4725. Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann (Chicago, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
private
Start Date
December 20, 1896
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
e7f9cd4d

Response Measures

None

Description

The articles report the private banking firm Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann 'failed a week ago' (relative to Dec 27, 1896) as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. There is no mention of an organized depositor run in these extracts; the firm is described as having failed (suspended/closed) and the principal committed suicide. No explicit receivership or takeover is reported in the excerpts, but the firm is described as having 'failed', so classified as suspension leading to closure. Date of failure inferred as ~1896-12-20 (one week before Dec 27, 1896).

Events (1)
1. December 20, 1896 Suspension
Cause
Correspondent
Cause Details
Firm failed a week earlier 'as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois' (distress at correspondent/linked bank).
Newspaper Excerpt
private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (10)
1. December 28, 1896 Kansas City Daily Journal Kansas City, MO
Article from Kansas City Daily Journal, December 28, 1896

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oTTo WASMANSDORFF FIRES A BULLET INTO HIS BRAIN. HIS HOUSE RECENTLY FAILED. CRITICISM OF DEPOSITORS MADE HIM DESPONDENT. Was a Member of the Private Banking Firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann-Was Known as an Honest and Conservative Man. Chicago, Dec. 27.-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, to-day fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at his home on Cleveland avenue, at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., who were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, heard the report of the revolver and rushed upstairs. Running into the room, the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed, dying, a 32-caliber revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple, and a small stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff, and also seriously affected his wife, who was ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated such an act. Mrs. Wasmansdorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000 and the liabilities at $413,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a banker in this city more than a quarter of a century, and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the erash last Monday. He was of a retiring and unobtrusive nature and was known in the business community as a conservative and honest man. He was about 55 years old.

2. December 28, 1896 Wheeling Register Wheeling, WV
Article from Wheeling Register, December 28, 1896

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HE KILLED HIMSELF. Suicide of Banker Wasmansdorff, at Chicago, Yesterday. Unable to Stand the Wreck of His Fortune and the Criticisms of Depositers, He Shot Himself Through the Head-Another Result of the Illinois Bank Failure. Chicago, December 27-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, to-day fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at his home on Cleveland avenue, at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., who were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, heard the report of the revolver and rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed dying, a revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself IN THE RIGHT TEMPLE, and a tiny stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansderff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff, and also seriously affected his wife, who is ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down, and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later THE FATAL SHOT was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief, and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated such an act. Mrs. Wasmansdorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000, and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a banker in this city for more than a quarter of a century. and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the crash last Monday. He was of a retiring and unobtrusive nature and was known in the business community as a conservative and honest man. He was about 55 years old.

3. December 28, 1896 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seattle, WA
Article from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 28, 1896

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GOADED TO DESPERATION. Banker Wasmansdorff, of Chicago, Commits Suicide. CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-Suffering from depression, caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, today fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at his home in Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, jr., were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, and hearing the report of the revolver rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying in the bed dying, a 32-caliber revolver at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple, and a small stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of the bank had & crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff, and also seriously affected his wife, who is 111. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down, and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief, and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated suicide. Mrs. Wasmansdorff is prostrated. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000 and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a banker in this city more than a quarter of a century, and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down In the crash last Monday. He was of retiring and unobtrusive nature. and was known in the business community as a conservative and honest man. He was about 55 years of age,

4. December 28, 1896 The Houston Daily Post Houston, TX
Article from The Houston Daily Post, December 28, 1896

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BANKER SUICIDES On Account of Ruin Brought On by Chicago Failure. Chicago, December 27.-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, today fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a bedroom at his home on Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., who were in the parior beneath their father's bed room, heard the report of the revolver and rush. ed upstars. Running into the room, the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed dying, a revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple and a thin stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing effect on Mr. Wasmansdorff and seriously effected his wife, who is ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors worried him and he was in a constantly troubled state of mind. This morning the banker/ appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After he had break. fasted with his family. with whom he chatted pleasantly. he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard By the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated such an act. Mrs. Wasmans. dorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000 and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a banker in this city for more than a quarter of a century and during that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the crash last Monday. He was a retiring and unobtrusive man and was known In the business community as a conservative and honest man. He was about 55 years old.

5. December 28, 1896 The Saint Paul Globe Saint Paul, MN
Article from The Saint Paul Globe, December 28, 1896

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BULLET IN HIS BRAIN BANKRUPT CHICAGO BANKER ENDS LIFE'S TROUBLES AND WORRIES. WENT DOWN IN THE CRASH CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION OF THE ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK. FELT HIS LOSS KEENLY. Criticisms of His Unfortunate Victims More Than He Could Bear. CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, today fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at his home on Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto Jr., who were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, heard the report of the revolver and rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed dying and a 32-caliber revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple, and a tiny stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff and also seriously affected his wife, who is ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticisms of unfortunate depositors weighed him down, and he was in constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated suicide. Mrs. Wasmansdorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000 and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff has been a banker in this city for more than a quarter of a century, and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the crash last Monday. He was of a retiring and unobtrusive nature and was known in the business community as a conservative and honest man. He was about fifty-five years old.

