Stockbridge Savings Bank (Stockbridge, MA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
3540057891096
Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
savings
Bank ID
354005789 hash
Start Date
April 6, 1891
Location
Stockbridge, Massachusetts (42.288, -73.320)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
6ae5081ce8cf3cfb

Response Measures

None

Events (4)
1. April 6, 1891 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Large defalcation by treasurer C. H. Willis (≈$22,000–$29,000) and $44,000 of poor loans made suspension necessary.
Newspaper Excerpt
Bank Commissioner Chapin has announced to the trustees of the Stockbridge Savings bank that he will put the bank in the hands of a receiver.
Source
newspapers
2. April 7, 1891 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The Stockbridge Savings bank has been placed in the hands of a receiver.
Source
newspapers
3. October 25, 1893 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
A new receiver has been appointed to the Stockbridge (Mass.) Savings bank.
Source
newspapers
4. January 17, 1894 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Receiver Hobbs of the Stockbridge Savings bank ... there is $20,000 unaccounted for by Hobbs; Hobbs sentenced for contempt and later arraigned on embezzlement charges.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (15)
1. January 4, 1891 Pittsburg Dispatch Pittsburgh, PA
Article from Pittsburg Dispatch, January 4, 1891

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Article Text

ANOTHER TREASURER WRONG. He Is a Defaulter to the Amount[of $22,000 or $25,000. /SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.\ PITTSFIELD, MASS., Jan. 3.-A great sensation was created in Stockbridge when It was learned that C. H. Willis, Treasurer of the Stockbridge Savings Bank, is a defaulter to an amount running from $22,000 to $25,000. Willis has been Treasurer of the bank for several years. About a month ago Bank Examiner Chapin looked over its affairs and found notes that could be realized on. One especially of $10,000, in favor of the Glendale Woolen Mill Company, the money on which was obtained by H. J. Dunham, trustee of the mill. Mr. Chapin therefore placed an injunction on the bank, on which there will be a hearing on Monday. It was ascertained that Willis had not posted up his books tor some years. He acknowledged that he had taken the above amount from the bank, but it is not known how long he has been pilfering. Willis is a native of Stockbridge, and is about 50 years old. He owns a small place in town, but his property is not sufficient to cover the loss. However, his bondsmen are good for the amount. Matters are so complicated that it is impossible to learn what the outcome will be. The depositors are so much excited that as soon as the bank opens for business there may be a run upon it.

2. April 6, 1891 Evening Journal Wilmington, DE
Article from Evening Journal, April 6, 1891

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Article Text

A Receiver for the Bank. PITTSFIELD, Mass., April 6.-Bank Commissioner Chapin has announced to the trustees of the Stockbridge Savings bank that he will put the bank in the hands of a receiver. Poor loans aggregating $44,000 and Willis' defalcation of $29,000 are what necessitate this step. Willis' bond of $25,000 will probably make good his defalcation. There is no way, however, to make good the poor loans. The depositors will probably lose 25 per cent.

3. April 7, 1891 The Dalles Daily Chronicle Dalles, OR
Article from The Dalles Daily Chronicle, April 7, 1891

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Article Text

A Savings Bank Suspends. STOCKBRIDGE, Mass., April 7.-The Stockbridge Savings bank has been placed in the hands of a receiver. It is thought that the loss to depositors will not reach more than twenty-five per cent.

4. October 23, 1891 Richmond Dispatch Richmond, VA
Article from Richmond Dispatch, October 23, 1891

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A Town's Sole Industry Gone. (By telegraph to the Dispatch.] PITTSFIELD, MASS., October 22.-The town of Glendale, fitteen miies south of this city, recolved a heavy blow last evening when the Glendale Woollen-Mills, the only industry of the place, were destroyed by fire. The fire was discovered at 9 o'clock, and the building was in ashes two hours later. The mill was a five-story stone building. It was formerly operated by Frank Adams, and later, for his creditors, by Henry Duncan, of Stockbridge, a trustee. Duncan borrowed $10,000 of the Stockbridge Savings bank, securing the loan by a chattel mortgage on the stock in the mill. Inability to pay the note resulted in the suspension last spring of the Savings Bank, the suspension bringing to light the defalcation of Treasurer Charles Willis. Two months ago the mill was sold under foreclosure of a mortgage for $75,000 held by the Berkshire Life-Insurance Company of this city. It was purchased by 8 Mr. Hermann, of New York, who prepared to carry on business, and the whoels were started yesterday. The total loss is about $200,000; fully insured. There is no fire department in Glendale.

