First National Bank (Newark, NJ)

Episode Information

Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Start Date
June 11, 1880
Location
Newark, New Jersey (40.736, -74.172)
Bank Type
national
Charter Number
52

Metadata

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
100.0%
Date receivership started
1880-06-14
Date receivership terminated
1885-02-18
OCC cause of failure
Excessive lending
Share of assets assessed as good
77.7%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
11.9%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
10.4%

Notes

Known government receivership date (1880-06-14) differs slightly from some newspaper report dates.

Events (4)

1. August 7, 1863 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. June 11, 1880 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Closed and applied for a receiver amid reports of irregularities, false surplus statements, and cashier's departure for Europe.
Newspaper Excerpt
The First National bank of this city has suspended. The last statement claimed $62,000 surplus, which it is though was falsely stated.
Source
newspapers
3. June 14, 1880 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Receiver Appointed. NEWARK, N. J.. June 15. Senator Hobart, or Paterson, has been appointed receiver of the First National Bank of this city.
Source
newspapers
4. June 14, 1880 Receivership
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (21)

Article from Press and Daily Dakotaian, June 11, 1880

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Suspension of a National Bank

Newark, N. J., June 11.-The first naMonal bank closed to-day and applied for d receiver. The cashier has sailed for Europe.


Article from The Rock Island Argus, June 11, 1880

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NEW JERSEY

NEWARK, June 11.-The First National Bank closed to day for a receiver. The cashier sailed for Europe last week on leave of absence, but will be recalled; rumors of irregularities prevail.


Article from The Portland Daily Press, June 12, 1880

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Suspenion of a National Bank

NEWARK, N. J., June 11.-The First National bank of this city has suspended. The last statement claimed $62,000 surplus, which it is though was falsely stated. Financial circle are excited and reports of irregularities are afloat. The managers are unable to give definite information till the government examiners report. The cashier sailed for Europe last week on leave of absence.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, June 12, 1880

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Collapse of a National Bank

NEWARK. N.J., June 11.-The First National Bank closed to-day, and the directors have applied for the appointment of a receiver. The capital stock of $800,000 is believed to be wiped out.


Article from Evening Star, June 15, 1880

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Receiver Appointed

NEWARK, N. J.. June 15. Senator Hobart. or Paterson. has been appointed receiver of the First National Bank of this city.


Article from The Portland Daily Press, June 16, 1880

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Senator Hubert has been appointed receiver of the First National Bank of Newark.


Article from The Eaton Democrat, June 17, 1880

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Gone by the Board

1100 The First National Bank, of Newark, N. J., has suspended; the First National Bank, of Meadville, Pa., has closed its doors; Handleth, Ellis & Co., iron dealers, Boston, have quit, with lia abilities at $750,000.


Article from The Stark County Democrat, June 17, 1880

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THE First National Bank of Newark, N.J., has closed its doors and applied for a Receiver.


Article from Evening Star, July 19, 1880

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NEWARK NOTES

Assessment on Bank Stockholders. NEWARK, N.J., July 19.-The controller of the currency has ordered an assessment of one hunared per cent on the stockholders of the suspended First National Bank to make good the deficiency, one-half payable in thirty days, the other half in sixty days, If not paid suit to be brought. An early dividend is expected. A New Trial. Judge Depue to-day decided to give Lammens, convicted of the murder of Meierhoffer, a new trial.


Article from Daily Globe, July 20, 1880

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Stockholders Assessed for the Dificiency

NEWARK, N. J., July 19.-The - comptroller of the currency has ordered an assessment of one hundred per cent. on the stockholders of the suspended First National bank, to make good the deficiency, one-half payable in thirty days, the other half in sixty days. If not paid, suit will be brought


Article from The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, July 20, 1880

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Briaging Them to Time, NEWARK, N. J., July 19.-The Comptroller of Currency has ordered an assessment of one hundred per cent on the stockholders of the suspended First National Bank to make good the deficiency, one-half payable In thirty days the other in sixtv days. If not paid suit will be I brought,


Article from The Spirit of Democracy, July 20, 1880

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The report of the receiver of the First National Bank of Newark, N. J., shows that the assets amount to a little less than $400,000, and the liabilities to $600,000.


