247. Commercial Bank (Selma, AL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
December 29, 1896
Location
Selma, Alabama (32.407, -87.021)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
056f0862

Response Measures

Full suspension

Other: Assigned (made an assignment) and assignees/receiver appointed; heavy withdrawals and limits on payouts were imposed prior to closing. New York creditor banks sent an attorney to investigate, precipitating withdrawals.

Description

Multiple contemporaneous articles report a heavy run in the days prior to Dec 30, 1896; the bank failed to open Dec 30 and the board posted notice of an assignment (assignees named), placing the bank in the hands of assignees/receiver. Officials imposed payment limits ($100 then $50) during the run and sought New York loans; NY correspondent banks' investigation precipitated withdrawals. The bank did not resume normal operations and was placed in receivership/assignment, so classified as run -> suspension -> closure.

Events (3)
1. December 29, 1896 Run
Cause
Correspondent
Cause Details
Knowledge that an attorney representing several New York correspondent banks had come to investigate the bank's condition precipitated large withdrawals.
Measures
Payment limits imposed: $100 limit initially, later reduced to $50; officials sought relief/loans from New York correspondents.
Newspaper Excerpt
the heavy run made on the bank in the last few days
Source
newspapers
2. December 30, 1896 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
named as assignees Lewis Jeffries and E. Gillman, of Selma, and S. Weil, of New York. The bank assigned today, naming assignees ... the assignees said they could not get up statement of the assets and liabilities today
Source
newspapers
3. December 30, 1896 Suspension
Cause
Correspondent
Cause Details
After heavy withdrawals and refusal by several large New York creditor banks to agree to extensions, the board decided to make an assignment (suspension/closing).
Newspaper Excerpt
failed to open its doors this morning. . . . it was announced that it had assigned
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (21)
1. December 30, 1896 Rock Island Argus Rock Island, IL
Article from Rock Island Argus, December 30, 1896

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Failures of the Day. Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Commercial bank, of Seima, Ala., failed to open its doors this morning. The capital is $300,000; the undivided profits $50,000. West Superior, Wis., Dec. 30-The Anchor Grain company, operating on the Superior board of trade has assigned. Minneapolis, Dec. 30.-,The Bankers' Exchange bank announced the suspension of payment for a few days. It has only $30,000 capital. There has been a run on the bank. The Northern Trust company has applied for a receiver. The hearing was postponed one week.

2. December 30, 1896 Evening Star Washington, DC
Article from Evening Star, December 30, 1896

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DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. Suspension of the Commerical Bank of Selma, Ala. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., December 30. -The Commercial Bank of Selma, Ala., failed to open its doors today. The Commercial was established in 1880, and has a paid-up capital of $300,000; undivided profits of $50,000. The New York correspondent is the American Exchange National. and the Chicago correspondent the First National. R. M. Nelson, president of the Commercial, Is well known in Alabama, and has for many years been prominent in financial circles. He was regarded as a conservative banker. There are two other banks in Selma, one a very small concern. The other is the City National Bank, which is regarded as the most substantial financial institution in the state.

3. December 31, 1896 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seattle, WA
Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 31, 1896

