2507. Pensacola State Bank (Pensacola, FL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
December 5, 1913
Location
Pensacola, Florida (30.421, -87.217)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
4d1b6847

Response Measures

None

Description

The Pensacola State Bank suspended operations on Dec 5, 1913 and was placed in receivership (inventory filed Dec 30, 1913). Articles describe internal shortages, heavy obligations and alleged misapplication of funds by the president; there is no description of a depositor run or heavy withdrawals prior to suspension. Receivers paid dividends later, indicating permanent closure and liquidation under receivership.

Events (3)
1. December 5, 1913 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier George C. Scudamore was found short a large amount; institution struggling under heavy obligations and prior losses; alleged misapplication/overdrafts connected to the president's interests were later prosecuted (acquitted).
Newspaper Excerpt
After a conference and an investigation ... the officers of the Pensacola State Bank decided to suspend operations for the present ...
Source
newspapers
2. December 30, 1913 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The inventory of the Pensacola State bank, recently placed in the hands of receivers by order of the court, was filed ... by J. B. McNeill and W. Clyde Roberts, the receivers.
Source
newspapers
3. January 30, 1914 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
STATE BANK IS TO PAY 10 PER CENT DIVIDENDS ... that institution will in less than a week or ten days pay a ten per cent dividend to depositors. ... receivers will request the judge to declare. ... ultimately the depositors will receive considerably over a hundred cents on the dollars.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (20)
1. December 5, 1913 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, December 5, 1913

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After a conference and an investi gation lasting from yesterday morning until after midnight last night the officers of the Pensacola State Bank decided to suspend operations for the present and to call on the state comptroller to make an examination of the affairs of the institution, President F. E. Brawner issued the following statement: PRES. BRAWNER'S STATEMENT. "It has been considered advisable to call on the state comptroller td make an examination of the affairs of the Pensacola State Bank. In conse+ the business of the suspended. be quence temporarily I bank feel surs will that arrangements will soon be made so that all depositors will be duly paid." B. C. Whitfield, representing Comptroller W. V. Knott, arrived in the city last night and is examining the condition of the bank. President Brawner has also called a meeting of the stockholders for three o'clock this afternoon at the bank. CLEARING HOUSE CALLED ON. Yesterday morning, President Brawner called on the members of the Pensacola clearing house with a request tq examine the affairs of the bank and to make suggestions, or devise a plan The for continuing its operation. clearing house representatives spent the day and a large part of the night going over the affairs of the institution with the result as announced in President Brawner's statement. The suspension of the Pensacola State Bank will not cause much surprise as it has been known for some time that the institution was streggling against heavy odds. The result has therefore been largely discounted in advance and the suspenson will not materially affect the business condition in Pensacola. There is on deposit in the State Bank something over one hundred thousand dollars of the city's funds, but these are protected by a bond and the city will be secure even should the bank not be able to resume operations. FOUNDED BY O. L. BASS. state bank was founded seven The ago by O. L. Bass and assoyears clates, but after apparently prospering about one year, met with reverses for George C.iScudamore, its cashfound short in his a large amount. ier, which when was aggregately especially accounts for This a was a heavy one, loss institution, but the stockholders situation and tided the bank the time, only to met new over the for meet panic with other setbacks when the financial of 1907 overspread the entire country bank was reorganized and men behind it on had Later strong the and elect- its directorate. T. A. Jennings was ed president and the bank continued management for a year or when the stock was more, under this others, sold and to Messrs. Blount, Hyer and W. A. Blount, Jr., elected president. continued under this management over a year ago, until It a little stockhold- when F. E. Brawner became a heavy and was named a director, later beand business of the er coming ing the president he institution. began of push- over A year ago he acquired control 50 per cent of the stock, purchasing the remaining interests of Messrs. Blount and Hyer and for. a while the bank appeared to be gaining business and prospering, but it could not overcome the heavy obligations acquired in years previous and as a result its doors will be closed this morning. It is capitalized at $100,000.

