4717. Union Trust Company (Chicago, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
September 22, 1873
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
d399a3da

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspaper coverage (Sept 22–23, 1873) describes alarm, heavy withdrawals and measures by savings banks to require notice. The second article describes the Union Trust Company's secretary (Charles Carlton) as having absconded/defrauded, which is adverse bank-specific information that triggered alarm. No article reports a suspension, receivership, or permanent closure of the Union Trust Company in these items, so classified as run_only.

Events (2)

1. September 22, 1873 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Reports that the Union Trust Company's secretary (Charles Carlton) had absconded/been involved in misconduct and related alleged missing securities; created alarm and rumors about the trust company.
Measures
Savings banks' officers resolved to require notice for withdrawal of deposits; officers held consultation to adopt measures to protect depositors.
Newspaper Excerpt
A GENERAL APPREHENSION ... there be a run on the savings banks of the city ... S. W. RAWHON, President Union Trust Company.
Source
newspapers
2. September 23, 1873 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
The report to the effect that a part of tho city funds were locked up in the vaults of the Union Trust Company gained considerable credence ... Comptroller Green stated that none of the city funds ... was in the keeping of the Union Trust Company. Dr. Thomas Carlton ... said his son took his final departure ... Charley seemed ... nervous and excited ... Charley went and got his hat, saying to me, 'You must excuse me, father but it is necessary for me to go out.' (describing the secretary's disappearance/possible defalcation).
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Chicago Daily Tribune, September 22, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

argued in time The same amounts of gold and currency that were in the country a fortnight Ago aro hold here to-day. The result has been A transfer of if no panio disturbing all only transfer, possession, business relations and that be created, affects only those immediately interested in the fortunes of one firm. But there was A GENERAL APPREHENSION that, owing to the excitement which some were endeavoring to increaso and extend and intensify, there be a run on the savings banks of the city tooutside of the officers and managers would day, and, and of interest these institutions, there was much anxiety expressed as to the result of such a movement. The of the savings banks, the and determining to managers possibilities, provide appreciating for their own safety and the security of their depositors, held a consultation yesterday, and resolved upon the adop& course as was both within the law and best as trustees of for tion the of such guardianship the treasures they hold. Their action is elsewhere reported. While it may not be denied that there was expressed yesterday & feeling of doubt in view of possible contingencies, it cannot be affirmed that there was anything approaching excitement or alarm. Men discussed THE FINANCIAL SITUATION quietly and deliberately, but not with the perfect confidence that mark predictions of ord! ary business. on the subject were in but conducted nor Conversations whispers, neither in boisterous moderate touce, as is the wont of the usual times, by couples, or in email knota. If appearances yesterday be any indication of results to-day, there will be no panic, and no rush on the banks, unless upon the savings institutions. All probability of such an attompted "run" is forestalled in the action of these institutions. A TRIBUNE reporter conversed with a number of the of the savings banks yesterday, and they the case: We receive and we pay heavy expenses mallmanagers pay thus interest, pithily put deposits. for the We agement of our institutions. To do this, of course, we cannot afford to let money lie idle in our vaults. We must invest it at remunerative rates. In doing BO, we endeavor to loan on the best terms compatible with for our depositors. This money must on a reasonable time, and in on domand. Our unperfect be immediately loaned security depositors cannot be must called derstand this. Our security is good, but we cannot pay at once all depositors out of our reserve funds." ACTION OF THE HAVINGS RANKS, The following is the result of the meeting of the officera of the avings banks yeaterday : SAVING DEPOSITE.-To allay all unnecessary excitement, and in the interest of the public and our depositors, and to prevent the possibility of any party obtaining an advantage over another, and to protect of the savings banks of the City of Chiby the officers whose names are hereto, will, from and after scribed cago, the rights represented all, this date, insist subupon requiring notice for the withdrawal of deposits, according to their respective rules. D. D. SPENCER, President State Savings Institution. JOHN C. HAINES, President of Fidelity Bank and Hafo Depository. SYDNEY MYERS, Cashier Merchants', Farmers' & Mechanica' Savings Bank, FRED. MEYER, Cashier Commercial Loan Company. F. C. TAYLOR, Vice-President Cook County Savings Bank. HENRY GREENEDAUX, President German Savings Bank. FRANCIS LACKNER, President German-American Savings Bank. 8. W. RAWHON, President Union Trust Company. CARL F. W. JUNGE, Treasurer Chicago Savings Institution and Trust Company. J. YOUNG SOAMMON, President Havings Department of the Marine Company of Calcago. H. A. WARE, Cashier City Savings Bank. W. II. PARK, Cashier of the Bank of Chicago, JAMES W. BCOVILLE, President of the Prairio State Loan and Trust Company. LAST EVENING it was reported that a tologram from President Grant, directed to & prominent financior of this city, bad been received in the afternoon, stating that the President would to-day order the immediate issue of the $14,000,000 reserve fund In order to afford relief. reported. from


