4058. Arcola State Bank (Arcola, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
May 16, 1921
Location
Arcola, Illinois (39.685, -88.306)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
e9a0163c

Response Measures

None

Description

Bank was ordered closed by the state bank examiner (at directors' request) on account of alleged irregularities, forgery and looting by president M.T. Quirk and cashier John Quirk. Newspapers (May 17–18, 1921) state the bank was closed the day before and that it would reopen within a week with no depositor losses; no explicit depositor run is described prior to the suspension.

Events (2)

1. May 16, 1921 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Alleged irregularities and forgery by president M.T. Quirk and cashier John Quirk (unauthorized loans to associates/family, sale of depositors' bonds, gambling losses); charges said to total about $400,000.
Newspaper Excerpt
The closing of the bank under order of S. E. Whitlock, state bank examiner, at the request of the board of directors, caused consternation in Arcola.
Source
newspapers
2. May 17, 1921 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
It was officially announced that the bank would reopen within a week and that no depositor would lose a cent. The Quirks and Ernst have turned over to the bank property said to be worth $225,000 and the balance will be made up personally by the bank's directors.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, May 17, 1921

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Article Text

GRAND JURY GIVEN CASE FOR ACTION (Continued from First Page.) they questioned John Quirk about them, but he replied that "everything was alright as he personally knew that Mr. Ernst had nearly $100,000 in trust bonds in an Indianapolis bank with which to cover his account." Quirk, being cashier and son of the bank's president, naturally was not questioned much by the bank's employes, Mr. Dimond said. The accounts with Ernst were allowed to run on untff they got well past the $100,000 mark, Mr. Dimond said. In addition to these, John Quirk was quoted by 'Mr. Dimond as confessing to the directors that his father had authorized bank loans of $9,000 to E. E. Quirk, a brother, and of $25,000 to Frank Quirk, another brother, without security. Mr. Dimond also quoted John Quirk as confessing that he had lost large sums of money in grain gambling and that he had sold a number of the bank's Liberty bonds in order to obtain cash to make good his losses. Bonds left with the bank by depositors also were disposed of, Mr. Dimond said. Albert A. Post, a bookkeeper, who had been with the bank for many years, revealed the alleged irregularities of the two Quirks. He became suspicious over the repeated transactions with Ernst for which there was no security, and called them to the attention of one of the bank's officers. Shock of Town. The closing of the bank under crder of S. E. Whitlock, state bank examiner, at the request of the board of directors, caused consternation in Arcola. The bank did 75 per cent of that town's banking business and much of the business of nearby towns. In a town of 7,000 it had 1,400 depositors and was depository for the county treasury, the school board and numerous other municipal funds, bes sides handling the money of most of the business houses. Had it failed, it would have carried virtually the entire town, but it was k officially announced today that the y bank would reopen within a week 3, and that no depositor would lose t a cent. This announcement relieved a tense situation in Arcola, for it had been feared that many business houses would be ruined through losses which might result from the Irregularities blamed on the two S Quirks. Business virtually stopped yesterday when the notice of the bank's closing was posted. John Quirk has formally turned h over to the bank his 120-acre farm e and his interest in another. This s property is said to be worth $90.t 000. M. T. Quirk has assigned his $75,000 residence property and 11 Ernst has agreed to turn over proparty worth $60,000. The balance will be made up personally by the bank's directors, it was announced by T. E. Lyons, vice president, who is the son of Tom Lyons, the man who helped M. T. Quirk found the bank. The Bankers' association of Douglas county today voted to give any help possible to the Arcola bank


Article from Evening Star, May 17, 1921

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Article Text

OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH LOOTING BANK President and Cashier Accused of Irregularities Said to Total $400,000. By the Associated Press. TUSCOLA. III., May 17.-M. T. Quirk, president, and his son. John Quirk, cashier, of the Arcola State Bank, at Arcola. were arraigned today on charges of forgery in connection with the closing of the bank yesterday, and after waiving preliminary examination were bound over to the grand jury. The men were specifically charged with forgery of two notes. one for $5.000. and the other for $4.234 Bank officials explained that complete charges of irregularities said to total more than $400,000 would be filed later. Gambling in grain with a firm which twice had gone through bankruptey through grain transactions was said by directors of the bank to have been responsible for the downfall of the two Quirks. According to Andrew R. Dimond. a director. irregularities dating back as far as 1914 have been discovered. M. T. Quirk. seventy years old. became acquainted with John M. Ernst. a grain dealer. in 1911. Ernst. twice bankrupt. had been refused loans by the bank's board of directors. but the elder Quirk permitted him to draw $5.000 without security. according to Mr. Dimond. Ernst was repeatedly permitted to make loans without security and to write checks on the bank. it was said. The accounts with Ernst were allowed to run until they got well past the $100,000 mark. Mr. Dimond said. John Quirk also was quoted by Mr. Dimond as confessing that his father had authorized bank loans of $34,000 to two brothers without security. Mr. Dimond also quoted John Quirk as confessing that he had Last large sums of money in grain gambling and that he had sold a number of the bank's liberty bonds to make good his losses. It was officially announced that the bank would reopen within a week and that no depositor would lose a cent. The Quirks and Ernst have turned over to the bank property said to be worth $225.000. and the balance will be made up personally by the bank's directors. it was announced by T. E. Lyons. vice president.


Article from The Wheeling Intelligencer, May 18, 1921

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Article Text

Illinois Bankers Are Arraigned For Forgery Tuscola. 111. May 17-M. T. Quirk. president and his son. John Quirk. cashter of Arcoia State bank at Arcola near here were arraigned today on charges of forgery in connection with the ciosing of the bank yesterday and after waiving preliminary examination were bound over to the grand jury. The men were specifically charged with forgery of awo notes, one for $5.000 and the other for $4,234. Bank officers explained that the charges were based on these notes primarily to expedite legal proceedings and that complete charges of irregularities said to total more than $400,000 would be filed later Gambling in grain with a firm which twice had gone through bankruptcy through grain transactions was said by of to refor sponsible directors the the bank downfall have of been the two Quirks. who previous to the discidsures had occupied positions of respect and importance in the community. According to Andrew R. Dimond, a director. irregularities dating back as far as 1914, have been discovered. M. T. Quirk. seventy years old. became acquainted with John M. Ernst, a grain dealer in 1914. Ernst, twice bankrupt. had been refused loans by the bank's board of directors, but the elder Quirk permitted him to draw $5,000 without security. according to Mr. Dimond. Ernst had no banking account, but was repeatedly permitted to make loans without security and to write checks on the bank. it was said. A loose leaf ledSPT was used and when bank examiners came to inspect the books false entries were substituted. it was alleged. The accounts Ernst were allowed :0 run until they got well past the $100,000 mark, Mr. Dimond said. John Quirk also was quoted by Mr. Dimond as confessing to the directors that his father had authorized bank loans of $64.000 to two brothers without security. Mr. Dimond also quoted John Quirk as confessing that he had lost large sums of money in grain gambling and hat he had sold a number of the bank's Liberty bonds to make good his losses. It was officially announced today that the bank would reopen within a and that no depositor would love ent. The Quirks and Ernst have turned over to the bank property said to be worth $225,000 and the balance will be made up personally by the bank's directors, it was announced by T. E. Lyons, Vice president