substance follows: The court held that the evidence amply warranted the 'institution of contempt pro- and against Allen, Alexander ceedings Carpenter. and the clerk was directed to an order that the prosecuting attorenter institute contempt proceedings in,the ney of the state. and appear and prosename the same. The answers of the defendcute as set out in their affidavits. was pro- and ants. evasive and unsatisfactory. the nounced court said that it was clear that that the books had not been lost, but they missing had been improperly taken away from the vaults of the bank. Pritchard said further that the Judge of procedure adopted by the defendmode did not commend itself to the court, to ants that their actions rather tended It but the court against them. said prejudice have been better for them. would judge. had they come in and made the a the disclosure of all they knew of full "It appears from defendants' debooks. Jones) that Mr. Allen had do this. but that him. The parties strained counsel sired to (Mr. counsel defendant had to have me, reshown better judgment. it appears their counsel than Parkerthereupon arreated Messrs. they Sheriff Alexander and Carpenter. and court. Allen, brought before the bar of the were Pritchard held them till tomorrow was Judge o'clock. Each of the defendants the at allowed 10 to go bail for the others in sum of affidavit $5,000 each. of Receiver Titlow. which The severe reflections on Attorney contained was then argued by the attorneys. affidaJones. directed that the The court that of Mr. Jones. which charged assets vit and receiver with squandering the atthe bank and contracting expensive judge of the bills, be stricken out. The torneys' said that the language of each was hardly respectful to the court. Charles S. Richardson. one of depu- the Judge for the receiver. has been atterattorneys appear for the prosecuting ney tized in to the contempt proceedings tomorrow. Royal Baking Powder is made much from The finest materials and costs acthe very other brand. which counts more than for its any superiority. although it is


Article from Washington Standard, October 11, 1895

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STATE NEWS. Sprague Masons have relaid, with interesting ceremonies, the cornerstone of the Masonic building, recently burned. An immense run of salmon is reported in the Kalama river, and there will be no trouble about getting fish for the hatchery. John Birk and William Bikle, of Whatcom, are charged with passing, and Mrs. Anna Birk of attempting to pass counterfeit $5 gold pieces. The annual meeting of the Presbyterian synod of the State of Washington began at Tacoma on the 3d inst. The Rev. A. H. Lackey, D. D., was elected moderator. City Treasurer McCauley, of Tacoma, has obeyed the order of the court and surrendered to Receiver Titlow, of the Bank of Tacoma, the $150,000 of securities of that bank that has been deposited with the city. Mrs. W. H. Harvey, of Pullman, is the first woman admitted to the bar in Whitman county, and probably the first admitted in the State on examination, although others have been admitted by courtesy. Her husband is also a lawyer. The warrant indebtedness of Cowlitz county is $37,000. There are unpaid and delinquent taxes amounting to $21,000. This indebtedness, it is claimed, is within the legal limit of 14 per cent. by $13,000, as the limit is about $50,000. The Kelso Journal states that there is a growing conviction that Seth Catlin, the Tacoma young man who disappeared in the Cowlitz valley some time since, and was supposed to have been drowned, was murdered and the body concealed. The Indians at La Push, Clallam county, landed a whale on the beach north of James island last week. It was fastened on shore with a large rope 60 feet long. Next morning about 60 men, women and children were at work cutting it up and carrying it in baskets to the camp. The city of Spokane was Wednesday made one of the defendants in a suit brought for $7,366.53, which the Dayton Globe Iron Works Company allege is due them on four large turbine water wheels shipped and furnished to R. A. Jones in the construction of the new water works for Spokane. The will of Mrs. Mary Anderson, an Indian woman, who died at Port Townsend last week, has been filed in


