Old Colony Trust Company (Boston, MA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
5012971448
Episode Type
Run โ†’ Suspension โ†’ Unsure
Bank Type
trust
Bank ID
501297 routing
Routing Number
5-0129
Start Date
August 13, 1920
Location
Boston, Massachusetts (42.358, -71.060)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
659d73bfcf4fa84a

Response Measures

None

Description

Run and short suspension linked to the Ponzi investigation; reopening not described in provided articles.

Events (2)

1. August 13, 1920 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Tip that federal officers were investigating operations tied to Ponzi scheme prompted depositors to rush to withdraw funds.
Measures
Payments suspended for three or four days by advice of counsel; offices closed and an armed guard posted.
Newspaper Excerpt
A frantic mob today started a tremendous run on the officers of the Old Colony Trust Company
Source
newspapers
2. August 13, 1920 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Suspension followed investor demand and investigation into Ponzi-related operations; counsel advised temporary suspension of payments.
Newspaper Excerpt
payments had been suspended for three or four days by advice of counsel. Early in the afternoon the offices of the company were closed
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Log Cabin Democrat, August 13, 1920

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Article Text

FRANTICRUN MADE ON PONZI'S RIVAL (By United Press) Boston, Aug. 13.-A frantic mob today started a tremendous run on the officers of the Old Colony Trust Company, organized recently to "out Ponzi Ponzi" by offering investors 100 per cent profit within six months. When the offer was made, investors rushed in swarms to place their money in the coffers of the company. When a tip was passed out that federal officers were investigating operations of the company, the gullible stock holders rushed as determinedly back to regain possession of their money.


Article from The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, August 13, 1920

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Article Text

# PONZI UNDER GUARD. (Continued from Page 1.) direction. The Oliver street branch is in a room on the third floor. Bank Commissioner Allen, by whose order the Hanover Trust Co., Ponzi's chief depositary, was closed Wednesday, expressed the opinion today that depositors would lose nothing. "Nothing has developed yet," he said, "which leads me to believe that any depositor in the Hanover Trust Co. will lose a dollar. I believe the assets of the company together with the liabilities of the stockholders will produce a sum sufficient to pay every depositor in full." Charles M. Brightwell, treasurer of the Old Colony Trust Foreign Exchange Co., told those who demanded the return of their investments that payments had been suspended for three or four days by advice of counsel. Early in the afternoon the offices of the company were closed and in the crush of people the glass in the doors was broken. After that an armed guard stood inside the locked doors. Bank Commissioner Allen said today that so far as he knows there is no foundation for reports that other banking institutions besides the Hanover Trust Co. may be involved with the Ponzi collapse. Legal steps to protect Ponzi's noteholders continued to be taken today, another bankruptcy petition being filed in the federal court. United States District Attorney Gallagher issued the following statement yesterday afternoon following receipt of a partial report from Edwin L. Pride, who has been auditing Ponzi's acounts for the government: "Mr. Pride made a partial report to the United States today that Mr. Ponzi's liabilities are upward of $7,000,000, and that Mr. Ponzi has made a statement to Mr. Pride that his assets will not exceed $4,000,000. "Mr. Pride further states that owing to the fact that a great many notes are being sent to his office of which he had no record that such notes were ever issued, and the fact that there are more cancelled notes to be returned, for which he should give Ponzi credit, it will be some time before a more accurate statement can be prepared of the liabilities. Mr. Ponzi's admissions, which are deemed to be particularly significant, were made to Mr. Pride yesterday." Mr. Pride declined to make any further statement in regard to the audit.