5. October 23, 1891 The Morning News Savannah, GA
Article from The Morning News, October 23, 1891

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WOOLEN MILLS BURNED, The Investment a Loser for Several Years Past. PITTSFIELD, Mass., Oct. 22.-The town of Glendale, fifteen miles south of this city, received a heavy blow last evening when the Glendale woolen mills, the only industry of the place, were destroyed by fire. The The fire was discovered at 9 o'clock and the building was in ashes two hours later. The mill was a five-story stone building, formerly operated by Frank Adams, and later for his creditors by Henry Duncan of Stockbridge, a trustee. Mr. Duncan borrowed $10,000 of a Stockbridge savings bank, securing the loan by a chattel mortgage on the stock in the mill. Inability to pay the note resulted in the suspension last spring of the savings bank, the suspension bringing to light the defalcation of Treasurer Charles Willis. Two months ago the mill was sold under the foreclosure of a mortgage for $75,000 held by the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of this city. It was purchased by Hermann of New York, who prepared to carry on the business, and it was started yesterday. The total loss is about $200,000; fully insured. There is no fire department in Glendale.

6. October 23, 1891 The Roanoke Times Roanoke, VA
Article from The Roanoke Times, October 23, 1891

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Article Text

A LARGE FACTORY BURNED. The Town of Glendale Suffers a Great Disaster. PITTSFIELD, Mass., Oct. 22.-[Special] -The town of Glendale, fifteen miles south of this city, received a heavy blow last evening when the Glendale woolen mills, the only industry of the place, were distroyed by fire. The fire was discovered at 9 o'clock and the building was in ashes two hours later. The mill was a five story stone building, formerly operated by Frank Adams, later for his creditors by Henry Duncan, of Stockbridge, a trustee. Dunham borrowed $10,000 of the Stockbridge Savings Bank, securing the loan by a chattel mortgage on stock in the mill. The inability to pay the note resulted in suspension last spring of the savings bank, suspension bringing to light the defalcation of Treasurer Charles Willis. Two months ago the mill was sold under foreclosure of a mortgage for $75,000 held by the Berkshire Life Insurance Company, of this city. It was purchased by Hermann, of New York, who prepared to carry on the business and the wheels started yesterday. The total is about $200,000, fuily insured.

7. October 29, 1891 Delaware Gazette and State Journal Wilmington, DE
Article from Delaware Gazette and State Journal, October 29, 1891

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Article Text

A Disastrous Fire. PITTSFIELD, MASS., Oct. 22.-The town of Glendale, 15 miles south of this city received a heavy blow last evening when the Glendale Woolen Mills, the only industry of the place; were destroyed by fire. The fire was discovered at 9 o'clock and the building was in ashes two hours later. The mill was a five story stone building. It was formerly operated by Frank Adams; later for his creditors by Henry Dunean of Stockbridge Savings Bank, securing the loan by a chattel mortgage on the stock in the mill. Inability to pay the note resulted in the suspension last spring of the savings bank, the suspension bringing to light the defalcation of Treasurer Charles Willis. Two months ago the mill was sold under foreclosure of a mortgage for $75,000, held by the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of this city. It was purchased by Mr. Herman of New York, who prepared to carry on the business, and the wheels started yesterday. The total loss is about $200,000; fully insured. There is no fire department in Glendale.