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 19, 1895

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THE TRUNK MYSTERY Did President Allen Bring Bank Books to Seattle STRONG EVIDENCE THAT HE DID. German-American Receivership Sult to Be Decided Today - Judgment Against Nelson Bennett. Tacoma, Oct. 18.-Special.-W. B. Allen, president of the defunct Bank of Tacoma, Teller Frank Carpenter and ex-Assignee E S. Alexander were on trial today before Judge Pritchard, charged with contempt of court in not delivering up the missing books of the Tacoma Trust and Savings bank to Receiver Titlow. Judge Charles Richardson conducted the case for the state, in behalf of Prosecuting Attorney Coiner. and R. Saxe Jones, of Seattle, and Crowley & Sullivan appeared for the defense. The courtroom was filled during the hearing. While the facts adduced do not throw a great amount of additional light on the case, the prosecution succeeded in establishing a nearly complete chain of evidence against at least President Allen. The most important witness was Edmund Seymour, head of the bond buying house of Seymour, Barto & Co. Mr. Seymour swore positively that on August 19, the day before the bank closed its doors, he sw Allen on an express wagon containing & trunk, being driven in the direction of the Starr-Boyd building in Seattle. The witness said he had known Mr. Allen some time, and had transacted business with him, so he could not be mistaken as to his identity. Mr. Seymour saw Mr. Allen through a window in the bank of Dexter Horton & Co. He was talking with Manager Latimer at the time. Mr. Latimer was placed on the stand, and fully corroborated Mr. Seymour's narrative. E. D. Morris, the Seattle expressman, testified that he hauled the trunk for Mr. Allen to the office of Attorney Jones, in the Starr-Boyd building. as related in his afidavit. The efforts of the attorneys for the defense to confuse the witness were unavailing. Mr. Jones asked the miness if he wasn't the Morris who sole the billiard balls from the White House. An objection from Mr. Richardson was sustained, but the witness answered: "No, sir." By Mr. Jones-Didn't you tell Mr. PhilHps and Mr. Wells. last Sunday night, It man met this was 2 o'clock when (Allen)?" "No. sir." Examined as to the kind of trunk, witness said it was a common, ordinary trunk. covered with leather and rounding on top. On re-direct examination Morris was asked to detail in full what occurred between himself, Phillips and Wells at Seattle: He said: "Sunday night Mr. PhilMps came to me and said he wanted to know If I wouldn't go down to the wine rooms with him. I went. There he was waiting for another gentleman; Mr. Wells, I believe. They kept asking me questions about the trunk until I got tired and told them I must go: that I had to tend to my horse. They wanted me to stay longer, and just then that man over there," (pointing to Attorney Richards). "came in and talked to me about it. He said to me: 'Don't you know what you have stated to three of us is a lie?" I said: 'No, 1 didn't.' He said to me: T'll send you to hell or further,' or something of that kind." Mr. Richards was formerly secretary 01 the Bank of Tacoma. Bookkeeper Molvig was placed on the stand. and testified to a. discrepancy in the warrant account on the bank's books amounting to $22,000. W C. Chidester. who has examined the books, testified that there were small forced balances. The janitor of the Washington building, where the bank was located. testified that a trunk was missing from Grattan Wheeler's room. Mr. Wheeler was formerly the bank's cashier. Near the close of the session the prosecution asked Teller Carpenter to take the stand. Mr. Carpenter objected, saying he did not wish to be a witness for the prosecution. The court sustained Carpenter's attorneys in their arguments, and the case was continued till tomorrow. As yet the attorneys for the defendants have given no hint of what they expect to prove. No explanation of the trunk mystery has yet been offered by Allen, who will probably be called upon to say what its contents were