2. December 10, 1913 The Watchman and Southron Sumter, SC
Article from The Watchman and Southron, December 10, 1913

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FLORIDA BANK FAILS. Pensacola State Bank Goes to the Wall. Pensacola, Dec. 5.-The Pensacola State Bank suspended today. It is capitalized at $100,000. Deposits exceed $100,000. President Brawer announced that the depositors would be paid In full. Other banks in the city are unaffected.

3. December 16, 1913 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, December 16, 1913

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Yesterday afternoon's regular weekly meeting of the board of city commissioners was featured by the introduction and unanimous passage of a resolution, calling upon the Maryland Casualty Company and the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company to pay to the city of Pensacola the sum of $125,000, or to see that the Pensacola State Bank shall pay the city the amount of money on deposit there at the time of the failure. These are the companies which furnished bond for the Pensacola State Bank as a city depository, the amount of the bond being $125,000. It is understood that the city had about $160,000 on deposit in the Pensacola State Bank at the time that institution suspended operations and closed its doors and the commissioners, after consulting the city attorney, decided to demand that this amount be made good at once. The resolution also stated that unless the companies compiled with the terms of the resolution the city attorney would proceed to take legal steps to force the collection of this claim. OTHER MATTERS. This was about the only matter of interest to the public which was taken up by the commissioners yesterday afternoon, the remainder of the session being devoted to routine business. The report of the city attorney in reference to the request of A. L. Black that the liquor license granted to Norman & Black be transferred to A. L. Black without paying the required fee of 5 per cent for the transfer, was received and adopted. The city attorney ruled that it would not be necessary, under the circumstances for the license to be changed in order to enable Black to do business on the license, but that if the change were made it would be absolutely compulsory, under the law, for him to pay the fee of 5 per cent. The city engineer, George Rommell, submitted a report to the effect that h would give his attention to the defective sidewalks reported to the commissioners by the marshal. After a communication had been read from him, Chief of Police Sanders was authorized to pay $50 reward to C. W. Nell and $5 to Captain Gilmore and Officer Chestnut for arrests of parties for whom rewards had been offered. A communication from Tax Collector J. C. Whiting, in which he recommended that people who were behind with taxes be allowed a certain number of years (the number to be determined upon by the commissioners) to pay the taxes due, plus a fee of 50 cents, was read and it was decided to adopt the recommendation of the tax collector. The application of John Rauscher for the position of sanitary inspector was received and filed. A communication, signed by seven citizens and automobile owners, prothe ders testing prohibiting against machines order of from Chief stand- Saning in one place more than twenty minutes was read and ordered received and filed. A communication requesting that the streets in the vicinity of Brainard and Baylen streets be hardened, on account of the building that is being done in that neighborhood at present, was referred to Commissioner Johnson. A number of applications were received and filed and some paving certificates were checked up, after which the meeting adjourned.

4. December 30, 1913 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, December 30, 1913

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The inventory of the Pensacola State bank, recently placed in the hands of receivers by order of the court, was filed at the office of the clerk of the court of record late yesterday afternoon by J. B. McNeill and W. Clyde Roberts, the receivers. The inventory is a voluminous document and covers every phase of the bank's condition sets forth all of its indebtedness, including the amounts due depositors and the names of the depositors and all resources, parties to whom loans have been made and the amounts and what securities are held to guarantee these loans. The statement shows the bank had about nine hundred depositors, not including the savings accounts, which number possibly three hundred, and that on the day it ceased business the cash in vault was $1,556.72. The amount due individual depositors is $101,347.60, due on savings accounts $34,646.23, due banks $22,990.60 and the city of Pensacola $150,639.72. In the latter amount due the city is not included an account of $14,574 to the credit of J. C. Whiting, tax collector, and which would make the city's deJ. C. posits a toal of $165,214.82. Luning, the state treasurer, had a balance to his credit in the bank of $6,010.63. The total amount due depositore and banks is $315,640.98. A brief summary of the condition of the bank follows:

