El Paso National Bank of Texas (El Paso, TX)

Episode Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Start Date
August 2, 1893
Location
El Paso, Texas (31.759, -106.487)
Bank Type
national
Charter Number
3608

Metadata

Response Measures

Borrowed from banks or large institutions, Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Bank president travelled to New York to try to raise funds to 'tide over' the trouble (unsuccessful). Receiver and bank examiners were appointed after suspension; local business community made large deposits in other banks to steady the situation.

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
76.0%
Date receivership started
1893-09-02
Date receivership terminated
1904-09-30
OCC cause of failure
Excessive lending
Share of assets assessed as good
30.1%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
67.9%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
2.0%

Notes

Branch at Juarez mentioned; failure tied to heavy withdrawals and inability to realize securities.

Events (5)

1. December 22, 1886 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. August 2, 1893 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Continued heavy withdrawals over months and inability to realize on securities; bank had little cash despite resources exceeding liabilities.
Measures
President went to New York to raise money; other banks prepared for closing and business men deposited with other banks.
Newspaper Excerpt
The El Paso National bank ... closed their doors this morning. ... carried a heavy line of individual deposits.
Source
newspapers
3. August 2, 1893 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Failed to open because of sustained withdrawals and inability to realize securities; little cash on hand despite assets exceeding liabilities.
Newspaper Excerpt
The El Paso National bank ... failed to open for business, due to the heavy withdrawal of deposits ...
Source
newspapers
4. September 2, 1893 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
R. E. Beckham of Fort Worth, was today appointed receiver of the El Paso National bank.
Source
newspapers
5. September 2, 1893 Receivership
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (19)

Article from Asheville Daily Citizen, August 2, 1893

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"BANK CLOSED." Two Hustilutions Shut for a Time -Assigned. WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-The comptroller of the currency is informed that the First National bank of Birmingham, Ala., capital $250,000, and the El Paso National bank, El Paso, Tex., closed their doors this morning. These banks carried a heavy line of individual deposits. DENVER, Colo., Aug. 2.-The Denver Safe Deposit and Trustcompanyassigned last evening. Assets, $400,000; liabilities, $100,000. Eastern creditors caused the assignment by pushing the concern.


Article from The Morning Call, August 3, 1893

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Mr. Carlisle Has Plenty of Gold. THE RESERVE MADE GOOD. There Is a Surplus in the Treasury, and Millions More Are on the Way. Special to THE MORNING CALL WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-For the first time since April 20 last, when the gold reserve fell below the $1,000,000 mark. the reserve in amounts or is 701,370 the treasury has $791,370 been to-day made free gold. good. This The to gold gold $100,from Europe, Mexico and the West Indies, much of it being gold sent out from the United States during the late spring and early summer months. Information in treasury circles indicates that there is $10,000,000 now on its way from Europe to the United States and most of this, it is expected, will find its way, as usual, into the treasury. While the gold reserve is intact and the free gold is climbing up, the treasury net balance is declining, it is stated to-day the amount being $17,251,000. The receipts, too, for the past two days have been disappointing, business troubles throughout the country having an effect upon the Government revenue. Everything that situation. after can be a done conference Secretary being done in Carlisle New to relieve York to-day. with the eminent financiers, directed acting Secretary Curtis to send the following telegram to the 150 bank depositories throughout United States: Your authorized balance is hereby fixed at par of security. Transfer the excess. whenever practicable, to the nearest subtreasury." "This action of the Treasury Department will release to the banks about $900,000 and is intended, as far as practicable, to relieve the financial stringency prevailing in the country. The circulation statement issued by the Treasury Department to-day shows the amount of gold and silver coin and certificates, United States notes and national bank notes in circulation on August 1 was $1,611,099,117, an increase during the month of July of $17,237,606. The increase during the last twelve months was, in round tigures, $9,000,000. The per capita circulation, based on an estimated population of 67,066,000 on August 1. was $24 02. Three national bank failures were reported to Comptroller Eckels this morning. The E1 Paso National Bank at E! Paso, Tex., capital $150,000; the First National at Birmingham, Ala., capital $250,000; the Waupaya County National Bank of Waupaya, Wis., capital $50,000. The Birmingham and El Paso banks carried quite a heavy line of deposits. Thomas A. Marlow was to-day appointed receiver of the Montana National Bank at Helena. NEW YORK, Aug. 2.-Frederick D. Tappen, president of the Gallatin National Bank and chairman of the Clearing-house loan committee, said to-day that several large national banks were going to buy some of the United States 4 per cent bonds held by the savings banks and take out currency against them. "There was no syndicate nor concerted plan by the Clearing-house banks in the matter," he said. "It was simply individual action between the banks. It was expected the banks buying bonds would get them for a little less than the current market rate, because if the savings banks were compelled to put a large amount of their bonds on the open market the price would certainly be forced down to 104 or 105, and perhaps even less." This afternoon Secretary Carlisle junched with Sub Treasurer Jordan and ex-Secretary Fairchild. Later he visted the sub-treasury and customhouse. He met no bankers and said he had DO opinion to express on the financial situation or the probable action of Congress. He said he, personally, was in favor of allowing the national banks to issue circulation to the par value of the bonds deposited as security. There was no likelihood of any action by Congress on that point at the extra session. however. DENVER, Aug. 2.-T. E. Jeffrey, president of the Rio Grande, was to-day appointed receiver of the Rio Grande Southern. on application of Otto Meyers of the latter. MILWAUKEE, Aug. -An official notice has been issued by the St. Paul Railway ordering a cut of 10 per cent in the wages of all employes of the commercial department whose pay exceeds $50 per month. ELYRIA, Ohio, Aug. 2.-The Lorain Manufacturing Company, the largest brass works in the country. has failed; assets $192,000, liabilities $125,000. CHICAGO. Aug. 2.-Adam Smith & Co., wholesale liquor-dealers, have assigned. Assets $150,000. liabilities $125,000. NEW YORK, Aug. 2.-Sulzbacher, Gitterman & Wade, importers of woolens, made an assignment to-day without preferences. The business is an d-established one, having been founded in 1856. In 1878 they were estimated to be worth $1.000,000, but the business bas fallen off, and lately the capital was estimated at only $230,000. The attorneys estimate that the liabilities are $120,000. with assets nominally the same.