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 22, 1895

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# ALLEN DIDN'T KNOW. Remarkable Ignorance of Bank of Tacoma's President. # THE JUGGLING OF WARRANTS, Some Vanished, Some Were Sold, Some Given to Mayor Orr to Use as Collateral for a Loan. Tacoma, Oct. 21.-Special. The last witness in the case of the state of Washington vs. W. B. Alien, E. S. Alexander and Frank Carpenter, charged with contempt of court in not delivering the missing books of the Tacoma Trust and Savings bank to Receiver Titlow, was examined in Judge Pritchard's court this afternoon, and the arguments were begun by the attorneys. These will probably be finished tomorrow, and the court is expected to render an immediate decision. The most important evidence in the case was unearthed at today's hearing. From the testimony of Accountant Chidester and the books of the Bank of Tacoma, it was proven that the warrant account was short $22,750.14 when the bank failed. Bookkeeper Molvig swore he had received no consideration whatever for his note of $8,000, which was found among the "assets" of the bank, and which was entered on the books June 26, 1894, the same day that the warrant account showed that $8,000 of Boggs' warrants had been sold. But the most remarkable testimony given was suppiled by Mr. Allen himself. Throughout the case Judge Pritchard has shown a desire to have the whole truth brought out about the significant disappearance of the bank's books, and when Allen was on the stand Judge Charles Richardson, who is conducting the case for the state, was allowed to go into a great many of the matters relating to the disposition of the $212,000 of city warrants deposited by Boggs just before he went out of office April 16. 1894, and the dissipation of the Bank of Tacoma's assets. Mr. Allen's answers to the interrogatories of the attorneys were very unsatisfactory. He did not know anything about the entries on the books in the warrant account, particularly the one showing that $8,000 worth had been sold. Mr. Allen admitted that he had been East in the summer of 1894, and that he had taken city warrants to sell. He couldn't remember, however, how much he sold, or to whom, or, in fact, anything tangible about the transactions in which he himself was most interested. He did admit, however, that he sold something over $20,000 of warrants through agents, but he told the court he didn't remember who his agents were. To nearly all the questions of Judge Richardson Mr. Allen would answer: "I don't know," and this reply was returned to the probing inquiries of the attorney about the entries on the bank's books and the business transactions they represented. To the inquiries of Judge Pritchard, Allen said he had made diligent efforts to know where they were. He did not have any hand in their disappearance, he said. Mr. Allen was asked about an expense item of $1,000 in favor of himself, evidenced by a credit slip dated July 10, 1894, He said he knew nothing about it. He also denied any knowledge of an expense item of $4,649, and another slip which showed that $1,000 had been paid to Attorney Jones. Mayor Orr furnished one of the sensations of the day. Mr. Orr went on the stand and told how he had gone to the Bank of Tacoma for an accommodation in June last. Mr. Allen told him he could not supply him with cash, but would give him collateral on which perhaps he could raise a loan. Mr. Orr said that in pursuance of Mr. Allen's offer he received general fund city warrants amounting to $464. He had borrowed the money, said the mayor, and had paid off the note, and had returned the warrants that day to Mr. Allen's attorney. The note had been paid ten days ago, but through an oversight he had failed to return the warrants to Mr. Allen. When the mayor finished his testimony Attorney Sullivan, for Mr. Allen, delivered the warrants into the hands of Receiver Titlow. Messrs. Alexander and Carpenter both went on the stand and swore they knew nothing of the whereabouts of the stolen books. The books of the Bank of Tacoma in Receiver Titlow's hands contain many glaring irregularities and forced balances, conspicuous among them being an entry of three warrants which were missing when the receiver took charge. The numbers of these warrants were entered on the page, although this was not the custom of the bank's bookkeeper. The account was charged $360.40, the numbers being 6,450, 10,239 and 10,234. These warrants were returned to the receiver today by Allen's attorneys, to whom they had been given by Mayor Orr. No. 6,450 is for $200, 10,239 for $388.61 and 10,234 for $70.31, making the total $658.92, as against $360.40, as charged on the books. It is not believed the defense has strengthened its case by the production of these warrants, as they do not correspond with the amounts of the missing warrants on the books, being in excess thereof. Judge Richardson's opening argument for the state was a masterly arraignment of Allen and methods by which the Bank of Tacoma was wrecked. The greatest interest is manifested over the outcome of the case, around which hangs the whole Boggs warrant muddle.


Article from The San Francisco Call, October 23, 1895

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A TACOMA BANKER JAILED. President Allen Must Produce in Court the Books of His Defunct Institution. TACOMA, WASH., Oct. 22.-W. B. Allen, president of the defunct Bank of Tacoma, which caused a loss to the city of $228,000, was ordered into confinement in the county jail this afternoon until the bank books which so mysteriously disappeared are forthcoming. Frank Carpenter, the bookkeeper, and E. S. Alexander, the receiver, were released, but are still under bonds. Another case of contempt will be heard in the morning, when the officers of the German-American Bank will be called to testify as to where the books that disappeared from that institution the day before Receiver Balkwell took charge are now. All Balkwell found was $1 10 in a drawer; the books, securities, etc., were all gone. The feeling is very bitter against the bankers and the city and county officials who are said to have aided them.