8. October 25, 1893 Pawtucket Tribune Pawtucket, RI
Article from Pawtucket Tribune, October 25, 1893

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NEW ENGLAND BRIEFS. A new receiver has been appointed to1 the Stockbridge (Mass.) Savings bank. There will be $20,000 left when the debts of the Cape Ann Granite company are paid up. The Italian banking house of Tomaso Conti & Co., Providence, has suspended payment. The chief of police of Woburn, Mass., has been ordered by the aldermen to enforce the liquor law impartially. R. L. Stanton & Co., dealers in ladies' and misses' clothing, Providence, have as. signed. Liabilities about $35,000. The 154th meeting of the Cumberland conference of Congregational churches will be held at Deering, Me., Oct. 25. George McDonald and companion, arrested for breaking and entering, escaped from Durham (N. H.) police station. Training ship Portsmouth, which sailed from Newport, R. I., for New York, put back on account of the increasing storm. Developments in the case of the death of Marcia Woodman, who died at Woodsville, N. H., shows that it was a case of premeditated suicide. Four and seven-tenths inches of rain fell at Woonsocket, R. I., removing all apprehensions of a water famine, with which the city has been threatened. At Portsmouth, N. H., George Boardman, for the burglary of the Boston and Maine depot at East Kingston, was sentenced to two years in state prison. The pumping station of the Bradford (Mass.) water works was burglarized and all the tools belonging to the station stolen. The crime is laid to tramps. A panel of 50 jurors has been summoned for the trial of Mrs. Florence Hawley, colored, for the murder of Mary Munson of Shelton, Conn. Mrs. Hawley has been in jail two years. Burglars entered the freight house at Fairfield, Me., and blew open the safe with a heavy charge of powder that burned books and mileage tickets. They only took about $90. Raimo Zinicola, the Italian crushed by a steam shovel at the Fair Haven (Conn.) cut, died of his injuries. Coroner Mix declares that J. K. Ryan, the contractor, is unduly negligent with his employes. "Green goods" men, with alleged headquarters at Easton, Pa., have recently flooded Hartford with circulars. A reporter telegraphed for a sample and received a good $1 bill in return. The body of an unknown man, about 30 years of age, well dressed, was found by section men on the Grand Trunk track two miles north of Gorham, N. H. The man evidently fell from a train.

9. October 26, 1893 Daily Kennebec Journal Augusta, ME
Article from Daily Kennebec Journal, October 26, 1893

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New England Briefs A new receiver has been appointed for the Stockbridge (Mass.) Savings bank. There will be $20,000 left when the debts of the Cape Ann Granite company are paid up. The Italian banking house of Tomaso Conti & Co., Providence, has suspended payment. The chief of police of Woburn, Man. has been ordered by the aldermen to m force the liquor law impartially. R. L. Stanton & Co., deniers in ladles' and misses clothing, Providence, have as signed. Liabilities about $35,000. The 154th meeting of the Cumberland conference of Congregational charebee will be held at Deering, Me., Oct. 25. George McDonald and companion, arrested for breaking and entering, escaped from Darham (N. H.) police station. Training ship Portsmouth, which sailed from Newport, RI, for New York, put back on account of the increasing storm. Developments in the case of the death of Marcia Woodman, who died at Woods ville, N. H, shows that it was a case of premeditated suicide. Four and seven-teaths inches of rain fell at Woonsocket, R. L. removing all appree hensions of a water famine, with which a the city has been threatened. At Portsmonth, N. H., George Board. man, for the burglary of the Boston and Maine depot at East Kingston, was sentenced to two years in state prison. The pumpinz station of the Bradford (Masa) water works was burglarized and all the tools belonging to the station atelen. The crime is laid to tramps a A panel of 50 jurors has been summoned for the trial of Mrs. Florence Hawley, colored, for the murder of Mary Manson of Shelton, Conn. Mrs. Hawley has been in jail two years. Burglars entered the freight house at Fairfield, Me., and blew open the safe with a heavy charge of powder that barned books and mileage tickets They only took about 193. Raimo Zinicola, the Italian crushed by a d shovel at the Fair Haven (Conal) of his J. K the steam cut, clares died that injuries. Ryan, Coroner contractor, Mix d> is unduly negligent with his employee men, with at Easton, quarters "Green goods" Pa, have alleged recently beadwith for a Forter flooded telegraphed Hartford circulars sample and A n n celved a good a bill in return. The body of - unknown man, about 20 years of age well dreamst. was found by section mea on the Grood Trunk teach two miles north of Garban, X. x The is