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BUSINESS TROUBLES. Easier Feeling at MinneapolisSmall Concerns Go Under. MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. -The financial situation is much easter today. The announcement that the Bankers' Exchange bank had suspended payment for a few days caused scarcely a ripple, as the (natitution is small, with only $30,000 capital. A run on this bank has taken $35,000 from it in three weeks. Cashier Field declared he had plenty of ready money, but preferred to await the bank examiner's advice before making further payments. The Northern Trust Company, through Vice President Maxwell, applied to the district court for a receiver. The hearing was postponed for a week. Ex-Gov. A. R. McGill is president. The company suspended payment in 1898, but afterwards resumed. APPLETON, Wis., Dec. 30.- John 8. Van Nortwick has made an Individual assignment of his Fox River interests, naming Postmaster John Baer, of this city, as He has given bonds for $250,000. properties in the The assignee. principal assignment Lock Paare the plants of the combined per Company and the Appleton Paper and Pulp Company. Van Nortwick LOOK this step to protect himself. The property turned over to the assignee all the interest of John S. Van in the Combined includes Nortwick Lock and Paper Paper Company, the Appleton Pulp of Company, the Union Pulp Company, Kaukauna; the Wisconsin Fibre Company. of Monico; the Appleton Edison Electria Company, all his real estate in this city and 740 shares in the Green Bay & Mississippi Canal Company, which owns or controls by lease the great bulk of the water power of the Fox river. CHICAGO. Dec. 30.-As a result of a conference this afternoon between Willlam Van Nortwick, Congressman Hopkins, Charles Quaries, of Milwaukee, and Attorney Green. of this city, it was agreed that the Batavia bankers should asis their creditors for more time. in order that they may be able to pay in full their obligations. ZANESVILLE. O., Dec. 30.-The Balti& Ohio railroad shops at this place have more been ordered closed until further notice. Four hundred men are thrown out of work. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. ).-The Commercial bank, of Selma, Ala., failed today. It was established in 1880, and has a paid capital of $300,000; undivided profits, $50.- the 000. up The New York correspondent is ChiAmerican Exchange National, and correspondent the First National. R. cago M. Nelson, president of the Commercial, has for years been prominent in financial arteles. He was considered a conservative banker. NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-Everett's hotel, the Veasey and Barclay streets, one of of oldest and best known establishments its kind in this city, was closed today. has Its proprietor. Samuel H. Eyerett. been in financial trouble for some time. Charles G. Rose, dry goods commission is merchant, assigned today. About $50,000 involved. NEVADA, Mo., Dec. 30.-The James- its Jesse Commission Company closed fallexchange here today because of the of a commission firm at Chicago yesure terday. Their liabilities are not known. WEST SUPERIOR. Wis. Dec. si.-The the Grain Company. operating this Superior Anchor Board of Trade, assigned morning. MASON CITY. 1a., Dec. 30. J.S. Hutchins, of Hockwell, failed today. Liabilities, $35,000; GOUVERNEUR assets, $25,000. N. Y., Dec. 30 James Lee, proprietor of the Edgewood hotel, at C. Star Lake, in the Adirondacks, ven- and largely interested in several other tures, made an assignment today. The liabitities will be heavy. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. -Levin Bros., have failed, with liabilities stated has grocers, by the firm to be $80,000. The firm operated two stores here. two in Oakland and one in Berkeley. The Retail Grocers' of Association has notified the creditors Levin Brox that If they accept a settlement from the embarrassed firm of 25 per cent. or 60 per cent. of their indebtedness other retail grocers of this city will boy= cott such wholesale firms as agree to a compromise with Levin Broa. The latter have been underselling other grocers, hence the present enmity and the attempt to keep Levin Bros. out of business.

4. December 31, 1896 The Daily Morning Journal and Courier New Haven, CT
Article from The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, December 31, 1896

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CLOSES ITS DOORS, The Commercial Bank of Selma, Ala., Goes to the Wall. Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Commercial bank of Selma, a state institution, failed to open its doors this morning and soon afterward it was announced it had assigned. The bank is one of the two leading ones in Selma, and its failure caused some excitement. General R. M. Nelson is president and E. A. Baker cashier. The bank is the principal financial institution of the place. Its liabilities in 1896 included $300,000 capital stock; $38,286 surplus and undivided profits, $487,572 deposits, and $107,377 re-discounts. Its assets were: Loans and discounts, $668,289: bonds and real estate, $82,116; cash and exchange, $182,827. R. M. Nelson, the president, was also president of the Alabama Loan company, with an accredited capital of $70,000.

5. December 31, 1896 The Morning News Savannah, GA
Article from The Morning News, December 31, 1896

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BANK FAILS AT SELMA. Investigation Begun by New York Banks Caused a Run. Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Commercial Bank of Selma failed to open its doors for business to-day. Instead a notice was posted saying that the board of directors had decided to make an assignment. The cause of this action was the heavy run made on the bank in the last few days. The bank was a heavy debtor to New York banks, among them the Chemical, American Exchange, National City, Third National, Bank of Montreal and National Bank of the Republic, and they sent an attorney some days ago to investigate its condition. The knowledge of the attorney's presence had a great deal to do with the run. The board of directors arrived at the conclusion to assign after a long and continued session, lasting until after midnight last night. The officers of the bank are R. M. Nelson, president; George A. Wilkins, vice president, and A. E. Baker, cashier. The patrons of the bank have confidence that it will soon resume business, and are signing an agreement to withdraw their deposits, one-third in three months, one-third in six months and one-third in nine months. There is no public statement as yet of the assets and liabilities. The business men feel hopeful that the failure will not be detrimental to their interests.

6. December 31, 1896 The Salt Lake Herald Salt Lake City, UT
Article from The Salt Lake Herald, December 31, 1896

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Caused By Excitement. Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Commercial Bank of Selma closed this morning, and later assigned. The bank is one of the two leading ones in Selma. The failure was caused by excitement. The capital stock was $300,000.