Article from Rock Island Daily Argus, August 3, 1893

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Financial Trouble at El Paso. EL PAZO, Tex., Aug. 3-The El Paso National bank. of this city, and its branch at Juarez, Mexico. has failed to open for business, due to the heavy withdrawal of deposits for the last six months and inability to realize on securities. The resources are nearly double the amount of liabilities. Runs immediately began on the State and First National banks, but the business men began depositing heavily and the run subsided.


Article from Fort Worth Gazette, August 3, 1893

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AN EL PASO BANK. I EL PASO, Tex., Aug. 2.-(Special.)The El Paso National bank and the Bank of Juarez, a branch of the El Paso National bank, failed to open their doors this morning on account of the continued withdrawal of deposits. President Bronson is in New York, where he went to raise money to tide over the present trouble, but he could not realize on securities. W. H. Austin, the cashier, is the recently elected mayor of the city. and half the city's money and all the county funds are in his bank. The bank has resources to pay all depositors three times over, but had little cash on hand. The closing was expected by the other banks and they were ready for it. There was little excitement and not a single business man drew a dollar from either the State or First National bank on account of the suspension of the El Paso.


Article from The Sun, August 4, 1893

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NEW BANK TROUBLES, Financial Institutions Unable to Bear the Pressure Longer. HELENA, Mont., Aug. 3.-H. A. Marlow has been named by the Comptroller as receiver for the Montana Ntaional Bank, which closed last week. It is believed the bank will pay all depositors in full. DENVER. Aug. 3.--F. W. Popple was yesterday appointed receiver for the Hamilton Loan and Trust Company of this city on the application of Samuel E. Belcher and others, the defendant consenting to the suit. The company was organized under the laws of Nebraska, and has done a large amount of business in that State. Colorado, and Kansas. MILWAUKE, Aug. 3.-Bank Examiner Lynch has finished his examination of the books of the Milwaukee National Bank of Wisconsin, and has forwarded his report to the Comptroller of the Currency. He says the bank is solvent. Mr. Lynch will remain in charge of the bank until it resumes or until it is put into the hands of a receiver for the winding up of its affairs. WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 3.-Comptroller Eckels to-day appointed Edward Hawkins of Indianapolis. ex-United States Marshal for Indiana. receiver of the Indianapolis National Bank. which closed its doors to business on July 25. Comptroller Eckels has directed Bank Examiner Carskadon to take charge of the failed First National Bank of Birmingham. Ala. Examiner Rushing. of the failed El Paso, Tex., National Bank. and Examiner Thom of the failed Wamaca. Wis., County National Bank. DENVER. Aug. 3.-William Coleman. a depositor in the suspended People's Savings Bank. has begun suit against the bank. its officers. shareholders. and directors to recover $2,000. which he had on deposit. He also asks for an execution against the bodies of the defendnnts. and that they be placed in jail until judgment shall be obtained and satisfied. Charges of fraud and conspiracy are made against the bank authorities. President Lawrence of the suspended bank is now in New York endeavoring to raise money with which to reopen the institution. STEVENS POINT. Wis., Aug. 3.-After standing an almost continuous run since June 25, during which more than $120.000 was paid out to depositors and certificate holders, the Commercial Bank of Stevens Point closed its doors this morning. The assets are more than $200,000 and the liabilities are less than $100,000. ANTHONY. Kan., Aug. 3.-The Savings Bank of Anthony failed vesterday. The County Treasurer had $14,875 on deposit. LINCOLN. Neb., Aug. 3.-Receiver Hayden of the Capital National Bank has given verbal notice to State Treasurer Bartley that the claims of the State for the amount of its de-


