4229. Boulevard State Savings Bank (Chicago, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
savings bank
Start Date
April 1, 1931*
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
70746111

Response Measures

None

Description

The bank closed on April 16, 1931 and a receiver was appointed; articles focus on the receiver Emil Wentzlaff's embezzlement, removal, arrest and later sentencing. No run is described. The bank's affairs were consolidated with Lincoln Trust and Savings Bank after the receiver's removal, indicating permanent closure.

Events (5)

1. April 1, 1931* Other
Newspaper Excerpt
a receiver was appointed to the post by Auditor Nelson shortly after the bank closed on April 16, 1931.
Source
newspapers
2. April 16, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Bank closed on April 16, 1931 and a receiver was appointed by State Auditor Nelson.
Newspaper Excerpt
he had been appointed to the post by Auditor Nelson shortly after the bank closed on April 16, 1931.
Source
newspapers
3. October 25, 1932 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Wentzlaff was removed as receiver of the Boulevard State Savings bank on Oct. 25, the day that the audit completed.
Source
newspapers
4. December 29, 1932 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Wentzlaff, charged with embezzlement of $9,029 of the assets of the closed Boulevard State Savings bank... The warrant for his arrest was sent to the detective bureau last night for service.
Source
newspapers
5. November 16, 1933 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Wentzlaff... was sentenced to serve from one to ten years in the penitentiary on a plea of guilty to embezzling $9,029 from the Boulevard State Savings Bank while acting as its receiver.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)

Article from Chicago Tribune, December 29, 1932

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Article Text

BANK RECEIVER'S ARREST ORDERED; SHORTAGE FOUND Accuse Emil Wentzlaff of $9,029 Embezzlement. (Picture on back page.) Municipal Judge Frank M. Padden issued a warrant yesterday in the Felony court charging Emil Wentzlaff politician and former city hall pay roller, with embezzlement after he been told that Wentzlaff had embez. zled $9,029 of the assets of the closed Boulevard State Savings bank, of which was formerly Wentzlaff was by $300,000 surety bond and the depositors in the bank will thus suffer no loss. The warrant yesterday was obtained by the Continental Casualty company. which bonded him. Robert J. Murphy. an auditor employed by State Auditor Nelson. testified that he made an audit of Wentzlaff's books in October and discovered the shortage. Audit Brings Removal. Wentzlaff was removed as receiver of the bank on Oct. 25, the day that the audit completed. He had been appointed to the post by Auditor Nelson shortly after the bank closed on April 16, 1931. Murphy was sent to examine the after Wentzlaff reported that he had about 000 in cash on hand. Auditor Nelson's office It was explained that receivers are instructed to keep only few hundred dollars in closed banks as petty cash fund and to place the collections they make in downtown bank where they will draw interest Wentzlaff's report of cash on hand thus caused the authorities to act. Wentzlaff, whose home is at 3817 North Lawndale avenue, has been active in polities for several decades. He was for long time assistant secretary of the county Republican committee. Later he was in charge of the head quarters of former Republican mayor at the Hotel Sherman at the same time that he on the pay roll of the board of local improvements. Depositors Demand Removal. His as receiver of the Boule- Monday. vard State Savings bank, which is at 3621 Irving Park boulevard, was denearly months ago by an association of depositors in the bank The charged that Wentzlaff was an interested person because his wife was depositor, and that he was extravagant in administer ing the bank affairs, having a dozen employés in his office when Auditor Nelson had told depositors four persons could do the work. At Auditor Nelson office it was sald yesterday that an investigation at that time showed the extra employés complained of were law students who had asked and received permission from Wentzlaff to familiarize themselves with the procedure in liquidating bank, and who were receiving no pay. One reason why the complaint against Wentlaff was Audi tor Nelson's employes said, was that the charges were made by a depositors' which made a practice of collecting fees from Nelson has to have any dealings with such The of the bank was consolidated with that of the Lincoln Trust and Savings bank after Wentzlaff's The warrant for his arrest was sent to the detective bureau last night for service.


Article from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 30, 1932

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Article Text

FORMER BANK RECEIVER HELD Chicago Man Charged With Embezzlement of $9000. By the Associated Press Dec. Wentzlaff, 56 years old, charged $9029 of funds from the Boulevard State Savings Bank receiver for the tion, arrested yesterday in the lobby of loop hotel. He was released $1000 bond. warrant for Wentzlaff's arrest issued behalf of Robert Murphy, State Bank and of the Casualty Co., which had been Wentzlaff's bond. Becomes Father Time MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Dec. 30. Parrish, County Deputy Sheriff, has announced the birth of his twenty-third child, daughter. Parrish has been married twice. Ten children born his first Nineteen of the 23 children living.


Article from Jacksonville Journal Courier, December 30, 1932

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Article Text

RELEASED ON BOND Chicago, Dec. Wentzlaff, 56, charged with embezzlement of funds from Boulevard State Savings Bank while receiver institution. seized today in the lobby of loop hotel. He released $1,000 bond. warrant for issued yesterday on behalf Robert Murphy, bank and representative the Continental Casualty company which had been on Wentzlaff's bond.


Article from The Daily Illini, December 30, 1932

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Article Text

WENTZLAFF SEIZED CHICAGO, Dec. Wentzlaff, 56, charged bezzlement of $9,029 funds from the boulevard State Savings bank while receiver for the institution, was seized today in the lobby of loop hotel. He was released on $1,000 bond.


Article from Herald and Review, December 30, 1932

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Article Text

Receiver for Chicago Bank Seized for Fraud charged $9,029 funds from the Boulevard State bank while for the seized Thursday in the lobby of loop hotel. was released later on bond.


Article from Mid-West Progressive, November 16, 1933

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Article Text

BANK RECEIVER SENT TO JAIL CHICAGO Emil J. Wentzlaff, former secretary to ex-Mayor William Hale Thompson, last week was sentenced to serve from one to ten years in the penitentiary on a plea of guilty to embezzling $9,029 from the Boulevard State Savings Bank while acting as its receiver. Wentzlaff was sentenced after his attorney pleaded that he be placed on probation, saying that Wentzlaff would turn over everything he possessed in restitution. After the sentence he announced that no appeal would be made and Wentzlaff would begin serving his sentence at once.