266. Colbert County Bank (Tuscumbia, AL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
September 16, 1897
Location
Tuscumbia, Alabama (34.731, -87.703)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
a2341b2d

Response Measures

Full suspension

Description

Newspaper reports (Sept 16–17, 1897) describe a run triggered by J. A. May's false story that $6,000 of the bank's securities had been robbed; the run continued and the bank closed its doors and failed. No reopening or receiver mentioned in the articles.

Events (2)
1. September 16, 1897 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Run triggered by J. A. May's false claim he had been robbed of $6,000 of the bank's securities, which induced credulous citizens to withdraw funds.
Random Run
Yes
Random Run Snippet
pretended to have been robbed of $6,000 of the bank's securities
Newspaper Excerpt
A run started yesterday and was continued this morning.
Source
newspapers
2. September 16, 1897 Suspension
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Bank closed after the run sparked by the false robbery story; article calls this a failure resulting from May's escapade and ensuing run.
Newspaper Excerpt
Closed Its Doors...Today the Colbert County bank, Tuscumbia, Ala., closed its doors.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. September 17, 1897 The Houston Daily Post Houston, TX
Article from The Houston Daily Post, September 17, 1897

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Closed Its Doors, Nashville, Tenn., September 16.-Today the Colbert County bank, Tuscumbia, Ala., closed its doors. A run started yesterday and was continued this morning. The bank is two years old. Capital stock, $50,000; officials claim all liabilities will be paid, as they are small.

2. September 18, 1897 The Age-Herald Birmingham, AL
Article from The Age-Herald, September 18, 1897

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

COLBERT COUNTY BANK Its Failure Was the Result of May's Escapade in Birmingham. Special to The Age-Herald. Tuscumbia, Sept. 17.-A great deal of indignation is being expressed here concerning J. A. May's conduct in Birmingham, which is regarded as the cause of the failure of the Colbert county bank. He was drunk, otherwise he undoubtedly would have never pretended to have been robbed of $6,000 of the bank's securities, as he did not show them in his possession. Some credulous citizens believed his tale of woe, and started a run on the bank, which resulted in its failure.