6. December 28, 1896 Omaha Daily Bee Omaha, NE
Article from Omaha Daily Bee, December 28, 1896

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CHICAGO BANKER COMMITS SUICIDE. Recent Financial Collapse in that City Results in n Tragedy. CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, today fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at his home on Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, jr., were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, heard the report of the revolver and rushed upstairs. Running to the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed, dying, a 32-calibre revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple from which a stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of the bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff and also seriously affected his wife, who is ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of his depositors weighed him down and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After his breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contemplated such an act. Mrs. Wasmansdorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the assets of Mr. Wasmansdorff's bank were given at $550,000 and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a banker in this city more than a quarter of a century and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the crash last Monday. He was of a retiring and unobstrusive nature and was known in the business way as a conservative and honest man. He was about 55 years of age.

7. December 30, 1896 The Breckenridge News Hardinsburg, Cloverport, KY
Article from The Breckenridge News, December 30, 1896

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CHICAGO BANKER SUICIDES. He Could Not Stand the Suffering Caused by Financial Failure. CHICAGO, Dec. 28.-Saffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff. a well known banker of this city, yesterday fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmanscorff killed himself in a front hall bedroom at -his home in Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock in the morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., who were in the parlor beneath their father's bedroom, heard the report of the revolver and rushed upstairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed dying, a revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself in the right temple, and a tiny stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff and also seriously affected his wife, who is ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. Yesterday morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morning papers. He then engaged in 1 frolic with his little granddaughter. after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons.

8. December 31, 1896 Reporter and Farmer Webster, SD
Article from Reporter and Farmer, December 31, 1896

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# HE ENDS HIS LIFE # A WELL KNOWN BANKER IN CHICAGO COMMITS SUICIDE. While Suffering From Depression Caused by Financial Reverses, Otto Wasmansdorfer, Whose Bank Recently Failed as a Result of the Collapse of the National Bank of Illinois, Fires a Bullet Into His Brain. Chicago, Dec. 28. -Suffering from de- pression, caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, to-day fired a bul- let into his brain and died almost in- stantly. Banker Wasmansdorff killed himself in a front hall bed room at his home in Cleveland avenue this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., who were in the parlor beneath, heard the report of the revolver and rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on the bed dying, and a 32-caliber re- volver lying by his side. He had shot himself in the right temple and a tiny stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed had apparently been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmans- dorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of his bank had a crushing ef- fect upon Mr. Wasmansdorff, and also seriously affected his wife, who is ser- iously ill. The banker for several days was unable to eat or sleep. The crit- icism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down and he was in a constant troubled state of mind. This morning the banker appeared brighter and less troubled in mind than upon any other day since the financial crash that ruined him. After breakfast with his family, with whom he chatted pleasantly, he glanced over the morn- ing papers. He then engaged in a frolic with his little granddaughter, after which he retired to his room. Fifteen minutes later the fatal shot was heard by the two sons. The young men were overcome with grief and said they never had the slightest suspicion that their father contem- plated suicide. Mrs. Wasmansdorff was prostrated by the shock. At the time of the failure the as- sets of the bank were given at $550,- 000 and the liabilities at $415,000. Mr. Wasmansdorff had been a bank- er in this city for more than a quarter of a century, and during all that time he was a member of the firm which went down in the crash last week. He was of a retiring and unobtrusive na- ture and was known in the business community as a conservative and hon- est man. He was about fifty-five years old.

9. December 31, 1896 Rocky Ford Enterprise Rocky Ford, CO
Article from Rocky Ford Enterprise, December 31, 1896

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Chicago Banker Suicides. Chicago, Dec. 27.-Suffering from de pression caused by financial reverses, Ot. to Wasmansdorff, a well known banker of this city, to-day fired a bullet into his brain and died almost instantly. Banker Wasmasdorff killed himself In a front hall bed room at his home on Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., were in the parlor beneath their father's room, heard the report of the revolver and rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on his bed. dying. a 22-caliber revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself In the right temple, and a small stream of blood was flowing down his check. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberate ly planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week age as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of the bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmans dorff and also seriously affected his wife, who is III. The banker, for several days, was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down and he was in a constant troubled state of mind.

10. January 2, 1897 The Meeker Herald Meeker, CO
Article from The Meeker Herald, January 2, 1897

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Chicago Banker Suicides. Chicago, Dec. 27.-Suffering from depression caused by financial reverses, Otto Wasmansdorff. a well known banker of this city, to-day fired a bullet into his brain and died almost Instantly. Banker Wasmasdorff killed himself in a front hall bed room at his home on Cleveland avenue at 11 o'clock this morning. His sons, William G. and Otto, Jr., were in the parlor beneath their father's room, heard the report of the revolver and rushed up stairs. Running into the room the horrified sons beheld their father lying on his bed. dying, a 22-caliber revolver lying at his side. He had shot himself In the right temple, and a small stream of blood was flowing down his cheek. Everything in the room was in perfect order. The deed apparently had been deliberately planned. Mr. Wasmansdorff was a member of the private banking firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinnemann, which failed a week ago as a result of the failure of the National Bank of Illinois. The failure of the bank had a crushing effect upon Mr. Wasmans dorff and also seriously affected his wife, who is III. The banker, for several days, was unable to eat or sleep. The criticism of unfortunate depositors weighed him down and be was in a constant troubled state of mind.