4524. Kirby Savings Bank (Chicago, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
November 1, 1912*
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
71758505

Response Measures

None

Description

Kirby Savings Bank closed its doors on November 3, 1912 and Federal Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust Company as receiver. Reporting indicates missing deposits and theft/wiretapping that broke the bank (bank-specific adverse information). No article mentions a depositor run prior to suspension; the bank remained closed and placed in receivership. Also reports on Dr. William T. Kirby's death in April 1914 are included.

Events (3)
1. November 1, 1912* Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Shortly after this Federal Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust company receiver.
Source
newspapers
2. November 3, 1912 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank closed after apparent theft/embezzlement and missing deposits ($30,000); wiretappers robbed Dr. Kirby of funds and bank broke as a result.
Newspaper Excerpt
When the bank closed its doors, November 3, 1912
Source
newspapers
3. April 16, 1914 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Dr. William T. Kirby, head of the defunct Kirby Savings Bank, died at a hospital here today, a mental wreck.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)
1. April 17, 1914 The Guthrie Daily Leader Guthrie, OK
Article from The Guthrie Daily Leader, April 17, 1914

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Article Text

BANK FAILURE DRIVES KIRBY TO DEATH Chicago, April 17-Dr. William T. Khiby, head of the defunct Kirby Savings bank. died at a hospital here today a mental wreck. Circumstances following the fallure of the Kirby bank have been aired in the federal court here for more than a year. When the bank closed its doors. November 3. 1912, Dr. Kirby could not be found by depositors. Later it was learned he was in a sanitarium. Shortly after this Federal Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust company receiver.

2. April 17, 1914 New-York Tribune New York, NY
Article from New-York Tribune, April 17, 1914

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Article Text

BANKER-DEFAULTER DIES Lost Mind After Swindlers Got Depositors' Money. Chicago, April 16.-Dr. William T. Kirby, head of the broken Kirby Savings Bank, died at a hospital here to-day, a mental wreck. Circumstances following the fate of the Kirby bank have been aired in the federal court here for more than a year. When the bank closed its doors, on November 3, 1912, Dr. Kirby could not be found by depositors. Later 1t was learned that he was in a sanatorium. Soon after this Federal Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust Company receiver. It was declared there was $30,000 in deposits in the bank, but none of the money could be found. Judge Landis ordered Dr. Kirby to produce the money or go -to jail for contempt. The former banker then told a story of wire tapping, saying he had lost the money by betting

3. April 17, 1914 The Birmingham Age-Herald Birmingham, AL
Article from The Birmingham Age-Herald, April 17, 1914

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Article Text

WILLIAM T. KIRBY DIES MENTAL WRECK Head of Defunct Chicago Bank Succumbs to Strain Following Disastrous Business Affairs Chicago, April 16.-Dr. William T. Kirby, head of the defunct Kirby Savings bank, died at a hospital here today, a mental wreek. Circumstances following the failure of the bank have been aired in court here for more than a year. When the bank closed November 3. 1912, Dr. Kirby could not be found. Later, it was learned he was in a sanitarium. Shortly after this, Federal Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust company as receiver. It was declared there were $30,009 in deposits in the bank but none of the money could be found. Judge Landis ordered Dr. Kirby to produce the money or go to jail for contempt. Attorneys for the Kirbys and for the receiver finished their arguments, before Judge Landis only a few weeks ago and he announced he would take the case under advisement.

4. December 12, 1914 The Washington Herald Washington, DC
Article from The Washington Herald, December 12, 1914

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Article Text

MORE POLICE OFFICIALS INDICTED IN CHICAGO Among Four Accused, Lieutenant and Detective Are Charged with Big Graft. Chicago, Dec. 11.-Six additional indictments were presented against police officials today. Those indicted were: Capt. John J. Halpin, former chief of detectives; two charges of operating a confidence game; under suspension. Lieut. John S. Tobin, Halpin's former first aid at headquarters; same charges, with bribery added. Walter O'Brien, former detective sergeant at headquarters; same charges as Tobin. Detective Sergeant William Egan, two charges of operating a confidence game. Lieut. Tobin is charged with having accepted bribes to protect the swindlers of Mrs. Hope L. McEldowney, of La Crosse, Wis., who was fleeced out of $15,500, and Mrs. Mary Rapp, of Naperville, III., who was swindled out of $11,000 by the Ryan brothers, Frank and James, posing as clairvoyants. O'Brien is accused of protecting wiretappers who robbed Dr. W. T. Kirby, of $20,000 and broke the Kirby Savings Bank. Capt. Halpin and Egan are accused in the clairvoyant scandal.