10. January 16, 1894 The Portland Daily Press Portland, ME
Article from The Portland Daily Press, January 16, 1894

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# SOUND LEGS IN CASTS. How Hobbs Tried to Keep Away from Court Proceedings. THE CASTS WERE SMASHED AND HOBBS WAS DRESSED, And With the Breaking of the Plaster Casts Was Exploded a Pitiful Story of an Accident which Might Result in the Amputation of Both Legs-Hobbs Has Been Receiver of the Stockbridge (Mass.) Savings Bank and Is an Object of Suspicion.

11. January 17, 1894 The Portland Daily Press Portland, ME
Article from The Portland Daily Press, January 17, 1894

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# HOBBS'S LEGS. If They Were Broken, Their Healing Was a Surgical Wonder. Boston, January 16.-F. A. Hobbs of Stockbridge, ex-receiver of the Stock-bridge savings bank, arrived in Boston today in charge of the deputy sheriff of Pittsfield, who had served upon Hobbs the capias issued by the Supreme court. Hobbs has shown a decided disinclination to turn over the papers of the Stock-bridge bank to the new receiver, and has been confined to his house in Stockbridge ostensibly suffering from a serious injury to both legs. A physician made an examination of Hobbs's legs, upon the arrival of the train upon which the ex-receiver rode, and reported that one of Mr. Hobbs's legs presented no appearance of injury whatever, and the other was slightly discolored. He thought that if Mr. Hobbs's legs had been broken by a heavy coal cart, as had been stated, they must have healed in a decidedly rapid manner. Mr. Hobbs was removed to the Emergency hospital. Later in the day, Hobbs was taken into court, adjndged guilty of contempt and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

12. January 17, 1894 Pawtucket Tribune Pawtucket, RI
Article from Pawtucket Tribune, January 17, 1894

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SIX MONTHS IN JAIL. Hobbs Receives Sentence For Contempt. SHORTAGE IN HIS ACCOUNTS The "Injuries" to His Leg Amounted to Little or Nothing. BOSTON, Jan. 17.-Judge Knowiton yesterday afternoon found Receiver Hobbs of the Stockbridge Savings bank guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in Suffolk jail. It appeared from the testimony of one of the witnesses that there is $20,000 unaccounted for by Hobbs, and it was asserted by the attorney general that he had appropriated the funds to his own use. Hobbs, who refused to answer a sum. mons from the supreme court to appear before it in Boston, because he said that he had broken both of his legs, arrived in this city yester rning, and was met aken to the Emby an ambula An mination reveals ergency hospital. the fact that only one of his legs is injured, and that only slightly. In the afternoon he was taken into court for examination on the charge of contempt, and the testimony of the physician was that he was perfectly able, physically, to obey the summons. A Morphine Eater, The sensation of the day came out after the hearing before Judge Knowlton began. Attorney General Knowlton appeared for the state and Lawyer Dickinson appeared for Mr. Hobbs. Dr. Segen, who received Hobbs at the station in Boston, told of his condition, and said that it was evident he had been taking morphine. He had asked for the drug, but it was refused by the physician. Then a statement from Dr. Paddock of Pittsfield, the medical examiner for the Berkshire district, was read. Dr. Paddock said that Hobbs' injuries were slight; that he had acknowledged to Dr. Paddock that he was a morphine eater. Then came the bombshell. Banking Commissioner Whiton said that he had seen the papers which Hobbs turned over to Receiver Spaulding when the capias was served. He had hastily examined them, and found that there was $21,000 short. Whereas he should have turned over some $59,000, he only handed to Receiver Spaulding about $38,000. He made no explanation whatever to Mr. Spaulding. The Defense. Lawyer Dickinson then said that he had no evidence to offer excepting that of Mr. Hobbs, who was, however, not able to be sworn or to testify. He said that for the last few years Mr. Hobbs had been acting strangely. He suffered from a head trouble, which compelled him to take morphine, and he had got the habit that way. He didn't believe he was responsible for his action and pleaded with the court not to send him to jail. If Mr. Hobbs was guilty of embezzlement he would no doubt be indicted by a grand jury and be tried before the proper court. Attorney General Knowlton wanted Judge Knowlton to send Hobbs to jail. He said he had given the banking commissioners a lot of trouble and that he had wilfully disobeyed the order of the court. It was practically admitted, said the attorney general, that Hobbs is an embezzler. Judge Knowlton said that it was perfectly evident that Hobbs had flagrantly disobeyed the court's orders in not turning over his papers to the new receiver. It was evident that he was an embezzler and a morphine eater. He didn't believe his life would be endangered by sending him to jail. He certainly deserved severe punishment. He then ordered that Hobbs be confined in jail six months, unless sooner released by order of the court