7. December 31, 1896 Marietta Daily Leader Marietta, OH
Article from Marietta Daily Leader, December 31, 1896

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CONDENSED NEWS Gathered From All Parts of the Globe by Telegraph. Joseph Barbot, the French tenor, died in Paris. He was born in 1824. Halanzier-Dufresnoy, formerly director of the Paris opera, is dead. He was born in 1819. Hon. Edward Avery, for many years a prominent democrat in state politics, died Tuesday morning in Boston. Isaac Prager & Sons, extensive retail dry goods dealers of Parkersburg, W. Va., have made an assignment. Assets and liabilities are estimated at $100,000. The President Tuesday amended the civil service rules so as to include in this service all employes of government penitentiaries in theUnited States which are subject to classification. John Pagan, a wealthy citizen of Yonkers, N. Y., committed suicide Tuesday morning by shooting himself. He was a prominent leader of the prohibition party in West Chester county. At Minneapolis, Minn., the Bankers' Exchange bank suspended payment Wednesday. It is a small concern and its officers claim that they have money enough to pay every depositor and stockholder. When the protocol is signed by Sir Julian Pauncefote and Senor Andrade, the representatives of Great Britain and Venezuela, diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Great Britain will be again resumed. A special from Galveston, Tex., states that 1,000 or more persons in that city are suffering from la grippe, which has been epidemic for nearly two weeks. Every physician in the city is overrun with patients, and druggists are busy night and day filling prescriptions. Senator Dubois, of Idaho, has left Washington for his state to look after his interests in the coming senatorial election. An interesting fact connected with the departure of Senator Dubois is said to be that he will have the support of the democratic party in his fight for re-election. At the state department it is declared that there has been no substantial alteration whatever in the international aspect of the Cuban question since President Cleveland wrote his reference to the matter in his annual message of December 7. It is believed the death of Maceo may have simplified the problem. The run on the Farmers' and Mechanics' bank, at Minneapolis, continues Wednesday morning. The bank has taken advantage of the rule which enables it to demand 60 days' notice before paying a depositor. There is also a slight run on the Hennepin County saving bank. It has deposits of $1,200,000. The Commercial bank of Selma, Ala., (a state institution), failed to open its doors Wednesday morning and soon afterwards it was announced that it had assigned. The local depositors agreed to an extension, but it is understood that several New York banks, which were creditors in large sums, would not agree and hence the assignment. The Northwestern Loan and Building association Wednesday made ap. plication for the appointment of a receiver for the Northern Trust Co. of Minneapolis, Minn., alleging that it is insolvent. The matter was put over until January 7, but the court issued an order restraining the defendant from paying out any more money before that time. A severe famine is reported from western China. It is particularly severe in the city of Chauntung, in Szecheun province, where there has been a prolonged rain, causing foods which have spread over vast areas of country, destroying almost the entire rice and vegetable crops. The inhabitants are dying by scores from starvation, and to add to the horror of it, a large por-

8. December 31, 1896 The News & Observer Raleigh, NC
Article from The News & Observer, December 31, 1896

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A SELMA BANK GOES. / The Commercial With a Paid-up Capital of $300,000 and Undivided Profits of $50,000. Birmingham, Ala, Dec. 30.-The Commercial bank of Selma, Ala., failed to open its doors to-day. The Commercial was established in 1880 and has a paid-up capital of $300,000, undivided profits of $50,000. The New York correspondent is the American Exchange National and the Chicago correspondent the First National bank. R. M. Nelson, president of the Commercial, is well known in Alabama, and has for many years been prominent in financial circles. He was regarded as a conservative banker. There are two other banks in Selma, one a very small concern. The other is the City National bank, which is regarded as the most substantial financial institution in the State. A CLOTHIER ASSIGNS. Newport News, Va., Dec. 30.-D. V. Iseman, one of the leading clothiers of Liabilities this city, assigned to-day. $15,000; assets about the same. A GRAIN COMPANY ASSIGNS. West Superior, Wis., Dec. 30.-The Anchor Grain Company, operating on the Superior Board of Trade, made an assignment this morning.