5. January 9, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, January 9, 1914

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SUM $125,000 DESIRED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT REDUCE RATE LOWER THAN NECESSARY TO SECURE THAT AMOUNT ANNUALLYTEACHERS' PAYROLL HELD UP. The state tax commission had a letter before the board of public instruction at its meeting last night asking that the millage be reduced to a rate which will give the county the same income for the support of the schools for the year 1915-'16, that was had for the year 1913-'14, unless it be absolutely necessary to have a greater sum to maintain the schools. The board would not agree to reduce the millage lower than would be necessary to secure an income of at least $125,000 per year. PAYROLL HELD UP. The payroll of the teachers for the month of December, amounting to $9,256.56, will be held up in order to give County Treasurer Williams an opportunity to secure funds with which to pay the teachers, who were to receive their pay today. This was necessary through the lack of funds, owing to the failure of the Pensacola State bank, in which the board of instruction deposited its funds, and also the closing of the First National bank, in which the board deposited its funds after the failure of the former institution. OTHER MATTERS. The bill for school furniture from Peter & Volz was before the board, but the board decided that they would ask them to take a ninety-day note for same. owing to a lack of funds. Mrs. B. F. Goodrich asked that she be allowed to teach sewing in School No. 1 in the afternoon. The board granted her permission to use a room at No. 1 for this purpose. There were several letters from patrons of Pine Barren, who live south of Pine Barren creek, asking that the board reconsider the ruling they made at the last meeting, and allow their children to again attend the school at Pine Barren instead of Barth. The board thought it unwise to do this, owing to the crowded condition at Pine Barren. B. A. Davis was present and offered the board $50 for the old Bellview school house and the land which it is on, but the board thought this too cheap and made him a price of $100. The patrons of School No. 53, Bellview, had a petition before the board asking for a special tax school district election at that place. The board granted this election and instructed Superintendent Edwards to advertise same. There was a petition from the patrons of School No. 51, Olive, before the board, also some patrons present, asking that they be given five months school. The board decided to let the school run a month longer, making it a five months school instead of four.

6. January 30, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, January 30, 1914

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STATE BANK IS TO PAY 10 PER CENTDIVIDENDS Expected Depositors Will Receive a Portion of Their Savings in Ten DaysNotices Are Now Being Sent Out. According to J. B. McNeill, one of the receivers for the Pensacola State bank, recently closed by the state comptroller, that institution will in less than a week or ten days pay a ten per cent dividend to depositors. Mr. McNeill told a represenattive of The Journal last evening that all arrangements had been made last week for the payment of the first divider to the depositors this week, but it was learned that each depositor's claim must be proven by affidavit. Consequently the necessary forms had to be printed and sent out. As soon as all of these have been filled out and the signatures witnessed by a notary, Judge Kirk Monroe, of the court of record, who has jurisdiction over the suspended concern, will declare a dividend of ten per cent. Mr. McNeill said that unless some other legal complications arise this amount should be paid to the depositors inside of a week or ten days at the latest. This will be the first of a series of dividends that the receivers in charge of the Pensacola State bank will request the judge to declare. The collections are coming in fairly well, and in some instances more readily than was expected As the money due the bank is collected the judge will declare a dividend from time to time It is now believed that ultimately the depositors will receive considerably over a hundred cents on the dollars. All the depositors of the Pensacola State bank have received from the receivers the necessary forms which must be filled out in the presence of a notary public and forwarded to those in charge of the bank before the amount on deposit can legally be paid over to the depositor Mr. McNeill urges that these forms be filled out and returned as soon as possible so that the contemplated dividend may be declared without further delay. The receivers, as well as Judge Monroe, are anxious to make the first payment to the persons who have funds de posited in the defunct institution.

7. January 30, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, January 30, 1914

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LEGAL NOTICE. RECEIVERS' NOTICE. All depositors, creditors and other persons having claims or demands against the Pensacola State Bank are required to present them to the undersigned, accompanied by sworn proof of the correctness thereof, within one year from this date. W. C. ROBERTS, J. B. MCNEILL, Receivers Pensacola State Bank. 269A30janoaw8w

8. January 31, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, January 31, 1914

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BRAWNER HAS DONATED HOME TO RECEIVERS PRESIDENT OF PENSACOLA STATE BANK, RECENTLY CLOSED BY COMPTROLLER, GIVES RESIDENCE AND LOT TO DEPOSITORS OF BANK. According to records in the city tax assessor's office, the home of F. E. Brawner, president of the suspended Pensacola State bank, has been turned over to the receivers of that institution by Mr. Brawner. The bank president deeded this valuable piece of property to J. B. McNefit and W. Clyde Roberts, as receivers of the State bank, with instructions for them to realize as much as possible on the property and turn over the procesds to the depositors of the defunct institution. Mr. Brawner stated to The Journal yesterday afternoon that he had at one time refused thirteen thousand dollars for this property. The home occupies one of the most desirable locations in the residence section of the city, being on DeSoto street and facing Georgia Square. Under the law, Mr. Brawner could have exempted his home even it he had gone into bankruptcy.

