First National Bank - Morrilton, AR

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 10434
Charter Number: 10434
Start Date: March 12, 1928
Location: Morrilton, Arkansas (35.151, -92.744)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 18a7113d0d4249f9

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (Paragould Soliphone, 1928-07-09) describes a robbery/theft at the First National Bank of Morrilton on March 12 that led depositors to make a run on the institution. No suspension, receivership, or reopening is mentioned. OCR errors corrected (dates and some garbled sentences).

Events (3)

1. August 16, 1913 Chartered

Source: historical_nic

2. March 12, 1928 Run

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: The run followed discovery/theft from a bank cage (robbery/theft by janitor and accomplices discovered March 12).
Newspaper Excerpt: when depositors made run be on the institution
Source: newspapers

3. May 13, 1929 Voluntary Liquidation

Source: historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. July 9, 1928 Paragould Soliphone Paragould, AR

Article from Paragould Soliphone, July 9, 1928

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Article Text

Mountain Service Quick In Court Action Kentucky For Bank Bandits Three Disappear Sheriff Ball and Two Deputies Respond to Call and Two Dead Bodies Found (Bp Associated Press) Harlan. Ky. July 7.-Floyd Ball. sheriff. and John Hensley deputy, were killed and Tom Holes, another deputy. missing as result of mountain feud here. Sheriff Ball received an anonymous telephone message last night reporting to him that man was terrorizing passersby on Mayo Trail, near Harlan, and Deputies Hensley and Holes joined him in an investigation the complaint. residing near the scene of Persons the tragedy heard fuscilade of shots found the dead bodies of Sheriff Ball and Deputy Hensley believed that Deputy Holes, the other deputy was slain. officers had been of late against the operation moonshiners, no definite motive has been advanced for the killings. Less Than Forty-Eight Hours After Robbery, Three Negroes Are Sent Up ALL GET 26 YEARS Pleaded Guilty to Robbing Morrilton Institution of $8,500 (B) The Merrilton Ark., July 7.-In less than hours after they had robbed the First National Bank of this city of $8,500, three negroes today have been indicted, pleaded guilty and received prison sentences. Lee Franklin, janitor of the bank, given 26 years for robbery and an additional five years in the pen, to run concurrently, for previous theft from the bank, and John Williams and fred Rosser received from Circuit Judge Bullock special term of Circuit court. Negroes Confess Ark July 7.-Following holdup and robbery of the First National Bank of Morrilton on total about o'clock Thursday afternoon three local negroes rested by members of the office and detectives representing Arkansas Bankers Association of the loot recovered Friday afternoon Lee Franklin, janitor of the First National Bank Building, who planned the robbery. made a signed confession to officers about o'clock Friday morning, which he implicated A1bert Rosser and John Williams. Rosser confessed to his part in the five holdup about o'clock Friday afternoon, few minutes after Williams hearing that officers were looking for and him went to the sheriff's office and surrendered. Williams. the third man be questioned did not confess to by his part in the robbery until o'clock Friday Took Money From Cages Another signed was made by Franklin to Herman Bennett The Little detective for the Arkansas Bankers' Association that he stole out of one of the cages of the porFirst National Bank March 12. this year, when depositors made run be on the institution. Nothing was known this robbery until the confession of and except by officers and employes are the bank and the detectives for the Bankers' Association, although Frank lin was under suspicion. total of $6,500 of the loot was and Franklin in hole in concealed by lining furnace in the asbestos of the First National the basement together with two This, gloves and three pairs of W used by the negroes in handkerchiefs found in the furnace the holdup were following Franklin's o'clock Friday afternoon About that he had buried Rosser admitted in of the stolen money some the home He patch near his ton officers to the scene accompanied the two fruit jars containing and dug up currency. A total of $1,365 in Williams third hidden by of $440 the home of his room at There was still Sol negro had not been the money that $260 of New Friday night recovered his Leader he was the that Franklin that he planthe gang, and leader weeks ago. He robbery two ned the the clothes and revolvers said that hidden in the the men were used by of this week furnace The robbery Monday carried out as half- they Thursday was had planned. that all of and they realized holiday houses would the banks and Rosser closed during the their faces conand bandanna handkerworn two revolvers, enchiefs and carrying the climbing the stairs the bank by and tered Rosser ordered the basement. will from "put up and Garrett to crop lying in Taking money the vault pro- they the cashier's keys the vault and him and made door on clased directors escape through their with the Franklin to the from their where hid with clothes and the money. officers and to local According PolyLittle Rock detecof the members the the bank robbery tive force, experience be their first holdup An adjourned committed by negroes expected to of circuit court term New the three men called here to try the charges