9. December 31, 1896 Omaha Daily Bee Omaha, NE
Article from Omaha Daily Bee, December 31, 1896

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UBLES IN BANKING CIRCLES. ncial Situation in Minneapolis Much Improved. NNEAPOLIS Minn., Dec. 30.-The finansituation is much easier here today and oprehensions are felt as to the security y of the large banks. The announcethat the Bankers' Exchange bank had ended payment for a few days caused ely a ripple, as the institution is a small one, with only $30,000 capital. has è has been a run on the bank, which Cashn $35,000 from it in three weeks. ready ield declared that he had plenty of y in the vault, but preferred to await bank examiner's advice before making er payments. The Northern Trust comthrough its vice president, this George vell, applied to the district court ing fo: a receiver. The hearing R. was oned one week. Ex-Governor A. III is its president. It suspended payduring the panic of 1893, but afterward business. pou RMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Comial bank of Selma failed to open its today. The Commercial was estab- of d in 1880 and has a paid-up capital 000 and undivided profits of $50,000. The York correspondent is the American ange National and the Chicago corndent the First National. R. M. Nelpresident of the Commercial. is welt n in Alabama and has for many years prominent in financial circles. He was ded as a conservative banker. There wo other banks in Selma, one a Na- very 1 concern. The other is the City 1 bank, which is regarded as the most tantial financial institution of the state. ASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-Examiner Talwho was ordered to Chicago, will sucMr. McKeon as the regular examiner ational banks for the Chicago district. Talbet was formerly examiner for the Paul and Minneapolis district. Mr. Mc's appointment as permanent receiver of National Bank of Illinois will occupy is time: hence the appointment of his essor in the examination district of ago. ICAGO, Dec. 30.-As the result of a erence this afternoon between William Nortwick, Congressman A. J. Hepkins urora, Charles Quarles of Milwaukee Attorney A. W. Green of this city, it agreed that the Batavia bankers, whose re on Monday afternoon affected so y institutions in Kane county and elsee, would ask their creditors for more in order that they may be able to pay ull their obligations. No creditors of insolvent bankers were admitted to the erence. What properties would be dis1 of first and how much they would but 5 was one of the matters talked of, rrangement was made. It is believed, ver, that the Western Paper Bag comwill go first and that the Combined Paper company on Fox river will fol:W YORK, Dec. 30.-Everett's hotel, y and Barclay streets, one of the oldest best known establishments of its kind is city, was closed today. Its proprietor, for iel H. Everett, has been in trouble time. STIN, Tex., Dec. 30.-G. A. Bauhn, Ausleading jeweler, made an assignment morning, naming preferred creditors is to amount of $30,000, of which $5,000 diseastern creditors and the balance is ted here, three national banks being credht for some $10,000. The eastern full are secured by real estate to the int. EST SUPERIOR, WIS., Dec. 30.-The or Grain company, operating on the rior Board of Trade, assigned this mornVADA, Mo., Dec. 30.-The James-Jessie nission company closed its exchange here , because of the failure of a commisfirm at Chicago yesterday. Liabilities not known. N FRANCISCO, Dec. 30.-Levin Bros., ers, operating two stores here and two akland, have failed. Liabilities, $80,000. W YORK, Dec. 30.-Charles G. as Ross, goods commission merchant, d today. About $50,000 is involved. UVENEUR, N. Y., Dec. 30.-James C. proprietor of the Edgewood hotel at in the Adirondacks, and largely ested Lake, in ssignment today. several The other liabilities ventures, will be Denver made y. Mr. Lee owned property in Buffalo and at Murray Hill Park, the resort on the St. Lawrence. ATTSBURG, N. Y., Dec. 30.-A rer has been appointed for Witherbee man & Co. owners of extensive iron mines and furnaces at Port Henry. property is valued at over $2,000,000. firm has no indebtedness and the rership is for the purpose of selling the erty and terminating the partnership. PLETON, Wis., Dec. 30.-John S. Van wick has made an individual assign of his Fox River property, naming naster John Beer of this city as ase. The latter has given bonds for $250.The principal properties in the assignare the plants of the combined Locks r company and the Appleton Nortwick Paper took and he

10. December 31, 1896 New-York Tribune New York, NY
Article from New-York Tribune, December 31, 1896

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AN ALABAMA STATE BANK FAILS. THE COMMERCIAL OF SELMA, MAKES AN ASSIGNMENT Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30. .-The Commercial Bank of Selma, a State institution. failed to open its doors this morning, and soon afterward it was announced that it had assigned. The local depositors agreed to an extension, but it is understood that several New-York banks which were creditors for large sums would not agree, and hence the assignment. The Commercial is one of the two leading banks in Selma, and its failure has caused some excitement. General R. M. Nelson is president and A. E. Baker cashier.

11. December 31, 1896 Birmingham State Herald Birmingham, AL
Article from Birmingham State Herald, December 31, 1896

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SELMA FAILURE. The Commercial Bank Fails to Open Its Doors for Business-Heavy Run the Past Few Days. Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30.-The Commercial bank, of Selma, Ala., failed to open its doors for business today. Instead a notice was posted stating that the board of directors had decided to make an assignment. The cause of this action was the heavy run made on the bank in the last few days. The bank was a heavy debtor to New York banks, among them the Chemical, American, Exchange, National City, Third National of Montreal, and National Bank of the Republic, and they sent an attorney some days ago to investigate its condition. The knowledge of the attorney's presence had a great deal to do with the run. The board of directors arrived at the conclusion to assign after a long and continued session lasting until after midnight last night. The officers of the bank are R. M. Nelson, president; George A. Wilkins, vicepresident; A. E. Baker, cashier. The patrons of the bank have confidence that it will soon resume business and are signing an agreement to withdraw their deposits, one-third in three months, onethird in six months and one-third in nine months. There is no public statement as yet of assets and liabilities. The business men feel hopeful that the failure will not be detrimental to their interests.