9. February 1, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, February 1, 1914

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STATE BANK RECEIVERS IN ALL-DAY RUSH LARGE AMOUNT PAID OUT YESTERDAY TO DEPOSITORS OF SUSPENDED INSTITUTION-TEN PER CENT DIVIDEND WAS DECLARED. The receivers of the Pensacola State Bank, located in the American National Bank building, tenth floor, were busy yesterday paying a ten per cent dividend to depositors of that institution. A few days ago the receivers announced that sufficient funds had been collected to warrant the declaring of a ten per cent dividend and the court Friday ordered that the same be paid immediately. All of the claims have to be proven by the depositors who have been forwarded a blank form which must be filled out and sworn to by each person who had an account in the suspended institution. The receivers state that it is very necessary that these blanks be filled out immediately. All depositors who called on the receivers yesterday were given checks for one tenth of the amount on deposit, checks being drawn on both the American National Bank and the Citizens and Peoples National Bank. The receivers were unable to state late night exactly how much money had been paid out during the day, but It was known that the sum was considerable. The following circular letter has been sent the depositors by the receivers: The Honorable Kirke Monroe, Judge of the Court of Record, Escambia Co., Florida, has declared a dividend of ten per cent. to the creditors of The Pensacola State Bank, Pensacola, Florida, upon the claims proven and allowed. A draft for the dividend is en-

10. February 12, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, February 12, 1914

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WHITFIELD HERE TO GIVE TESTIMONY State Bank Examiner Appeared Yesterday Before the Jury, Returning to Tallahassee in the Afterternoon - Other Witnesses, It is Understood, Are Going Before Jury. That the suspension of the Pensacola State bank is being investigated by the grand jury of the circuit court became known yesterday with the appearance in Pensacola of B. C. Whitfield, state bank examiner, and also from the fact that other witnesses who are supposed tc know of the bank's condition prior to its failure were before the jury and were heard behind closed Goors. Just what evidence they gave will not be known for all inquiries of the grand jury are secret. Mr. Whitfield arrived in the city yesterday morning and shortly afterward appeared before the grand jury. On being excused after giving his tnstimony, he returned to Tallahassee, Mr, Whitfield came to Pensacola the day before the state bank closed its doors and is therefore well acquainted with the causes which brought about he suspension of the bank. It was stated on the streets last night, but not from an authoritative source, that other witnesses are to appear before the inquisitorial body dur= ng today TWO TRUE BILLS. Two true bills were returned by the jury yesterday, both against negroes for murder, but neither case is the alleged murderer under arrest. The tury failed to indict John Adams, colored, charged with murder. Two cases were heard in the circuit court during the day. One resulted in 3. verdict against the garnishee in the case of Thornton against Ward and the other was a verdict for $300 in favor of Georgia Bonner against the colored Knights of Pythias. All petit jurors were excused from further service until Saturday.

11. February 13, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, February 13, 1914

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LEGAL NOTICE. RECEIVERS' NOTICE. All depositors, creditors and other per sons having claims or demands against the Pensacola State Bank are required to present them to the undersigned, ac companied by sworn proof of the cor rectness thereof. within one year from this date. W. C. ROBERTS, J. B. MCNEILL, Receivers Pensacola State Bank. 263A30janoaw8w

12. March 13, 1914 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, March 13, 1914

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RECEIVERS* NOTICE. All depositors, creditors and other per sons having claims or demands against the Pensacola State Bank are required to present them to the undersigned, accompanied by sworn proof of the correctness thereof, within one year from this date. W. C. ROBERTS, J. B. MCNEILL, Receivers Pensacola State Bank, 269AS0janoawSw

13. April 2, 1914 The Punta Gorda Herald Punta Gorda, FL
Article from The Punta Gorda Herald, April 2, 1914

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Acquitted of Charge. The trial of F. E. Brawner, president of the suspended Pensacola State bank, who was indicted on the charge of misapplying over six thousand dollars of the bank's funds by permitting a department store of which he was also president, to overdraw its account to that amount, resulted in the verdict of not guilty. The jury was out more than three hours. The case consumed the entire day.