13. January 19, 1894 The United Opinion Bradford, VT
Article from The United Opinion, January 19, 1894

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Hobbs Got Six Months In Jail. BOSTON, Jan. 17.-Judge Knowlton yesterday afternoon found Receiver Hobbs of the Stockbridge Savings bank guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in Suffolk jail. It appeared from the testimony of one of the witnesses that there is $20,000 unaccounted for by Hobbs, and it was asserted by the attorney general that he had appropriated thefunds to his own use.

14. January 29, 1894 The Providence News Providence, RI
Article from The Providence News, January 29, 1894

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TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES Radicals protest against King Milan's presence in Servia. Cora Tanner was granted an absolute divorce from Colonel Sinn. A man in East St. Louis tried to attach n dead child for overdue rent. The Hower Oatmeal raills at Akrom, O., were burned. Loss $100,000. Connecticut tobacco growers fear they will not realize much from their crops. Joseph C. Story of Plymouth, N. H., one of Murderer Almy's counsel, is dead. The prevalence of scarlet fever is Rseribed to the use of river water at Lowell, Mass. Ex-Receiver Hobbs of the Stockbridge (Mass.) Savings bank has filed a petition in insolvency. The Hatch element of the Nicaragua Canal Construction company want to see the company's books. Addison H. White, one of the oldest insurance agents in Providence, is dead. He was 63 years of age. Inhuman treatment of an S-year-old boy by a woman at Candia, N. H., is alleged to have caused his death. Willard E. Pierce's steam laundry and carpet cleaning establishment at Hartford was gutted by fire. Total loss $4009. William Meglade, a pioneer lumber dealer of Chicago, is dead, aged 76 years. He was well known throughout the Jumber districts.

15. July 24, 1894 Pawtucket Tribune Pawtucket, RI
Article from Pawtucket Tribune, July 24, 1894

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# NEW ENGLAND BRIEFS. William Wright was drowned at Newmarket Junction, N. H. The official trials of the Howell torpedo are to be made at Newport, R. I. The body of an unknown sailor was found off Monomoy (Mass.) beach. Florence Seiler, aged 66, hanged himself at his home in Lawrence, Mass. George Steele of Boston was held for the superior court on a charge of forgery. Thomas A. Irving, a Gloucester (Mass.) shipouilder, owes $10,747, with small assets. The carriage bridge at Tiverton, R. I, is to have a new draw, the present one being worn out. Patrick Sullivan, a painter, fell from a scaffold at Lowell, Mass, and was probably fatally hurt. Helen, the 8-year-old daughter of Daniel Keiser of Seaside, Mass., fell into a brook and was drowned. The railroad station at North Leominster, Mass., was found broken into, and several valises were missing. The Biddeford (Me.) city council voted to buy a steam road roller and appropriated money for a public park. Joseph Hanouseck of Lowell, Mass, has received an appointment as assistant storekeeper at the Boston custom house. Frederick A. Hobbs, ex-receiver of the Stockbridge Savings bank, was arraigned at Pittsfield, Mass., on the charge of embezzlement. He pleaded not guilty. The Connecticut state board of education has awarded the contract for building the new state normal school at New Haven to the A. W. Burritt company. The structure is to cost $66,700.