12. January 4, 1897 The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, GA
Article from The Atlanta Constitution, January 4, 1897

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BLOWS HIS BRAINS OUT IN CHURCH Banker Wilkins, of Selma, Kills Himself In the Early Morning. BLOOD FLOWS AT THE ALTAR Wife Grows Uneasy and a Search Is Made-Just as He Is Found He Pulls the Trigger. Selma, Ala., December 30.-(Special.)-The Commercial bank, after a career of more than a quarter of a century. assigned today, naming as assignees Lewis Jeffries and E. Gillman, of Selma, and S. Well, of New York. The bank has been hard-pressed for some time, owing to its inability to realize on loans fast enough to meet maturing paper. Its uneasy condition was transmitted to its patrons on Monday. S. Weil, represe ting eight New York banks to which the Commercial is indebted $450,000, reached the city. His arrival prefaced large withdrawals, which on yesterday developed into a run on the bank, and an hour after opening, the officials enforced the one hundred-dollar limit, reducing it later to $50. In the afternoon a meeting of stockholders and directors was held which lasted until long after midnight, when an agreement was reached and a notice was pasted on the closed doors this morning stating that the bank had made an assignnient, but that negotiations were pendIng The to deposits resume. do not exceed $100,000. No statement of assets and liabilities can yet be secured. The capital stock is $300,000. Depositors today signed an agreement to withdraw deposits in three. six and nine months. It is thought that New York banks and stockholders will furnish sufficient funds for reorganization, and that the bank will resume within ten days. He Seeks a Church at Night. Salma, Ala., December 31 -(Special.)George A. Wilkins, vice president of the Commercial bank, which assigned yesterday, shot himself ct St. Paul's church at an early hour this morning. after spending the night in the altar alone. He died shortly after 2 o'clock this afternoon. Last night at 7:30 o'clock Wilkins, H. H. Stewart, Jr., and Fred Peterson were None in the bank, when Wilkins suggested that all go home and get some rest and return to work at 9:30 this morning. He was first to leave, saying that he was going home and to bed. Ho spoke cheerfully as he walked out and closed the door behind him. A short time after leaving the bank Wilkins stepped into E. A. Scott's store, on Broad street. He and Mr. Scott have been intimate friends for years. and they had a long conversation tegether about the bank. Mr. Scott. in order to cheer him up, told him of the pleasant things he had heard said about the bank and the faith and confidence he had heard expressed in the officials. From the first of the conversation until he bid his friend goodnight he seemed more cheerful than he had for three weeks up company his Intention going home and to bed, he left the store about 9 o'clock. What transpired between 9 o'clock and 3:30 this morning no one knows. The eircumstances indicate that something happened between the store and St. Paul's church that turned his thoughts from their hopeful path and that his overtaxed brain became unbalanced. He was for many years a member of St Paul's choir as well as of the vestry of the church, and he earried a key to the door leading to the choir Through this he went into the darkness W thin and there throughout the long hours of the night he remained. His will sharing her husband anxiety, sat up forlorn, walting for his footsteps. At o'clock he had not turned and growing uneasy she awakened her brother-inlaw Julian Park, and requested him to go to the bank and see if Mr. Wilkins was there He found the bank in darkness and filled with fear lest something had happened he hurried to the home of Captain R. M Nelson, president of the bank, thinking perhaps he was there or that Captain Nelson knew his whereabouts. Getting no news from him there he continued the search in company with Police Officer Holt. Knowing his attachment for the church, he went there, but could not get in, all of the doors being locked He left and tried to obtain a key, but failed, and securing a light the two returned to the church, determined to force an entrance. Going to the window back of the organ they succeeded in foreing it open. Mr. Park mounted to the window sill and peering into the darkness called, "George! George!" Answers with Pistol Shot. At the same Instant there was the report of a pistol near the altar, and jumping in Mr. Park, with light in hand, rushed toward it. to find the object of his search lying full length upon the floor inside the chancel railing. A pistol ball wound behind the right ear, and the pistol with which the net was committed still smoking and grasped in hand his firmly No sooner had the pistol fired than the policeman blew his whistle, and a moment later J. H. Lumpkin, who lives across the street from the church, was on the scene. Drs. King, Furniss, Gay and Harper were hastily summoned. The gas was lighted. He was breathing heavily and was unconscious, the brain oozing from the wound. Soon the family who had heard the report of the pistol, for the home is but a block away hastened into the church, and at 4:30 clock, an hour after the shooting. he was removed to his home. By this time hacks had been sent for various friends, and quite a number were on hand. anxious to render any assistance possible. From the first the wound was pronounced fatal. All through the morning the house was thronged with anxious men and ladies. Death came at 2:10 o'clock, the wounded man not having regained consclousness from the time the fatal shot was fired. He spoke no word or left no writing giving the reason for the fatal step, but it is believed that It was the result of the in tense mental strain through which he has passed. Mr. Wilkins was born in Virginia forty years ago, and has been a resident of Selma dne his boyhood. In 1881 he married Miss Emma Me ord this He leaves IL widow and a daughter Carrie, twelve years age. He has been connected with the bank of which he was elected vice president lest year, for fifteen years, and throughout his life has proven true to every trust. Piles and Fistula