Article from The Anaconda Standard, November 9, 1895

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# NELSON BENNETT'S DEBTS. Tacoma "Ledger" Mortgaged and Hotel Stock Hypothecated. Tacoma special to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: The Ledger Publishing company, the Tacoma Hotel company and Lottie Bennett, garnishee defendants in Col. F. D. Heustis' suit against Nelson Bennett, filed answers late this afternoon. The Ledger company's answer says it owes Bennett $35,299.19 on notes and open accounts for money advanced by Bennett for valuable consideration and for use in business. Two notes were executed by the corporation to Bennett on April 26, 1893, one for $12,000 and the other for $14,466.81. Another note, executed Aug. 27, 1894, is for $5,533.19, and the open accounts amounts to $3,300. The answer states further that all of the said notes were secured by a chattel mortgage executed by said garnishee defendant by Mr. Bennett; further, that all of the above notes and indebtedness, with securities therefor have been by Bennett sold and assigned to the Bennett National bank, of Fairhaven, to secure a debt of Mr. Bennett to the bank of $15,000. Further, the answer states, that at the time of the garnishment the stock books of the corporation showed only one share of stock in Bennett's name. The answer of the Tacoma hotel states that 4,960 shares of stock, of the par value of $100 each, stand in Nelson Bennett's name on the books, and that all of it has been by Bennett hypothecated as security for his debts to divers persons and corporations, among them H. L. Achilles, trustee of the Tacoma clearing house, 700 shares, A. R. Titlow, receiver of the bank of Tacoma, 1,000 shares. The other shares are held by parties unknown to garnishee defendant, the hotel company. Both answers are sworn to by Henry Blackwood, secretary of the corporations and Mr. Bennett's private secretary.


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 11, 1895

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Tacoma, Nov. 10.-Special.-Secretary H. L. Votaw, of the Tacoma school board, was a witness before the Lexow committee of the Chamber of Commerce last tight. He was requested to give the committee information relative to the Columbia National bank, and the city deposits therein. Mr. Votaw was a member of the finance committee of the council in 1894, which accepted a settlement with the Bank of Tacoma by which the latter was granted a year's time to pay up the city's deposit of $250,000. The committee also had supervision of Treasurer McCauley's deposits in other banks, and Votaw obtained his election as secretary of the school board through the influence of Maj. Oliver, who is president of the school board and of the Columbia bank. President M. M. Taylor also worked with President Oliver in Mr. Votaw's interest, and the latter was asked to throw light on Taylor's relation with the bank. The Investigating committee is still camping on the trail of dishonest officials in and out of office. It has made a strong effort to get information relative to the wrecking of the Bank of Tacoma on which to base criminal proceedings, but owing to the loss of the books of the Tacoma Trust and Savings bank, its predecessor, the committee as yet has been unable to prosecute the guilty parties. One member of the committee tonight offered to pay a large sum for the recovery of the missing books. It is believed that a large amount of city warrants deposited by Boggs, and which made up the city's credit in the Bank of Tacoma, are held by officials of the bank, or their agents, who have so far failed to dispose of them. The stolen books would thrown light on this matter. Another difficulty confronting the committee is the réluctance of witnesses to swear to information which they give, owing to the fact that many prominent men here might be implicated. Special Examiner A. D. Lynch, who is here by order of Comptroller Eckels to make a special report on the Columbia bank fallure, is expected to advise his chief as to the latitude the receiver should be allowed in giving information to the Taxpayers' league, which the Lexow committee can use in prosecuting criminals. The committee hopes to get at these matters soon.