Article from Chicago Daily Tribune, September 23, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ating in lavor or 6-206 when have become acarce, as the Government has bought them during the last four years, and redoemed them through the machinery of the Syndicate. Sav. inge banks in particular, have parted with their 5-20a, and reinvested in other classes of Governmont bouds. Had the Secretary taken any class of Government bonds @20.000,00 at loast would have been offored him to-day, and this would have afforded all the necessary relief. The law for buying bonds makes no discrimination betwoon 5-20a and any other class. THE TROUBLE 18 DYING OUT because creditori generally and particularly do positora in savings banks have made up thoir minds to forego draft upon dobtor institutions l'he balauces in the City Treasury being reduced very low. many persons have entertained the Idea that the Compiroller might be seriously inconvenienced for want of funds to pay the numerous demands made upon him. The accounts of the City Chamborlain show that the funds in the City Treasury have decreased in the last two wooks from $470,858 to $84,187.46, and the moneys in the sinking funds interest and County Treasury have diminished in like propoition, The Controller. on being asked to day for the fnota in the case, said if the Board of Supervisors had done their duty and confirmed the tax lovy ton days before they did the Treasury would be in a much bottor condi lion He could not toll what domanda might be made on him, but thought there would be no serious trouble until taxes began to be paid The or penses of the city were met by the issuance of revenue bonds boaring 7 por cent interest He hoped the tax books would be ready the latter part of this week, or the first of next. The taxes would then probably come in rapidly and the revenue bonds would be paid, and certain other kinds of indebtodner would then be liquidated as soon as possible. Unpaid State tar amounts to $450,000. He thought If he norded money he could raise it without difficulty on revenue bonds The report to the effect that a part of tho city funds were locked up in the vaults of the Union Trust Company gained considerable oredonce throughout the city to-day In answer to this Comptroller Green stated that none of the city funds or money over which the city had any control in any shape or manner was in the keeping of the Union Trust Company. long time since, during the administration Sweeney as City Chamberlain, there had been some. but it had been withdraw some time ago. The Deputy City Chamborlain said that whon depositaries for city funds were last selected no trust company was chosen He also corruborated the remarks of the Comptrollor on the subject. CONSIDERABLE EXCITEMENT WAS CAUSED of in the street by a rumor that A. D. Williams, the firm of A. D. Williams & Co. stock-brokers of Wall street. had defrauded the Bank of North America out of about $459.000 and absconded On inquiry, it was ascortained that A D. Williama had overdrawn their account with the Bank of North America on Saturday to the amount of 8495,000, and had failed to make it good. This morning the officers of the banks became very much alarmod, and. obtaining an at tachment upon the property of Williams & Co. succeeded in securing the restoration of $250,000, together with the assurance that the rematuder would be forthcoming before p. m The part ners of Mr. Williams dony that he has absconded, and assort that he is at home ill ANOTHER ACCOUNT OVERDRAWI John Bonner, another ck-broker. had overdrawn his account with same bank to the amount of $400,000. Bonnor said, in explana. tion, that, fearing the bank would not go through safely, be overdrow his account and placed the money in the Banh of Now York with the understandit that it was to be Bul ject to the orders of the Bank of North America if the lattor went through He then deposited his uncertified personal check with the Bank of North America to equare the account. When the clearances were effected Bouner's account was made up, and nothing was overdrawn, although there was little alarm for the time being CARLTON. THE DEFAULTER Dr. Thomas Cariton, father of Charles Carlton, the absconding Secretary of the Union Trust Company stated to-day that he was in the office of the Trust Company when his son took his final departure. Charley seemed, he said, to be very nervous and excited When he was not busy signing checks he conversed with me, and several times saw tears rolling down his checks. Since his wife died, three weeks ago, ho line not been himee)f. and have frequently found him weeping while he has constantly been despondent and depressed. I supposo on the morning in question that he was think ing of his loss being also flurried about the affairs of the Company I talked to him earnestly, telling him he should keep cool and not get excited. Finally, just before noon, Charley went and got his bat, saying to mo, You must excuse mo, father but it is necessary for me to go out B. fow minutes will be back very soon. Supposing that he was going out on business, I did not attempt to stop him. After waiting some time for nim to return, I went away My son did not, AS has been stated, go to the safe and take out $1,000. Ho could not have done 80, à3 the Cashier pays out the money. He did not even take his overcoat, and nothing was missing from his wardrobe at home except the olothes he wore. I cannot understand why Charley should run away He Las friends who would have made good any deficiency. It is my opinion that he has boon crazy since the death of his wife. My business at the Trust Company's office that morning was about loans made to me. Some time ago the Company lent me $300,000 for which I gave the very best securities, and when I heard the run on the bank I went to it and offored to pay the loans if the Company wished I should saw Mr Scholl, and he told mo it was not neces. sary, however. On Saturday, after banking hours, read notice calling in the loans, and this very morning paid $15,000, and would have paid the remainder but one of held checks the was dishonored by city bank, because the institution using it had not received the amount on deposit in bank. This loan was not made to me by my son personally as has been stated but by the Company. I have been told since his doparture that Charley speculated heavily Ho bought 1.500 Bharee of Pacific Mail and 1.000 shares of Western Union, but cannot speak definitely of any other investments. In reply to & question whether he thought his son took any of the missing securities or bonds with him, Dr. Carlton said: No: I do not think 80 but I told Was by who gentleman was with myself at the time, that he went to one of the down-town savings banks where he has deposits and withdrew 82.000. Dr. Carlton had neither seen nor heard from his son from the time he partod with him at the Union Trust Company's office, and had not the slightest idea of his whereabouts. From the time he was 15 years of age, unti five years ago, Carlton, Jr WAH connected with the United States Trust Company, which place he left for the Assistant Secretaryship of the Union Trust Company. By faithful service ho BOOD became Secretary, which position he held up to last Friday with spotless reputation Mr. Carlton was 30 years of ago, and his salary A8 Secretary of the Trust Company was $10,000 per year. ARRIVALS Hugh McCulloch and Pitt Cooke, of the London house of Jay Cooko & Co. lauded here today, and were overwhelmed