Kutztown Savings Bank (Kutztown, PA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
3575965790923
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
savings
Bank ID
357596579 hash
Start Date
November 20, 1876
Location
Kutztown, Pennsylvania (40.521, -75.777)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
00fff85b0fc63bbb

Response Measures

None

Description

A receiver was appointed immediately after suspension; cashier later died by suicide.

Events (2)

1. November 20, 1876 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Losses from prior correspondent failure and discounting notes above legal rate that locked up capital; unprofitable operations and diminished deposits
Newspaper Excerpt
The Kutztown Savings Bank ... suspended; the Directors on Monday decided to close the doors
Source
newspapers
2. November 21, 1876 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
the following day a Receiver was appointed.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from Wilmington Daily Commercial, November 23, 1876

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Article Text

FIFTH EDITION. Bank suspension and nicide. A BERKS COUNTY SAVINGS BANK SUSPENDS, AND THE CASHIER COMMITS BUICIDE. READING, PA., Fov. 22.-An announcement was made yesterday of the suspension of the Kutztown Savings Bank. which had been doing a good business for the past few years. The Directors on Monday decided to close the doors, and the following day a Receiver was appointed. Several years ago the Bank lost largely through the failure of Nicholas Hunter, since which it has been in & crippled condiEdward Hottenstein was formerly cashier, but had been succeeded by William C. Dietrich, who continued until the suspension. The discounting of notes at more than the legal rate of interest is said to have locked up its capital, and was the cause of its suspension. According to the last sworn statement of the cashier, the entire paid up capital of the bank was only $6,050. A year ago the deposits amounted to $21,499.37, while the expenses for the year ending November 6th, 1875, was $11,151.57. During the present year and at the time of the suspension the deposits had been reduced to $14,000. The paid up capital remained at $6,000. The expenses of the year were $12,000, while the earnings of the bank for the same time were only $3,000. The amount of unpaid stock subscriptions is $16,000, all of which will be available to meet the liabilities of the bank; while there is due by other banks and individuals the sum of $16,000, which will make up the amount of $32,000, sufficient to meet all liabilities. It was a losing concern at the time that young Dietrich became the cashier, and has been losing ever since. The officers of the bank were gentlemen of the highest sense of honor. SUICIDE OF THE CASHIER. 0 Yesterday afternoon Wm. C. Dietrich, the cashier, was found dead in the bank with a pistol wound in his breast and head. It was stated that the proposed suspension of the bank had a very depressing effect upon the deceased, who, for some time, had been laboring under considerable mental anxiety owing to the financial troubles of the institution. It was also reported that the deceased was to have been married this fall to a lady of Lehigh county, who died several days ago, and that this had also an additional depressing effect upon him. Mr. Dietrich was a young man of excellent character, and was highly esteemed by the citizens of Kutztown and vicinity. He was a prominent Mason of that place, and & member of De Molay Commandery of this city. He was about 58 years of age.


Article from Evening Star, November 25, 1876

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Article Text

BANK SUSPENSION AND SUICIDE.-The Kutztown, Pa., Savings Bank has suspended and a receiver has been appointed. On Tuesday the cashier of the bank. Wm. C. Dietrick, was found dead in the bank with a pistol wound in his breast and head. It is said the suspension of the bank and the recent death of a lady whom he was soon to marry produced a depression of his mind and induced suicide.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, November 25, 1876

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Article Text

The Right Rev. James Gibbons, Bishop of Richmond, administered the sacrament of confirmation in St. Mary's (German) church, Fifth street, Washington, to ninety persons. of whom four or five were adults. Bishop, Gibbons delivered a practical and impressive discourse upon the sacrament. Wednesday night, at a late hour, D. R. Street, a railrord engineer, while returning from a ball with some ladies, at Easton, Pa., was followed by five or'six men, and being under the impression that they were about to attack him he fired a pistol into the crowd, killing a young man whose name has not been ascertained. Street is under arrest to await the coroner's inquest. The Kutztown, Pa., Savings Bank has suspended and a receiver has been appointed. On Tuesday the cashier of the bank, William C. Dietrick, was found dead in the bank with a pistol-wound in his breast and head. It is said the suspension of the bank and the recent death of a lady whom he was soon to marry produced a depression of his mind and induced suicide.


Article from The Sun, November 25, 1876

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Article Text

A BANK CASHIER'S SUICIDE. Depressed by the Failure of his Bank and the Death of his Betrothed. From the Pollstown Ledger. The Kutztown Savings Bank. at Kutztown. Berks county. suspended payment on Monday last. The bank bad been doing an unprofitable business for the past low years. having been superseded in the comfunity by the Kutztown National Bank. The total amount of the habilities of the institution are $82.000, which will all be paid. there being due $16,000 ID stock subscriptions, and $16 000 from bank individuals which will be available for this purpose. The officers of the bank. when first started. were J. H. Fogel. President. and Dr. Edward Hottenstein. Cashier. The Atter was succeeded by Mr. Wilnim C. Die rich as c suier. whose father. Daniel Dietile 1. was subsequentive elected President. The bank b. 8 been dolt g a losing business. and for a long time had been com. pelled to borrow money in order to continue to operation. It was a losing concern at the time that young Dietrich because the cashier, and has been ever since. The cashier was found dead in the banking room on Tuesday. Nov. 21, at noon, with Distol wounds in his breast and head. It seems that the sussension of the bank had a very depre-sing effect upon him. as for some time he had been laboring under mental anxiety owing to the financial troubles of the institution. Mr. Dietrich was a young man of excellent character, highly esteemed by the citizens of Kutztowt. It 18 reported. also. that the younk man was to have been married this fall to a younz lady of Lesign county, WHO died several days ago.