Article from The Worthington Advance, July 22, 1880

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Stockholders Assessed for the Dificiency

NEWARK, N. J., July 19.-The comptroller of the currency has ordered an assessment of one hundred per cent. on the stockholders of the suspended First National bank, to make good the deficiency, one-half payable in thirty days, the other half in sixty days. If not paid, suit will be brought


Article from Wood County Reporter, August 5, 1880

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The receiver of the First National Bank of Newark, N.J., reports a deficiency of $200,000.


Article from The News and Herald, August 26, 1880

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FOUR hundred thousand dollars is the reperted loss of the suspended First National Bank of Newark, and still the directors profess not to know where the money is.


Article from The Lambertville Record, October 6, 1880

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Receiver Hobart, of the wrecked First National Bank of Newark, is busy with his clerks paying the 70 per cent. dividenu to stockholders. On Friday, 240 creditors were paid, and a large number on Saturday.


Article from New-York Tribune, February 9, 1881

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TRIAL OF A BANK TELLER.

TRENTON, N. J., Feb. 8.-The trial of William A. Thomas, teller of the suspended First National Bank of Newark, charged wita falsifying the books, began in the United States Court here to-day. District-Attorney Keasbey in opening the case said that Thomas was charged with falsifying the books so that the assets were aparently increased $50,000 by notes due from two directors-J. J. Dickerson and John McGregor. W. H. Donaldson, discount clerk of the bank, test fled that Thomas altered the figures in the ledger so as to deceive the examiner. W. A. Lewis, expert accountant, testified that he discovered the falsifications, and that Thomas told him that Dickerson and McGregor knew of the use of their names. Jabez Cook, president of the bank, testified that he knew nothing of the bank or of its financial business, trusting everything to Cashier Hedden and Teller Thomas. The trial will probably last several days.


Article from The Daily Gazette, April 13, 1881

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HEAVY SUIT AGAINST A RECEIVER

Mrs. Mary A. Dovell, mother of Lewis Dovell, receiving teller of the broken First National Bank of Newark, N. J., has brought suit in chancery against the receiver of the bank, and in her affidavit alleges that the apparent deficiency of $90,000 was not due to her son, but to the cashier, Hedden, and the paying teller, who direc ed her son to hold as cash certain memoranda delivered by them to him. An affidavit by the son declares that these memoranda representen money taken by the cashier and teller. When the defloiency was discovered Mrs. Dovell assigned all her property 10 make it good.


Article from Savannah Morning News, November 3, 1881

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THE BROKEN BANK

The Examiner's Report Not to be Made Public-What the Directors Think - Excitement Subsiding Comptroller Knox on the Duty of Examiners. NEWARK, November 2.-Government Examiner Shelley is still at work in the Mechanics' Bank, and does not expect to finish his report to the Comptroller of the Currency until Thursday night or Friday. The report will not be made public, and will be sent to Washington as soon as finished. The directors believe that Baldwin's accusation, that Nugent has received the money which 18 missing. Several directors expressed their belief that the depositors would lose 25 per cent., and perhaps more. There has been no manifestations of trouble in the business community resulting from the failure, and the excitement here has abated. WASHINGTON, November -The Comptroller of the Currency has appointed Frederick Frelingbuyeen receiver of the Mechanics' National Bank of Newark, N. .J., and Lineus M. Price assistant receiver. The Comptroller says that the report of Bank Examiner Shelly, of August 16, 1880, contained the following paragraph: "I verified the account with the Mechanics' Bank of Newark, by obtaining its own balance and reconciling." Comptroller Knox says further that if the examiner had not been deceived by a forged letter of Baldwin's, which was handed to the examiner in place of the genuine letter of the cashier of a bank in New York, the enormous losses of the bank would have been exposed fourteen months ago at the date of the examination. He also says that the bank examiners have always been instructed to verify the accounts of correspondents, and that immediately after the failure of the First National Bank, of Newark, N. J., in June, 1880, the following special letter of instructions was sent to every examiner: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE COMPTROLLER OF CURRENCY, WASHINGTON, July 31, 1880. SIR-I desire to call your attention to the importance of proving the correctness of the accounts of the banks you examine with their corresponding banks, and to this end you are instructed to call for and examine critically and, as far as possible, reconcile accounts current in all cases, or if it be found impossible to reconcile the accounts, as it, probably, often will be, you will satisfy yourself that the balances claimed, both debit and credit, are substantially correct, the means of doing which must be left to your own judgment. When the balances claimed are exceptionally large, or if you see any reason to .doubt that they are correct, you will rectify them by corresponding with the debtor or creditor of the banks as the case may require. Very respectfully, JOHN J. Knox, Comptroller.


