Crane, Parris & Company (Washington, DC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
4536886491590
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
453688649 hash
Start Date
June 17, 1932
Location
Washington, District of Columbia (38.895, -77.036)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
6d12942976019071

Response Measures

None

Description

Firm described as 'private bankers' and is in receivership following collapse; receivership pursued by unsecured creditors.

Events (2)

1. June 17, 1932 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Application was made today to the District Supreme Court for the appointment of a receiver for the investment banking firm of Crane, Parris & Co., 821 Fifteenth street.
Source
newspapers
2. July 2, 1934 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
$350,000 DECREED AGAINST BANKER Three Plaintiffs Awarded Huge Judgment in Thompson Case. ... The banking house failed last year and is now in receivership.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Evening Star, June 17, 1932

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Article Text

RECEIVER SOUGHT FOR BANKING FIRM Application Filed by Three Unsecured Creditors of Crane, Parris & Co. Application was made today to the District Supreme Court for the appointment of a receiver for the investment banking firm of Crane, Parris & Co., 821 Fifteenth street. Justice Jesse C. Adkins issued a rule on Eugene E. Thompson and B. Ogle Harper, said to comprise the firm, and on Thomas W. Brahany, former member of the firm, who retired March 13, 1931, to show cause next Tuesday why the receiver should not be appointed. The suit is filed by Charles A. Carry, 1311 G street, who says he has $108,000 on deposit with the firm; M. Virginia Devine, Wardman Park Hotel, described as a widow 81 old, who claims that stock worth years approximately $50,000 belonging to her was hypothecated, and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, which claims to have had $107,000 on deposit with the bankers. Would Cancel Contract. Through Attorneys Alexander H. Bell, Fred McKee and O'Brien & O'Brien the plaintiffs ask the cancellation of a contract made October 23 last, whereby the three creditors, being the only unsecured creditors, agreed not to prosecute any suits against the firm and to allow liquidating trustees to settle the affairs of Crane, Parris & Co. At the time of the signing of this agreement, the bill of complaint alleges, misrepresentations were made to them concerning the assets and liabilities of the company. It is also alleged that a recent audit has disclosed that the firm is not in the solvent condition that was represented. There was no consideration for the agreement, the plaintiffs assert. Assets Pledged. The claim is made that the present assets of the firm consists almost entirely of bonds and other securities pledged as collateral for loans of Crane, Parris & Co., the income from which, it is alleged on information, is not sufficient to pay the interest on the loans. A large of the assets of the firm, it now is alleged, part is in possession of Brahany, as manager of E. A. Pierce & Co., and that the shares of stock belonging to Mrs. Devine were pledged with the Pierce Co. as collateral for a loan to Crane, Parris & Co.


Article from Evening Star, July 2, 1934

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Article Text

$350,000 DECREED AGAINST BANKER Three Plaintiffs Awarded Huge Judgment in Thompson Case. A decree for a $350,000 judgment against Eugene E. Thompson, former member of Crane, Parris & Co., private bankers, was signed in District Supreme Court today by Justice Jennings Bailey. This was said to be the largest judgment ever obtained here in an Equity Court. The plaintiffs in the suit were Charles A. Carry, local real estate man: Mrs. Virginia Devine of the Dresden Apartments and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. Inc. The banking house failed last year and is now in receivership. Thompson, foreman of the grand jury which indicted G. Bryan Pitts, after the collapse of the F. H. Smith Co., allegedly permitted certain stock, left with the banking house by Mrs. Devine, to be used in protecting indebtedness incurred by his firm. The decree said this was done without her knowledge or consent. Mrs. Devine was awarded judgment for $94.545.63 in connection with this transaction and an additional judgment for $13,976.02 in connection with the failure of the banking house. The judgment in Carry's favor was for $123,655.21. while the memorial association was declared entitled to receive $124,640.15. These judgments were based on the loss of money which had been deposited with the banking house before it went into receivership. In October, 1931, the plaintiffs entered into an agreement with Thompson, B. Ogle and Harper and the late William Knowles Cooper, then the partners in the banking house, not to institute any criminal proceedings. Justice Bailey's decree directed that this agreement remain open, the court to retain jurisdiction over it. Attorneys Julius I. Peyser and Aaron W. Jacobson represented Mrs. Devine.