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CLEVELAND'S FEDERAL TRUST COMPANY FAILS Prominent Official Disappears and an Assignment Is MadeAssets $3,000,000. RUN ON A SMALL BANK CLEVELAND, O., March 31.-The Federal Trust Company to-day made an assignment to the Guardian Trust Company. The action is stated to have been taken as a result of the disappearance of a prominent official of the Federal Trust Company. Reports are in circulation that Γ shortage has been found in the funds of the concern. While no statement has been filed as yet by the Federal Company, it is understood it will turn over about $1,000,000 in deposits to the assignee. Its total assets will be about $3,000,000. The Federal Trust Company has a capital stock of $1,500,000. It has a surplus fund of $50,000 and about $140,000 undivided profits. It had $2,188,362 in loans and discounts, $45,300 real-estate loans and owned $729,000 worth of stocks, bonds and mortgages. Its last statement showed individual deposits of $1,593,328, but officials state the deposits were about $1,000,000 at the close of business last night. The deed of assignment to the Guardian Trust was signed by C. J. Gilchrist, president, and G. C. Bailey, assistant secretary of the Federal Trust Company. Officials of both of the trust companies declare positively that no depositor will lose a penny as a result of the assignment. It is also stated that the shortage in the accounts of the Federal Trust Company will not exceed $20,000. In view of sensational rumors, however, and the possibility of a run, it was deemed wise to make an immediate assignment. The two concerns were under an agreement recently ratified by the stockholders to be merged on April 1. President J. C. Gilchrist, of the Federal Trust Company, made the following statement this evening to the Associated Press concerning the assignment: "The turning over of the Federal Trust Company to the Guardian Trust Company was along the lines of a proposed consolidation, which was to have taken place April 1. But the absence of one of our officers from the city since Saturday last caused a feeling of alarm in certain quarters that probably would have resulted in a run on the bank before that date. As all the signatures of the stockholders of the Federal Company had not been secured the directors of the latter concern could not guarantee the Guardian Trust Company that it would be unanimous. The Guardian Company was willing to carry out its consolidation agreement, but in order to make it safe for them to do so they advised the assignment of the Federal Company with the understanding that the agreement for the consolidation be carried out. The Guardian Company had already examined the securities of the Federal Company and finding the securities and assets of the bank in good shape they were willing to pay the depositors in the latter bank in full at once and this plan was carried out." As a result of sensational reports circulated in connection with the assignment of the Federal Trust Company a run was started to-day on the Pearl-street Savings and Loan Company's bank. The bank is largely patronized by foreigners, and for an hour or SO excited men and women crowded its offices in quest of their money. Big downtown banks promptly rushed large sums of money to the Pearl-street bank, mostly in silver coin, which was piled up high on the counters in full view of the people crowding the place. The effect of this was almost instantaneous, and the crowd of depositors quickly left and the run was over. The bank is declared to be perfectly solvent.