Article from Daily Kennebec Journal, November 3, 1881

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THE NEWARK DEFALCATION

The Government Examiner Still at Work. NEW YORK, Nov. 2. Government Examiner Shellery is still at work on the Mechanics' Bank, and does not expect to furnish his report to the Comptroller of the Currency, until Thursday night or Friday. No report. will be made for the public, but. will be sent to Washington as soon as finished. Upon the receipt of this statement the Comptroller will appoint a receiver. The directors believe that Baldwin's accusation that Nugent received the monev is missing. Several directors express their belief that the depositors would lose twenty-five per cent. and perhaps more. There has been no development as to the trouble in the business community from the failure, and the excitement has abated. No further arrests will be made at present. The Comptroller of the Currency appoints Frederick Frelinghuysen receiver of the Mechanics' National Bank of Newark, and Linus M. Price assistant receiver. The Comptroller says the report of Bank Examiner Shellev of Aug. 16th, '80, contains the following paragraph : "I verified accounts with the Mechanics' National Bank of New York, by obtaining its own balance and reconciling." Comptroller Knox says further that if the Examiner had not been deceived bv a forged letter of Baldwin, which was handed to the Examiner in place of the genuine letter of the cash ier of the bank who was in New York, the enormous losses of the bank would have been exposed fourteen months ago. Also says the Bank Examiner has always been instructed to verify the accounts of correspondents, and that immediately after the failure of the First National Bank of Newark, in June, '80, a special letter of instructions was sent to every examiner, calling attention to the importance of proving the correctness of the accounts of the bank examined.


Article from The Portland Daily Press, November 3, 1881

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THE NEWARK ROBBER Y

A Receiver Appointed for the Broken Bank. NEWARK, Nov. 2.-Government Examiner Shelley is still at work on the Mechanics Bank and does not expect to finish the report to the Comptroller of the Currency until Thursday night. It is not to be made public, but will be sent to Washington as soon as finished. Upou this statement the Comptroller will appoint a receiver. The directors believe Baldwin's accusation that Nugent received the money missing. Several detectives express the belief that depositors would lose twenty-five per cent and perhaps more. There have been no developments as to the trouble in the business cummunity from the failure, and the excitement has abated. No further arrests will be made for the present. Dennis Osborn, wholesale grocer and liquor dealer, is embarrassed by the Mechanics Bank failure. WASHINGTON, Nov. -The Comptroller of the Currency has appointed Frederick Frelinghuysen receiver of the Mechanics Bank of Newark and Linus M. Price assistant receiver. The Comptroller says the report of Bank Examiner Shelley of Aug. 16,1880, contains the following paragraph:-"I verified the account with the Mechanics National Bank of New York by obtaining its own balance and reconciling." Comptroller Knox says further that if the examiner had not been deceived by the forged letter of Baldwin, which was handed to the examiner in place of the genuine letter of the cashier of the bank in New York, the enormous losses of the bank would have been exposed fourteen months ago. He also says always been instructand that immediately after the failure of the First National Bank of Newark in June, 1880, a special letter of instructions was sent to every examiner calling attention to the importance of proving the correctness of accounts of the banks examined.