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 4, 1895

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ON CITY'S $228,000 DEPOSIT. The Bank Put Certain Securities in Treasurer McCauley's Hands, But Was Permitted to Secretly Withdraw Some of the Collateral, Including Notes of Cavender, Chairman of Council Finance Committee-Were Councilmen Bribed ! Tacoma, Dec 3. Special.-Things are coming rather hard for Councilman C. A. Cavender, of the Second ward. Today Chairman Leo Roys. of the Lexow committee of the Chamber of Commerce, filed charges against Mr. Cavender with the cityn clerk similar to those filed by the constituents of Councilman Buiger. The document filed today alleges that Mr. Cavender is guilty of gross incompetency and neglect of duty and of conduct unbecoming a member of the city council The new complaint against the representative of the Second ward goes fully into matters connected with the Bank of Tacoma, in which the city had $228,000 when it failed. Much that has already been pub. lished regarding the financial committee's arrangements with President W. B. Allen whereby the bank was given a year's time to pay up. is included in Mr. Roys' charges. This compact between the city and the bank was made September 1. 1894. and by its terms the city was barred from commencing suit against the bank or taking any steps to close it until the expiration of a year. In consideration of this agreement, the bank turned over to City Treasurer J. W. McCauley, as trustee, $151,000 worth of securities to be held as collateral for the deposit. and executed a bond signed by the directors and stockholders of the bank. Two weeks before the expiration of the year the bank assigned to E. S. Alexander, which assignment was subsequent ly set aside and A. R. Titlow appointed recelver Mr. Roys' complaint alleges, after reciting the above facts: "That W B. Allen, representing the Bank of Tacoma, entered into this agreement with the finance committée. of the city upon the distinct understanding and further agreement that the collateral which was to be turned over by the bank to the city should be inspected and its contents known only to Cavender and the city treasurer. It was further understood and agreed that after the collateral had been so inspected by Cavender and McCauley, that it should be put in an envelope, sealed up. placed in the vault of the city and there remain intact until the expiration of the year. Cavender nevertheless, contrary to the distinct understanding and agreement had between the finance committee and the Bank of Tacoma in relation to the collateral. permitted, sanctioned and aided the bank to secure from the city treasurer a certain portion of the collateral which had been deposited with the city as aforesaid, amounting to many thousands of dollars, without any consideration being given to the ity for the relinquishment of the collateral security to the bank that he also aided and assisted theMankthprocuring certain othen of the collateral from the city treasurer and substituting in lieu thereof entirely new and different collateral from that which was originally taken: that some of the collateral taken by the bank was realized upon by the bank and the money collected went to the use and benefit of the bank. That among the collateral turned over by the bank to the city was certain collateral which the firm of Cavender & Fowler had given to the bank as collateral security for loans that Cavender permitted. aided and assisted the bank in procurIng the Cavender & Fowler collateral from the city treasurer. and permitted said bank to substitute other collateral in lieu thereof that E. V. Benham, city comptroller. frequently requested Cavender to permit him to examine such collateral securities in the performance of his duty, in order that he might have a clear understanding of the financial condition of the city, but that Cavender wholly failed. neglected and refused to allow the comptroller or any other office save the treasurer of the city to see the collateral or to know the contents thereof There are many facts connected with this agreement that not stated in either the Roys complaint or that filed yesterday by H C Baker and other residents of the Fifth ward City Treasurer J W McCauley had a hand in framing the agreement. and when it was submitted the council for tication it bore Mr McCauley's name one of those who had made the arrangement. as well Mcnames of the finance Mr. Cauley stated at the time that after the had practically failed to secure the sort of agreement it wanted from the bank. he took a hand in the gotiations and they were subséquently closed on the lines above given Mr. McCauley individually was made trustee for the bank with the city, and the envelope containing the securities placed in When the bank was closed and the of its became known. Cavender and McCauley disagreed as the the oral agree ment by which President Allen was lowed access to the envelope and permit the change to ted saw Neither wanted to assume sponsibility for the by the bank got back large of stead its and paper valuable little that the of important Another brought not is charges 1 tee finally bank held was members. the For offered


Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 9, 1896

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To Recover Trust Funds. TACOMA, Dec. 8.-Special.-Suit has been brought by Receiver Titlow, of the Bank of Tacoma, to recover $1,100 which was part of a trust fund deposited with the clerk In a suit between the Commercial bank and the Bank of Tacoma. Clerk Fairweather deposited the money in the Commercial bank and later It failed. An important question, the liability of the county clerk for trust funds deposited in bank, is involved in the suit. There is no law in this state fixing the bonds to be given by the county clerk and they have always been fixed in this county by the board of county commissioners. It is probable that the attention of the legislature will be drawn to the necessity of enacting some laws on the subject this winter.


