Columbian National Bank

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Closure
Bank Type: national
Start Date: March 21, 1896
Location: Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 60f938c9

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (Mar 21, 1896) states the Columbian National Bank is in the hands of a receiver in Chicago and that the receiver paid a 30% dividend. No mention of a depositor run; bank is under receivership (closure). Dates inferred from publication and letter dates in the article.

Events (2)

1. March 21, 1896 Receivership

Newspaper Excerpt: the receiver of the Columbia bank paid me a 30 per cent dividend amounting to $385.90 ... now in the hands of a receiver in Chicago, in which I asked that you kindly pay any balance you may have belonging to the state over to the proper officers
Source: newspapers

2. March 21, 1896 Suspension

Cause: Government Action
Cause Details: Bank placed in receivership (receiver in Chicago) and paying dividend to creditors/depositors.
Newspaper Excerpt: the Columbian National Bank, now in the hands of a receiver in Chicago
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. March 28, 1896 The Caldwell Tribune Caldwell, ID

Article from The Caldwell Tribune, March 28, 1896

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Article Text

Very Sincerely Yours, W. J. MCCONNELL, Governor. ### Wells to the governor: Payette, March 16, 1896. Editor Independent-Replying to your favor the 14th inst., asking if there is any foundation in truth for the statement now being circulated by the governor, to the effect that I have in some way failed to account to the state for funds entrusted to me as World's Fair Commissioner, I have to say: There is no shadow of truth in this accusation. [Mr. Wells then proceeds to make some explanations respecting time and manner of receiving information contained in the governor's letter, and quotes the authority given him by the state board for paying a portion of the money to Senator Shoup. The text of the board's letter to Wells appears in Governor McConnell's second letter.] Mr. Wells continues: This document is signed by the full board as above stated and you will observe it bears date "June 18, 1894," nearly a year after the close of the fair, and long after my settlement as commissioner had been made with the state and my books and accounts turned over to the proper officer. It is true the receiver of the Columbia bank paid me a 30 per cent dividend amounting to $385.90 while yet commissioner, and before I had settled with the state, which amount you will find properly rendered in my accounts now on file with the secretary. The money I have received from the bank since my retirement from the office has been received not as World's Fair Commissioner at all, but rather as an individual or agent of the state, acting under the authority of the Board of Examiners. In closing, Mr. Wells says: From the above facts, coupled with concurrent events, it would seem that his excellency is shielding himself behind the ramparts of a high office while he makes a cowardly and slanderous assault upon a citizen in private life, to gratify a petty spleen and for whatever effect that assault may have in determining the results of the coming political campaign in this state. But what is one to do? Unquestionably he could be held fcr libel, but then there comes immediately to mind the old adage, "Sue a beggar and catch a louse," and one is compelled to abandon that line of thought. I have not the prestige of a high office and cannot call around me a horde of sycophants and time servers ready to do my bidding, whatever that may be. I cannot use the telegraph wires at the expense of the state to give more rapid and wider circulation to my fulminations; nor have I the means of subsidizing newspapers at home or abroad. But unequal as the contest may seem to be there are two things that are largely in my favor, and entirely beyond the reach of the governor. I have a just cause and a tolerably good character to begin with and before this controversy is ended, if I mistake not, his excellency will find there are blows to take as well as blows to give, and I commend him to a careful husbandry of his resources. Respectfully, JAMES M. WELLS. ### The governor to Wells: March 21, 1896. Capt. J. M. Wells, Payette, Idaho. DEAR SIR-On the 12th day of this month I addressed to you a letter concerning the balance due the state from the Columbian National Bank, now in the hands of a receiver in Chicago, in which I asked that you kindly pay any balance you may have belonging to the state over to the proper officers, as this matter has now been standing much longer than propriety would seem to permit. I have received no answer to this communication, but I find in the Payette Independent of the 19th inst. an open letter addressed to me on that subject. I am sorry that you felt called upon to indulge in "billingsgate" in replying to an official communication which I attempted to couch in business and courteous language. In your letter you quote a letter addressed to you by the board, directing you to pay $463 which you had at that time received from the Columbian National Bank to Geo. L. Shoup in part payment of the sum of $1,000 advanced by the senator last summer to you as World's Fair commissioner. The letter is as follows: "Hon. J. M. Wells, Late World's Fair Commissioner, Boise City, Idaho. "SIR-Your letter of even date stating that you had received