13. January 7, 1897 Delaware Gazette and State Journal Wilmington, DE
Article from Delaware Gazette and State Journal, January 7, 1897

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# IN GENERAL. Archbishop Fabre died in Montreal Wednesday night. Gen. Peter J. Claussen died in Brooklyn on Tuesday week. The Tyler Foundry and Machine Co. of Tyler, Tex., has assigned. James Lenoir, a tobacco merchant of Philadelphia, died at Red Bank, N. J., on Wednesday. Col. Mark Hoyt, a widely-known leather merchant, died in New York City on Wednesday. Levin Brothers, grocers, of San Francisco and Oakland, Cal., have failed; liabilities, $80,000. An unknown man was struck and killed Wednesday night by a trolley car on the Mount Holly, N. J., road. Eli Chew, an aged farmer of Gloucester county, N. J., was killed by a West Jersey train on Wednesday night. A movement is on foot among Camden, N. J., ministers to defeat a proposed bill for taxing church property. The keg and barrel factory of the W. S. Robinson Co. at New Haven, Conn., was burned Wednesday: loss, $30,000. Henry M. Weed, an insurance broker, committed suicide in New York Wednesday by leaping from a window of his residence. Maj. Truman N. Burrill, at one time chief of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at Washington, D. C., died Wednesday. Lieutenant-Commander J. E. Pillsbury has been detached from the War College and ordered to the command of the Vesuvius. Dr. Rizal, said to have been the promoter of the revolt against Spanish authority in the Philippine Islands, has been shot. Isaac Prager & Sons, dry goods dealers, of Parkersburg, W. Va., have assigned, the liabilities and assets being estimated at $100,000. Anthony Parradine, an inspector of the Camden, N. J., Lighting and Heating Co., was killed Thursday while adjusting an arc light. The Phoenix Woolen Co. of East Greenwich, R. I., has failed. The liabilities are about $300,000, and the assets may reach $250,000. A proclamation was issued Thursday by President Cleveland promulgating the action of Congress providing regulations for preventing collisions at sea. Edward Casper was killed and three others were injured by an explosion of gas in the Monitor coal mine, six miles from West Bay City, Mich., Thursday. Gen. G. W. C. Lee has resigned the presidency of the Washington and Lee University, on account of ill health, and has been elected emeritus president. Gov. Morton Thursday removed from office Inspector-General Frederick C. McLewee of New York City, and appointed Capt. Hoffman of Elmira in his place. Thomas Flanagan of Decatur, Ga., Thursday, shot and killed G. W. Allen and his wife and Miss Ruth Slack. He was drunk and the shooting was entirely unprovoked. Fire destroyed the plant of the Nelsonville sewer pipe works at Nelsonville, O., Wednesday. The loss is estimated at $55,000. One hundred men are thrown out of employment. The will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish engineer and chemist, devotes the bulk of his fortune to an international fund for the advancement of science. There will be prizes for competition open to the world. Miss Nellie Porter of Baltimore, who has been in Asheville, N. C., for several months, took an overdose of strychnia, while laboring under melancholia on Wednesday night, and died two hours later. William Lichenberg and brother Jacob were found dead and their father and mother unconscious, at their home in New York City, Wednesday morning. They are supposed to have been asphyxiated by coal gas. A City of Mexico dispatch says that two Americans, named Hurley and Castle, who had established hundreds of watch clubs throughout the republic, have defrauded 7,000 subscribers to the extent of $300,000. The Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. of New York, Thursday, enjoined the city of Columbus, O., from using the apparatus of the United States Fire Alarm Telegraph Co., claiming that it is an infringement on their patents. George B. Wilkins, vice-president and cashier of the Commercial Bank of Selma, Ala., which failed for $500,000 Wednesday, committed suicide Thursday by shooting himself through the head in the Episcopal Church at that place. Fellman & Grumhach, retail dry goods dealers of Galveston, Tex., have filed a deed of trust for the benefit of their creditors. Preferences are given to the amount of $193,336.07. It is said that the liabilities will reach $1,000,000. A freight train on the Seaboard Air Line was wrecked Wednesday two miles west of Raleigh, N. C. The fireman, Lewis Overby, colored, was killed, and the engineer, John Robinson, was injured. It is believed that the train was wrecked by tramps. The navai board appointed to examine a number of defective structural steel plates delivered by the Carnegie Co. for the battleships Kentucky and Kearsarge has made a report to Secretary Herbert recommending certain changes in the specifications. Mrs. Elias Becker and her step-daughter, Mrs. William Seidel, were killed by an explosion recently in their house at Tuckerton, Pa. Mr. Becker is a weathy farmer and quarryman, and had placed four sticks of dynamite in the kitchen stove to thaw. When called upon to surrender the county books and funds in his possession on Tuesday weed, Henry F. Strass, county clerk of Langdale county, Wis., committed suicide by taking poison. He left a letter stating that he was a defaulter to the amount of $3,700. He was 72 years old. Harry Ridgeley and John C. Griffith, both colored, shut themselves un in a