Article from The Star, August 9, 1893

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Financial and Commercial. The Seven Corners bank at St. Louis, Mo., has assigned. Business at all the New York savings banks was going on as usual Thursday. The excitement is all over. Depositors evidently feel assured tnat their money is perfectly safe. At Naima, Idaho, the First National Bank has failed. The El Paso, Texas, National Bank has suspended. The First National Bank of Birmingham. Ala., has closed. The Waupaca County National Bank of Waupaca, Wis., has closed its doors, During the past three months $3,800,000 worth of fine gold has been received by the Bank of California as the product of California's gold mines and smelters. The decrease of the earnings of the Western railroads for July, as compared with the June earnings, is estimated at $500,000.


Article from The Middleburgh Post, August 10, 1893

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Financial and Commercial. The Seven Corners bank at St. Louis, Mo., has assigned. Business at all the New York savings banks was going on as usual Thursday. The excitement is all over. Depositors evidently feel assured tnat their money is perfectly safe. At Naima, Idaho, the First National Bank has failed. The El Paso, Texas, National Bank has suspended. The First National Bank of Birmingham. Ala., has closed. The Waupaca County National Bank of Waupaca, Wis., has closed its doors, During the past three months $3,800,000 worth of fine gold has been received by the Bank of California as the product of Cali fornia's gold mines and smelters. The decrease of the earnings of the West ern railroads for July, as compared with the June earnings, is estimated at $500,000.


Article from Santa Fe Daily New Mexican, August 12, 1893

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TERRITORIAL TIPS. LAS CRUCES LOCALS. Fine melons in the market. By the failure of the El Paso National bank, at El Paso, a loss of more than $1,300 was entailed on one of Las Cruces' citizens. The first grapes shipped from the Mesilla valley on the 25th July, were grown at La Flor del Valle, the ranch of N. Spatcier, esq. One and forty-four hundredths inches of rain fell in the valley during Sunday night's storm. For the past thirty days 3.23 inches of rain fall is recorded. The Rio Grande Republican has been placed under the business management of Mr. Hunt, who will run it in conjunction with the San Marcial Bee; and, under the editorial charge of Judge John R. McFie. Sunday last a flood came down the arroyos. Diverted from its course by the dam east of town, the torrent, which would otherwise have swept westward through our streets, struck the southern suburb of the town, carrying down the dwellings of Mr. John Bumgarden and others, who lost almost entirely their household goods. Acequias south of town were broken and the railroad track, the agricultural college farm, the Ascarate ranch and others were submerged: BAN JUAN ECHOES. A number of the ranchers of the La Plata are harvesting their grain. Saturday morning Mrs. Charles Kennon, of Farmington, departed this life after a short illness of peritonitis. Charles Gross, who has been working a placer prospect on the La Plata near its source, has returned, having abandoned his claim. George West, of Durango, and Robert Roberts, of the La Plata, shipped seventeen car loads of beef steers to Kansas City.


