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SENSATIONAL FAILURE IN CHICAGO. Schaffner s Co. Assign-Ramored Suicide of the Head of the House. CHICAGO. May 3.-Herman Schaffner & Co., private bankers, made a complete assignment today. Schaffner & Co. have been the largest private concern in this city, or in the northwest, dealing exclusively in commercial paper. The firm was also one of the oldest of its kind in Chicag o. No statement of the affairs of the bank was filed in court on the application for a receiver. The assignment of the bank was made to the American Trust and Savings Bank. Early today the cashier of that institution visited the bank at the Title and Trust building only to find a large and demonstrative crowd assembled and the doors closed. To add to the excitement it was reported that Schaffner had committed suicide. It is stated that the creditors of the bank will lose nothing. Attorney Levy Mayer, representing the assignee. stated that, even in the event of a forced liquidation, there will be enough money to meet all liabilities. The firm was considered one of the most solid private banks in the country. It did a small deposit and brokerage business, and its greatest busine38 was a commercial brokerage business with banks all over the country. In the regular course of its business the bank sold commercial paper without indorsing it and also without any liability. Most of the paper was bought on the strength of mercantile houses by which it was in dorsed. DISAPPEARANCE OF SCHAFFNER. The assignment was undoubtedly caused by the disappearance of Hermann Schaffner, the senior member of the firm. of which the other member is A.T. Becker. Yesterday noon Schaffner left his coat in the office and stated to his partner that he was going out on an errand. Since then nothing has been seen or heard of him. He has not been at his home at 3217 Wabash avenue, and the police have made vain efforts to discover his whereabouts. This fact started a rumor on the board of trade this morning that he had committed suicide. The worst is feared by his friends and business associates. Mr. Schaffner's partner was so much moved over the disappearance of his associate that last night he became ill, and today he is at home suffering from the depression and so ill that he is confined to his bed. The bank had been in trouble for several days and the impending disaster appeared to have a most distreesing effect upon Mr. Schaffner. No statement of the assets and liabilities has been made or is possible until the assignee goes over the books. A meeting of those interested in the bank will be held Monday or Tuesday next to see about resuming business.