14. January 8, 1897 The Bolivar Bulletin Bolivar, TN
Article from The Bolivar Bulletin, January 8, 1897

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# Shot Himself in a Church. George A. Wilkins, vice-president of the Commercial bank at Selma, Ala., which recently assigned, committed suicide by shooting through the head, after spending the night alone and in darkness in a church. He was treasurer of the Episcopal diocese of Alabama, of St. Paul's parish, of the St. Andrew's brotherhood, of the odd fellows and of the Young Men's Christian association. More or less funds belonging to each of these offices were deposited in the bank when the crash came.

15. January 21, 1897 Oxford Eagle Oxford, MS
Article from Oxford Eagle, January 21, 1897

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Hope for Sixty Cents on the Dollar The hope is now entertained that depositors of the Commercial bank at Selma, Ala., which failed, and is now in the hands of a receiver, will get 60 cents on the dollar.

16. January 23, 1897 Macon Beacon Macon, MS
Article from Macon Beacon, January 23, 1897

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Hope for Sixty Cents on the Dollar. The hope is now entertained that depositors of the Commercial bank at Selma, Ala.. which failed, and is now in the hands of a receiver, will get 60 cents on the dollar.

17. February 5, 1897 New-York Tribune New York, NY
Article from New-York Tribune, February 5, 1897

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BUSINESS EMBARRASSMENTS. Selma, Ala., Feb. 4.-Maas & Schwartz, cotton commission merchants, and S. Maas & Co., kindred firms, doing a wholesale grocery business, made an assignment this morning, naming M. S. Smith as assignee: liabilities, $300,000. The creditors are NewYork banks, who rediscounted paper for the defunct Commercial Bank of Selma, the failure of which made necessary the assignment. Assets are not stated. Cincinnati, Feb. 4.-The Consumers' Ice Company assigned this morning without preferences, owing to a disagreement among stockholders. The assets are placed at $107,000 and the liabilities at $81,000, and the persons interested say that the concern is solvent. Boston, Feb. 4.-George C. Dickson, assignee, says with respect to the failure of E. C. Hodges & Co.: "I have ascertained that the liabilities of the firm in round numbers are between $225,000 and $250,000. generally secured by collateral. The statement of assets cannot yet be made. There will be a creditors' meeting on February 13."

18. March 14, 1897 The Bryan Daily Eagle Bryan, TX
Article from The Bryan Daily Eagle, March 14, 1897

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Cotton Mills to Be Sold, SELMA, Ala., March 13.-By an order made in chancery, the Matthews cotton mills of this city will be sold within 60 days, under a foreclosure, the upset price being placed at $150,000. The mills have been doing a prosperous business for several years. The company was involved by the failure of the Commercial bank. The mills employ 400 hands. They will continue to run with. out interruption.