14. October 19, 1914 The Ocala Evening Star Ocala, FL
Article from The Ocala Evening Star, October 19, 1914

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F. E. Brawner, former president of the suspended Pensacola State Bank, head of the county school board and also a prominent merchant of Pensacola, committed suicide Saturday. He shot himself thru the head in the presence of his wife and employees of his store. He was recently acquitted on the charge of misapplication of bank funds.

15. January 9, 1915 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, January 9, 1915

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# SPECIAL MASTER'S SALE, Notice is hereby given, that pursuant to a decree of foreclosure, rendered by the Honorable J. Emmet Wolfe, Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, in and for Escambia County, on the 7th day of January, A. D. 1915, in a cause therein pending, wherein G. C. Kilpatrick was complainant and Packard Land Company, a corporation, under the laws of Florida, L. S. Brown, Company, a corporation under the laws of Florida, William A. Blount and Cora M. Blount, his wife, Mattie Walbridge and E. K. Walbridge, her husband, R. M. Cary, Executor, and Elma G. Brown, Executrix, of the Estate of E. C. Wright, deceased, W. A. Blount, Jr, as Trustee; E. A. Vinson, J. B McNeill and W. C. Roberts, Receivers of the Pensacola State Bank; C. L. Shine, Trustee, were defendants, I will, as Special Master, at the Escambia County Court House door, in the City of Pensacola, during the legal hours of sale, on Monday, March 1st, A. D. 1915, sell at public outcry for cash, to the highest and best bidder, the following described real property, situate, lying and being, In the City of Pensacola, County of Escambia, State of Florida, to-wit: Lots three (3) and the West Half of lot two (2) in block (3), of the East King Tract, having a frontage of one hundred and nine and a half (109½) feet on Wright street by the depth of about one hundred and thirty (130) feet on the East side of Davis street, in the City of Pensacola, excepting the north 50 feet of lot 3 and the north 50 feet of the west 36½ feet of lot 2, block 3, of the East King Tract. Deed at cost of purchaser. R. POPE REESE, Special Master In Chancery. 567A9jan-oaw4w

16. April 3, 1915 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, April 3, 1915

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SUPREME COURT DECIDES POINT IN STATE CASES Receivers of Banks Having State Charters Must Proceed in Action. PENSACOLA CASE CAUSED DECISION Court Holds That Stockholders Liable for Amount Equal to the Stock Held. The supreme court of Florida has decided a. point of law regarding the liability of stockholders of banks have ing state charters, regarding which there was a diversity of opinion among attorneys and on which there appeared to be no authority by reason of a lack of court decisions on the point. The case originated from Pensacola and the court has decided. with one justice dissenting. that stockholders of state banks are liable for an amount equal to the amount of stock they held in a state bank and it is the duty of the receiver of a. defunct state bank to proceed against the stockholders and not the depositors individually. Courts of other states were divided in opinions as to whether the receiver or stockholders individually should bring the suits, and when the matter was brought up in the court of record recently in a test suit to decide whether the receiver or stockholder should act, the court held the latter was the proper person. The supreme court has reversed this decision and holds that the receiver is the person who should bring these suits for recovery. Mr. McNeill, as receiver of the Pensacola State bank, will now proceed to collect from those stockholders of than institution amounts equal to the stock which they held. Jno. P. Stokes and Soott M. Loftin appeared for the receiver in the mmceeding while Blount & Blount R ter represented J. G. Pace, against whom the test suit was brought.