Article from Fort Worth Gazette, September 3, 1893

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Working Together in This Fight in the Senate. CLOTURE MAY BE RESORTED TO. Republicans Calling Democrats Down on the Home Rule Plank in the Platform-Judge Beckham of Fort Worth Appointed Receiver. (From our Own Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-There Is much interest evident here in the position of Kilgore,® of the committee on coinage weights and measures as be holds the balance of power there between the ardent silver men and the pronounced gold advocates. It W18 he also who so timended the rules the other day that reports from this committee should be always privileged, and therefore to be neted on as soon as submitted. This makes it within the power of the committee, If it finds a favorable time and house, and Mr. Kilgore aids the silver men to bring in a silver bill, and obtain immediate action theron. Mr. Kilgore said today to the Gazette correspondent that if some kind of a compromise measure could be reported, favorable to the present feeling in the house and the ad Ininistration, he would favor its introduction, but he would certainly not aid the committee to uselessly precipitate the house into another lengthy debate on the question. In regard to the arrest of Max Kruger, postmaster at Twin Sisters today, for the false cancellation of stamps in order to increase his salary, the postoffice department had not received today any other information on the subject than that the arrest has been made. R. ID. Backham of Fort Worth, was today appointed receiver of the El Paso National bank. It will be remembered that Judge Peyton Edwards was here last week to obtain the appointment of Judge Crosby to the place. The state department has not yet taken any action in the trouble between the sheep herders and customs officials near Brownsville, Tex. In fact there is n strained feeling between the war and state departments on the subject. When the trouble came up and the United States troops were precipitately ordered out after the Mexican officials, Mr. Lamont at once appealed to Mr. Gresham. and received a squelching answer couched in diplomatic terms, that as the war department had gone into the trouble of its own accord, it can get out as best It may, diptomacy being too delicate and slow a method for the settlement of such heated quarrels. This answer is the cause of much sore feeling in the war department. The subject was probably prominent in the long conferenco which Gresham had with the president today.


Article from Tombstone Epitaph, September 6, 1893

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Judge R. E. Beckham of Fort Worth has been appointed receiver of the El Paso National bank, which closed its doors on the morning of August 2.


Article from The Columbian, September 8, 1893

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SATURDAY, SEP. 2. There is no yellow fever in Florida. The State has a clear bill of health. Orders have been sent from the Navy Department for the dissolution of the Behring Sea fleet. The paper mill at Roaring Spring, Pa., employing about 800 men, boys and girls, is preparing to resume operations. The corner stone of the Jay Gould Memorial Church at Roxbury, Delaware County, N. Y., was laid at noon by George Gould. The Duncansville, Pa., Rolling Mill, employing between 600 and 800 men, has resumed operations after a several weeks' shut down. Five hundred employes of the Morrison & Cass Paper Mill at Altoona, Pa., have been given employment by a partial resumption of the plant. On account of the uncertainty of American interests in China because of the Geary law the gunboat Petrel will be sent to China without delay. The Comptroller of the Currency to-day appointed Mr. R. E. Beckhum, of Fort Worth, receiver of the El Paso National Bank of Texas, El Paso, Texas. First Comptroller Bowler has returned from Washington from his home in Cincinnati, O. He has appointed Mr. Warwick, of Ohio, his private secretary. The match race for $10,000 a side over the Futurity course between J. R. Keene's Domino and Richard Croker's Dobbins resulted in a dead heat.


Article from Western Liberal, October 20, 1893

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GREAT BANKETT. On the authority of the United States district attorney for the western district of Texas, A. J. Evans, the Times is this morning enabled to turn the calcium light, derived from the sworn testimony of fifty witnesses before the United States grand jury and a thorough examination of the books of the defunct El Paso National bank, on the late management and present condition of that institution. To use the exact language of the United States attorney, who had the figures before him carefully worked out from the data at his command: "The El Pase National bank ihas a capital of $150,000; on the day it failed the president, the cashier, the wives of the president and cashier, the near relatives of the president and cashier, and the employees of the bank, owed the bank the sum of $159,812.80, or $9,812.80 more than the capital of the bank." - El Paso Times. When this was printed E. B. Bronson, the president of the defunct bank, published a card in which he did not deny that these were facts but intimates the loans were good ones. He said: "This statement I do not propose to discuss here. I have, however, by permission of Receiver Beckham, to request that the depositors of the El Paso National bank will call a meeting at the earliest hour practicable at which they shall doct one or two fair, unblased men who are themselves depositors, to examine the character and security of all paper of the bank referred to directly by the United States district attorney.. The officers of the bank will then name the same number from among the depositors to act with the one or two men selected at the meeting, and this group of two or four men will then be afforded every facility to determine the character and value of the paper in question. "Were official preliminaries out of the way, the bank could on Torty-eight hours notice, pay in cash one-third of all it owes to the public. Few bank statements published by operating banks can honestly show a larger cash reserve against their indebtedness than 33 per cent. No depositor will loose a penny. Every shareholder will receive a premium above par on his stock."