19. May 29, 1897 Pullman Herald Pullman, WA
Article from Pullman Herald, May 29, 1897

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Gold Standard Times. The Louisville, Ky., Chair Company has assigned with $60,000 liabilities, and assets much larger. Judgment for $6,200 has been taken against Luke D. Ralph, dealer in cloth. ing, at Ogdensburg, N. Y. He has been in business thirty years. The estimated liabilities of Martin, Wise & Fitzhugh, cotton buyers, who failed at Paris, Texas, is $800,000, largely in Liverpool. A deed of trust, covering the clothing store of O. O. Connor, Paris, Texas, amounting to $32,100, has been filed. R. P. Monaghan, general store at Sumter, S. C., has been closed by the Sheriff on judgments for $4,048. He has been in business many years. The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Paris, Texas, has made an assignment. A bill for a receiver of the Christopher Columbus Building and Loan Association was filed in Chicago by the president of the association. S. M. Young & Son, grocers at New Castle, Pa., have made an assignment. Breeden, Talley & Co., dealers in dry goods at Richmond, Va., have made an assignment. A statement by the assignees of the suspended Commercal Bank at Selma, Ala., places the liabilities at $1,000,000; assets, $52,266; subject to a reduction of $25,000 deposited during the three days prior to the closing of the bank. The books show deposits to be $174,000, almost double the amount heretofore estimated. The depositors will not realize over 20 per cent. The firm of Knowles & Poole, shoe manufacturers, of Pittsfield, N. H., who informed their employes that business would be suspended if Bryan was elected, have made an assignment for the benefit of creditors for $75,000. Ex-Gov. Tuttle, manufacturer of custom clothing, of Pittsfield, N. H., made his first reduction in wages during a business career of thirty years by a cut down of 25 per cent. since election.

20. May 29, 1897 The Kootenai Herald Bonners Ferry, Kootenai, ID
Article from The Kootenai Herald, May 29, 1897

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Gold Standard Times. The Louisville, Ky., Chair Company has assigned with $60,000 liabilities. and assets much larger. Judgnient for $6,200 has been taken against Luke D. Ralph, dealer in clothing, at Ogdensburg, N. Y. He has been in business thirty years. The estimated liabilities of Martin, Wise & Fitzhugh, cotton buyers, who failed at Paris, Texas, is $800,000, largely in Liverpool. A deed of trust, covering the clothing store of O. O. Connor, Paris, Texas, amounting to $32,100, has been filed. R. P. Monaghan, general store at Sumter, S. C., has been closed by the Sheriff on judgments for $4,048. He has been in business many years. The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Paris, Texas, has made an assignment. A bill for receiver of the Christopher Columbus Building and Loan Association was filed in Chicago by the president of the association. S. M. Young & Son, grocers at New Castle, Pa., have made an assignment. Breeden, Talley & Co., dealers in dry goods at Richmond, Va., have made an assignment. A statement by the assignees of the suspended Commercal Bank at Selma, Ala., places the liabilities at $1,000,000; assets, $52,266; subject to a reduction of $25,000 deposited during the three days prior to the closing of the bank. The books show deposits to be $174,000, almost double the amount heretofore estimated. The depositors will not realize over 20 per cent. The firm of Knowles & Poole, shoe manufacturers, of Pittsfield, N. H., who informed their employes that business would be suspended if Bryan was elected, have made an assignment for the benefit of creditors for $75,000. Ex-Gov. Tuttle, manufacturer of custom clothing, of Pittsfield, N. H., made his first reduction in wages during a business career of thirty years by a cut down of 25 per cent. since election.

21. December 30, 1928 The Selma Times-Journal Selma, AL
Article from The Selma Times-Journal, December 30, 1928

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In Selma From The Selma Times fhis Date 1896 The Commercial Bank failed to open it's doors yesterday morning and notice was posted on the door to the effect that it was closed by order of the Board of Directors. The assignment was made because run on the bank. On Tuesday morning the bank officials saw that they were going to run short of funds and they to pay each $100 on demand. As soon as the depositor news got out that the bank was embarrassed run commenced and hundreds of people filed in all day with checks, demanding deposits. The hundred dollar limit was then cut down to $50 and great many checks for that were presented and paid. The officials of the bank, in the meantime, were in telegraphic with the banks in New York, and it was hoped by many that fresh loan would be forthcoming to tide them over. On that account the city papers suppressed the fact that there had been run, feeling that was better to suppress the news than to run the risk of breaking up negotiations then pending. -The and directors were in session until late hour Tuesday night and not getting the expected relief from New York it was resolved to make an assignment and Messrs. Gillman, Jeffries, and Weill, of New York, were named as the assignees. The assignees were seen yesterday and asked for statement. They said they could not possibly get up statement of the assets and liabilities of the bank today and until that is prepared The Times thinks it best not to write any more about the bank's affairs, as it would in all probability be guess work. There was a great deal of suppressed excitement in the city yesterday over the suspension of the Commercial Bank. John Morgan Burns was able to be out yesterday and is fast recovering from the gun shot wounds that he received on Christmas day. The Bank closed it's doors for ten days in 1873. to be hoped that it will be able to resume and do good business again. Mr. James Davidson and his beautiful daughter, Miss Lyle Davidson, young woman greatly ad. mired, returned yesterday morning to their home in Selma, after brief Maj. and Mrs. James Gazett