17. August 7, 1915 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, August 7, 1915

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# CLYDE ROBERTS # IS APPOINTED # BANK EXAMINER Notified by Comptroller of Currency of Selection to Important Position. WILL REPORT TO WASHINGTON SOON Has Been Connected With Banks of Pensacola for Past Twelve Years. W. Clyde Roberts yesterday received notification of his appointment as a national bank examiner, the selection being made by the comptroller of the currency after the latter had carefully investigated the qualifications of Mr. Roberts to hold such an important position. He will report to Washington within a short time and there receive instructions regarding his duties and be assigned to a district. At present he has no idea into what part of the country he will be detailed for service. Mr. Roberts has had long experience in the banking business, having begun his service in the American National bank. Later he became associated with the Pensacola State bank, resigning several months before the collapse of that institution. He was made one of the receivers of the bank upon its failure and served in that position until he became cashier of a newly formed bank in Atmore. Mr. Roberts has many friends in Pensacola who will be pleased to learn of his selection for such an important position.

18. September 26, 1915 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, September 26, 1915

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"NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that J. B. McNeill and W. C. Roberts have been appointed Receivers of the PENSACOLA STATE BANK, and all persons who may have claims against said Bank are notified to present the same to the Receivers and make legal proof thereof. W. V. KNOTT, Comptroller." 712A1aug-oaw9w.

19. June 3, 1916 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, June 3, 1916

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Defunct Bank Pays Depositors $21,000 More Twenty-one thousand dollars more will be in circulation this time tomorrow, according to Receiver J. B. McNeill, who announces a seven per cent dividend, totalling that amount, to depositors of the one-time Pensacola State Bank. Checks covering this dividend were sent Mr. McNeill from the office of Comptroller Knott, bringing the total dividend up to 37 per cent. Depositors should call at Mr. McNeill's office this morning between 9 and 12 o'clock, taking their certificates to establish their claims.

20. June 4, 1916 The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, FL
Article from The Pensacola Journal, June 4, 1916

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# PENSACOLA STATE BANK At the time the State Bank closed its doors the laws of Florida were woefully insufficient to protect depositors and to punish wrong-doing by bank officials, and as a result of this, the Legislature that met in 1915 sought to remedy this bad condition by passing new laws to meet such situations in the future. The grand jury investigated the State Bank thoroughly and exhaustively, with the result that only one indictment was returned against the president. He was tried on this charge and the jury found him not guilty. It was not the fault of the courts but the law as it existed at that time, and it was only through the failure of this and other banks that the Legislature was made to realize the necessity for new laws that would protect depositors and punish bank officials who were guilty of wrong-doing. I was not a director in this bank at the time of its failure and had not been for five or six months. It is true that I was attorney for the bank at the time it closed its doors but as such attorney I had no direction or control over the affairs of the bank. I did not get one cent out of the bank or borrow any money from the bank. I did indorse a note for a relative before I had any connection with the bank whatever. It is not true that I went into bankruptcy for the purpose of beating my creditors as charged by Mr. Reese but because I was forced to do so after finding myself overwhelmed with debt due to indorsing paper for others and purchasing bank stock which afterwards turned out to be worthless. I surrendered everything that I had in the world and did not even claim the exemptions allowed me by law. The clerk of the court informed me at the time that I was the only one who had gone into bankruptcy who did not claim the exemptions allowed by law. I was forced to borrow money from a friend to buy my law books back from the trustee in bankruptcy. I paid every merchant in the City of Pensacola every cent that I owed and my credit today is good with any merchant in Pensacola. In conclusion I want to add that I am proud to be able to say that I have conducted a clean campaign. I announced in the beginning that I was running on my merits and would not seek votes by detracting from the merits of my opponents. I have lived up to this promise and I fully believe that the people will rebuke by their votes the methods that have been used to defeat me. As I have often stated in my speeches during this campaign, I would rather go down in defeat a thousand times than be elected by tearing down or seeking to tear down either the official or private character of my opponents. This is the last time I will be a candidate for county solicitor, and I have so much faith in the fair-mindedness and justice-loving people of Escambia County that I am confident that on June 6th the voters will answer the attacks that have been made upon me in this campaign by voting to retain me in office for another term. Thanking you for your support in the past, and assuring you that your vote on June 6th will be appreciated, I remain, Yours for a square deal, SCOTT M. LOFTIN. (Paid Advertisement)