Article from Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, October 20, 1893

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Bank Officials Indicted. EL PASO, Tex.. Oct. 20.-E. B. Bronson, president, and W. H. Austin, cashier of the El Paso National bank, which suspended Aug. 12 last, were indicted by the Federal grand jury. The bond of E. B. Bronson was fixed at $5000, that of W. H. Austin at $10.000. The charge is the misappropriation of the funds of the bank, of making two loans to their wives, one of $5000 to Mrs. Bronson and one of $11,000 to Mrs. Austin.


Article from Fort Worth Gazette, August 16, 1894

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# Governor Ahumada in El Paso, El Paso, Tex., Aug. 15.-Governor Alhumada of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, came up this morning and will spend several days in Juarez. He is looking especially into the affairs of the bank of Juares which closed its doors more than a year ago. The bank was operated by the officers of the El Paso national bank which failed the same day. The bank of Juarez was called a branch of the El Paso national and some of the governor's advisors claim that the receiver of the El Paso national can be made to assume certain debts of the branch. As a matter of fact, no national bank in this country can have a branch in another. The governor will be banqueted tomorrow night.


Article from El Paso Daily Herald, April 1, 1897

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Receiver Beckham of the El Paso National bank will ask Judge Buckler for leave to sell the remaining assets of the defunct institution. He expec's the sale will add 15 per cent to the 60 percent of the claims against the bank. The judge hinks it about time to close UP the business.


Article from El Paso Daily Herald, April 7, 1897

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Judge Beckbam, receiver of the El Paso National bank has petitioned the United States court for permission to finally wind up the bank's affairs, and will be given a hearing next Saturday.


Article from El Paso Daily Herald, April 12, 1897

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The United States court is trying today. two Mexicans charged with counterfeiting. The court is also listening the argument of Judge Beckham, receiver, asking for leave to close up the El Paso's National bank's affairs.


Article from El Paso Daily Herald, May 18, 1897

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Receiver Beckham resumed the sale of the assets of the El Paso National bank this morning, and is continuing the sale during the day, with satisfactory results.


Article from El Paso Times, June 3, 1925

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CITY AND COUNTY SUPPORT NEW BANK Paso National Will Get Public Funds in Defunct Institution. Organization papers of the new El Paso National bank will be completed and forwarded to the controller of currency In Washington following the arrival today of C. M. Harvey, president of the bank, from Miami, Okla., it was yesterday. At the same time city and county officials their intention of transferring approximately $560,000 in deposits in the defunct National Border bank to the El Paso National bank, which buying the National Border. Officials of the bank said Monday that the opening date of the bank depended upon completion of negotiations for an agreement relative city and county deposits, which must be paid dollar for dollar under the court order authorizing the sale of the bank. Funds Remain. "Although there has been no formal ordered entered by the commissioners' court, the proposition has been discussed informally with individual commissioners, and it is agreed that the county's money will be allowed to remain in the new bank for three years. understand the will make the agreement," said Judge McClintock. "By doing this will get 100 cents on the dollar. would only get about 35 per cent of our deposit. The judge said the county will receive per cent interest on its money. Mayor Jackson said the city would get 2½ per cent, "because we are leaving the new longer than the money in the other banks the city The other banks will pay per cent on city deposits one Bond. "Officials the have agreed give an acceptable personal bond to secure our deposit," the mayor added. The bonds will be filed with the cities and county after the arrival of Pres! dent Harvey. Official action on the will ther. The deposit of $283,000 in the National Border bank was amply cured by some the bank's best paper, which the city held its vault. The county had about in the bank, which was secured by personal Fifteen clerks will be employed by the new bank. The staff was being lined up yesterday.