23118. First National Bank (Terra Alta, WV)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
6999
Charter Number
6999
Start Date
October 19, 1931
Location
Terra Alta, West Virginia (39.446, -79.546)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
9c155bbe

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Date receivership started
1931-10-20
Date receivership terminated
1932-11-19
OCC cause of failure
Economic conditions
Share of assets assessed as good
54.8%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
42.5%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
2.7%

Description

Multiple contemporaneous articles (Oct 19–20, 1931) report the First National Bank of Terra Alta was closed after the death of its clerk, Harry Idleman. The reports describe the bank as 'closed today' with no mention of a depositor run; closure appears to be a suspension that resulted in the bank remaining closed (no reopening reported in these items). Cause coded as bank-specific adverse information (clerk's death disrupting operations). Also mention the Terra Alta Bank closed the same day, but this record focuses on First National Bank.

Events (4)

1. October 15, 1903 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. October 19, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Clerk Harry Idleman found dead in his automobile (carbon monoxide poisoning); bank closed the same day; reported as closure following clerk's death.
Newspaper Excerpt
The First National Bank of Terra Alta and the Terra Alta Bank were closed today. Harry Idleman, 32, clerk of the First National, was found dead this morning in his automobile. The motor of the machine was running and death was pronounced due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Source
newspapers
3. October 20, 1931 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. November 19, 1932 Restored To Solvency
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from Evening Star, October 19, 1931

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Article Text

County Is Divided. "Anne Arundel County is so filled with criminals that it is set off in sections by these pests, who dare not invade the others' territory, so great is the rivalry. County police know what is going on and they are receiving graft from every establishment in the county." The jurist then took a slap at wet newspapers. "I dare Baltimore to enforce the liquor laws. If it did, the Baltimore Evening Sun would not be able to recommend the abolition of the National Guard. Both the National Guard and the United States Army would be needed to keep crime down there." Clerk Dead, Banks Shut. TERRA ALTA, W. Va., October 19 (.P).-The First National Bank of Terra Alta and the Terra Alta Bank were closed today. Harry Idleman, 32, clerk of the First National, was found dead this morning in his automobile. The motor of the machine was running and death was pronounced due to carbon monoxide poisoning.


Article from The Guthrie Daily Leader, October 19, 1931

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Article Text

NEARING DEATH SLAYER Electric Chair Being Prepared For Arkansas Man electric chair at the southern Illinois penitentiary was prepared today for the electrocution at 4 a. m. tomorrow of Merle Johnson, 25year-old confessed killer of Mrs. Carrie Bowers and her two little sons, at Mattoon last May 20. Johnson's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Johnson of Drasco, Ark., spent nearly all of last Wednesday with him. The prison chaplain has spent much time with him but he has not changed his story that he killed the woman and children, with whom he lived, because she asked him to. He has not explained intimations at his trial that he was in trouble because of rum-running activities. Johnson accompanied Mrs. Bowers and children to Mattoon last February from a rice plantation near Stuttgart, Ark. Johnson worked for Mrs. Bowers' husband prior to his death in April, 1930, and afterwards continued in her eníploy. He has admitted that the younger of the two slain children, Delmar, 19 months old, was his. BANK CLERK DIES Terra Alta, W. Va., Oct. 19.-(P) -The First National Bank of Terra Alta and the Terra Alta Bank were closed today. Harry Idleman, 32, clerk of the First National, was found dead this morning in his automobile. Death was pronounced due to carbon monoxide poisoning.


Article from St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 20, 1931

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Article Text

Akron Industries Join with Banks to Solve Own Difficulties Organize Credit Corporation After Mergers with $75,000,000 Resources. By Associated Press. AKRON. OHIO, October industries, mercantile establishments and banks combined on large today to solve their difficulties. type of banking for they formed the Credit Corporation which patterned after the National recently proposed by President Hoover. Combined Resources $75,000,000. of the corporation lowed merger Central DeBank Trust Company Trust and and cial institutions, which have of at $7. The bank, capitalized name Like the National Credit Corpora. corporation use $13. for rediscounting bank increasing the liquidity assets of the two merged All Industries Aid. industries and the four Firestone and among subscribwere included Directhe credit two banks subscribed the $500,000 that the forma said first localized application the United States of the credit corporation idea. Bank Closes After Run. Associated Press. By Exchange Bank here for business today. did open issued the directors said unusual withdrawals by prompted the positors has President W. March depositors be in full and that would be balance for distribution to stockholders. statement of the bank's condition September had of and mand disdeposits of $5,194,856. United counts totaling States securities $738,830 and cash totaling $562,970. Bank Falls to Open. By Associated VA., October United Bank of Middlebourne, by consolidation the Bank of Middlebourne National Bank of Midand the diebourne, did not open for busitoday. According to its last statement the United Bank had resources of $722,042.19. Evansville Bank Closes. By Associated Press. IND., October 19 Trust and Bank of Evansville, one of the largest banking institutions in that closed doors and Luther Banking took personal charge of its affairs. Marcus Sonntag, who is nent on number state commissions and chairman of the Board of Trustees Memorial president of the tion. deposits of $3,141,000, surplus and undivided profits State Takes Over Two Banks. By Associated Press. RRISBURG, PA., October Two Schuylkill banks taken today the State Banking Department. The Valley Bank total resources $1,674,841. and deposits of $1,369,088. The Auburn, the other closed institution, had total sources of $661,124 and deposits of $527,982. Bank and Branch Close. By Associated FORT ME., October 19.The Kent Trust and its branch at failed to open their doors today. The bank was in 1903, and Italized at $50,000. and had deposits of approximately $650,000. Banks Close After Suicide. By Associated TERRA ALTA. W. VA., October First National Bank of Terra Alta and the Alta Bank closed today. Harry Idleman, clerk of the First found morning his bullet the head. The Coroner said the body that Idleman killed himself and an inquest necessary. The First National Bank, Septemof surplus and $490,552. The Bank the same date reported capital of of $40,000 and deposits of $513,441. Run Causes Bank to Close. By Associated Press. HARLINGEN, TEX., October withdrawal of the Valley State Bank to close its doors here today. Directors nounced that they considered it best for all to place the bank's affairs the hands the State Banking Commission. said silent deposits has been in for some time. The Valley State Bank was capitalized for had deposits aggregating $613,979.


Article from Hinton Daily News, October 20, 1931

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Article Text

BARBS A1 Capone attended football game with his bodyguard recently. He certainly likes to be around when somebody "kicks off. "It's smart to be thrifty,' runs the slogan of New York department store. Smart? In these days it's a miracle! American college students are indifferent to politics, says professor. Considering what Chinese students did to their foreign minIster for some alleged negligence in administration, it is perhaps well for our politicians that college boys don't know too much about politics. Now that Wang has been superseded as foreign minister, it behooves Japan to know its China Simile: As downeast as a taxi driver on a rainy day. (Copyright, 1931. NEA Service. Inc way to get it. My father is back in school again and studying geometry and algebra two of subjects son of his was famous in other days And you can bet got a big kick yesterday out of refusing to work his problems for him. Like he used to enjoy saying to, me over and over, cracked "If work them for you it won't help you any. Work them out yourself and you 11 get more out of Cruel yes, But lots of fun. Re: tribution at Clerk Of Bank Foun. Dead In His Garage First National Bank of Tera Alta and the Terra Alta bank were closed today Harry Idleman: 32 clerk of the First National Bank of Terra Alta, morning in his The motor the machine we running and* death was pronounced due 1: earbon monoxide poisoning.