Article from The Corvallis Gazette, October 15, 1897

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SOME COMPARISONS THE SHOW REPORTS OFFICIAL DIFFERENCE IN THE TIMES. Cleve Under the First 60 Days of the tho Country Panic land-Wilson Low Tariff McKinleyConfident Was in a Tariff the Country Dingley Correspondent. the E. F. PARBONS, Special C. The close of of Washington, of D. the operations im- the sixty days and the business every first tariff law are vigible in sugnew which time have provements during that of the conditions the two gested direction a comparison months in question date in during those of the corresponding Cleveland admin- free the first which with year of the time the President istration, during elected with its attrade congress, just beginning which the Cleveland, was protective system re-estack Dingley upon the law sixty days ago to Sep tablished. periods from 1893 July 24 and 1897, respectively, IS it and business tember The two 24 in the present years a marked contrast pcsconditions records as to to obtain from upon this sible data bearing interesting. from of the and some now especially data gathered picture The following presents official reports of the year ended 1893 corsixty-da the period two months just portion of the which both as to the of the president to administration year and respond the period and also proximity Failure tariff Week legislation: ending Mont., July 24, National 1893 their doors; Bank of Bozeman, Denver banks closed in other western four suspensions failures in Milwaukee banks; cities; bank two bank numerous other fails, capi Commercial bank and runs on Bank of failures Denver at Vernon, capital tal.$250,000 and Knoxville, of Tacoma, Tenn. Wash also Texas, failure $200,000; of failures $200,000; Bank, capital Falls, Mont. and Fla., Orlando, in National banks at Great capital $200,000 of work manufactories sections. Nation In suspension reported ending from all August N. and H., Week bank at Manchester, fail, cpaital $500,000; at Spokane, al dianapolis, First Ind. National $250,000; Bank ten in one failure Wash., of capital day (July 27), in failures suspend bank Kanbanks $2,000, Montana, 000; Illinois, Hamp capital New num South Dakowashington, large sas. Texas, correspondingly and suspensions Col1893shire, business August 8, ber Week of ending Provision Deal houses and lapse of Chicago of commission of El Paso, many failures of National National bank bank National of San bank failure failure of failure of conin Texas; Texas; Ind; fifty- -third begin McKinley Antonio, of Muncie, special session to law. Week the gress destruction deek ending meets of August the 1893-Enpolice; meeting police; counter socialists of between averted Anarchists by failure New broken York of National up by of failure New York Hindman, Pa. Wash. susbank at at Tacoma, establish National announcepension of numerous of the currency primente ment by in comptrollection during and the year 560 that 155 National had failed railroad receivers vate banks August 28; August for Northern New inding during & Akron Reading, & West England Pacific, and Pittsburg, ap receivers Cnicago, ern. Septembewinconsin Railroad Central, Cleveland, Terre Can railroads. pointed and for St. Louis, and Evansville of & roads in ton & Peoria Southern The mileage receivers during onethe Haute the hands of 25,375, nearly United of year the year placed 1893 all was the indebtedness lines in $1.212, there $17,033.00. to States seventh and their During the $346, were 16,115 liabilities mercamounting the bank suspen on cal volving 00. During were made as high at the as 72 per cent of sions 779,889.0 of N. July, Y. loans Stock Exchange reviv the The following statements industries detember during of of manufact ufacturing following period the the first the sixty Dingley days law, similar the second dates term, in ghow year ing of the between present sponding months The Brad the contrast of the corresprint administration and those preceding follow are 1897 e of statementinancial the pred which Journal: 24, workmen industries; street's Week ending July resume work resumes Bigelow in at 900 Carpet hands; iron Co. at Packer thousand thank steel Clinton, Mass. Colliery work Co happened Pa., O.,Buggy & Q. Co. work 1.000 hands; men; C. of hands at resumes, full 400 complement shops for first Tradesmen time ports railroad iron fur several large resuming Ills. in its years; number work; McKen- resume, Patnaces in Works, Joliet, at silk mills, wages na Steel spinners increase Pittsburg N. 20 per re400 hands; J., receive cent.; Ind., in hands; erson, from Glass 5 to Co., Kokome, Jones & Laughlir 3,500 Iron Works, Maine Central Plate sumes, 800 Pittsburg, railroad resumes increase 1897-Tod wages hands; of employes. ending July 31, 'o., resume concerns Week Youngetown of and work; resume Ala. eggemer, work; Form in Connecticut furnaces at resume Birmingham work N.J. Mills, Passaic, cent in deand Algonquir Besse wages Woolen 10 Co. to announces 15 per meet increases Atobison Railway new cars to W O. mands ability of to ending supply shippers. 7, 1897 Mfg work; 2,000 Week Co., Cleveland, hands; sign Va. Rolling Car resumes Mills, resumes, of Louisiana advance