5837. Harrison Bank (Indianapolis, IN)

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type: private
Start Date: July 17, 1884
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (39.768, -86.158)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 26498f8d

Response Measures

Full suspension

Other: Receiver appointed; extensive litigation and asset liquidation followed.

Description

Newspaper accounts describe a run (Harrison refusing to pay depositors, paying only small amounts), immediate suspension and appointment of a receiver (Judge R. N. Lamb). The bank remained in receivership with assets insufficient to cover liabilities and property sold — i.e., permanent failure/closure. Cause of run tied to insolvency and the fallout from other bank failures (Fletcher & Sharpe) rather than a discrete misinformation event.

Events (3)

1. July 17, 1884 Run

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Bank was insolvent or unable to meet clearing-house balance; reports indicate bank had absolutely no assets of value and large withdrawals ($132,000 paid out) during the run; Harrison later blamed the run as precipitated by Fletcher & Sharpe failure but primary issue was Harrison Bank insolvency.
Measures: Harrison paid out only small amounts selectively at the counter; refused some checks; declined help from other banks (no collateral).
Newspaper Excerpt: he mounted the counter and told the crowd of depositors that he knew that they had come for their money, but they could not have it, that he would pay only whom he pleased and that they could not break him by a run.
Source: newspapers

2. July 18, 1884 Suspension

Cause: Government Action
Cause Details: Bank suspended operations and a receiver (Judge R. N. Lamb) was appointed to take charge of the insolvent bank and its assets shortly after the run; accounts describe formal receivership and suspension of payments and later legal proceedings regarding the receivership appointment.
Newspaper Excerpt: JUDGE LAMB has been appointed receiver of the Harrison Bank at Indianapolis, Ind.
Source: newspapers

3. July 24, 1884 Receivership

Newspaper Excerpt: There are some astonishing developments being made concerning the failure of the Harrison Bank. ... bills receivable ... less than $3,000 in value, while the cash asset amount to $119. ... During the run on the bank $132,000 was paid out, which reduced the liabilities to about $466,000. (Jul 25 report referencing receiver's findings).Judge Lamb, of the late Harrison Bank, filed a partial report this morning. He finds the assets to be $108,000, of which, $31,000 are available, and that only if there are no offsets. (Aug 11 report).Receiver Lamb of the Harrison bank, filed a partial report He finds assets of $138,010, of which $31,000 are available, and that much only if there are no offeets. (Aug reports).The Supreme Court ... annulled the appointment of Judge R. N. Lamb as receiver of the defunct Harrison Bank. (May 1885).Judge Walker ... has ordered the sale of the Parker Block. (Mar 1885). (multiple articles).The receiver is ruled to answer. (Mar 11, 1885).The receiver ... filed a partial report. (Aug 1884).Judge Lamb was appointed receiver. (telegrams).Bond was furnished in $60,000 for the appearance of Harrison. (Aug 22).
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (14)

1. July 18, 1884 New-York Tribune New York, NY

Article from New-York Tribune, July 18, 1884

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DEFY ING HIS CREDITORS, THE SINGULAR CONDUCT OF A PRIVATE BANKER IN INDIANAPOLIS (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I INDIANAPOLIS, July 17.-The most unique system of banking ever beard of in the West was put in operation this morning by John C. 8. Harrison, of the Harrison Bank of this city. Yesterday it became known that the bank had difficulty in taking care of its clearing house balance of $18,000. The banks miet this morning at the clearing house and asked Harrison what they could do for him. With a pretence of indigation, be told them to mind their own business and he would attend to his, and without further ceremony he left them and went to his bank, mounted the counter and told the crowd of depositors that he knew that they had come for their money, but they could not have it, that he would pay only whom he pleased and that they could not break him by a run. Then he took a stand by the paying teller and paid out only small amounts on some checks, while others were refused altogether. It is now known that the reason be did not ask help from the other banks was that he had nothing to offer as collateral for it. It is said that the bank has absotutely no assets of value. The entire taxable valuation of the property of the partners. including the bank and real estate. Is only $47,000. The wives of the Harrisons, howover, have considerable property. They are said also to own the bulk of the stock of the United States Encaustic Tile Company. John Harrison will be remembered as the Government Director of the Union Pactão Railway who in 1876, to advance the Presidential chances of Morton, charged that Blaine had over sixty-odd Little Rock and Fort Smith bonds which he had procured corruptly. He was 8 candidate for delegate to the last convention at Chicago from this district, but was 80 badly beaten in the convention that he was ashamed that he ran, and when Blaine was nominated, joined the Democracy because Blaine was not up to this standard of honesty. The widow of Senator Morton had every dollar she owned in Harrison's Bank, as an evidence of her confidence in her husband's friend The City Treasurer had $40,000 of the city funds in the bank, and when he called for his money Harrison refused to pay or secure him. When the Indiana Banking Company failed some months ago Harrison became receiver, and the little left out of that wreck is now buried in his bank. Every National bank in the city is in good condition. The two private banks in the city are Ritsinger's and 8. A. Flother & Co. Fletcher has $1,400,000 in 1 per cents and $450,000 in currency (exclusive of notes) in his vaults, against $800,000 of gross liabilities. No other bank H the city has any connection with *the Harrisons.

2. July 24, 1884 Iron County Register Ironton, MO

Article from Iron County Register, July 24, 1884

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# CONDENSED TELEGRAMS. THE cholera has appeared in Paris. A FIRE at Byers, Mich., on the 19th, destroyed 5,000,000 feet of lumber. Two men were burned to death in the scow Thatcher, near Toledo, O., on the 19th. JOHN BRIGHT is preparing a measure for the reformation of the House of Lords. H. A. HALLETT, an alleged Detroit embezzler, was arrested at Cincinnati, O., on the 19th. JUDGE LAMB has been appointed receiver of the Harrison Bank at Indianapolis, Ind. TRALEE Moonlighters on the night of the 18th shot the care-taker on a farm from which the tenants had been evicted. PRIME MINISTER FERRY is confident that China will satisfy France as to the indemnity. THE bark Vicksburg bound for Leith from Quebec, was wrecked near Pentland, in the Skerries, on the 19th. Nine lives were lost. AT Grand Rapids, Mich., on the 18th, Oliver Seaman's lumber mill and 7,000,000 feet of lumber were burned. WILLIAM PITT KELLOGG is after John A. Walsh's (the Star-route witness) scalp, and wants him indicted. LIEUTENANT SCHUFELDT, United States Navy, after visiting the Queen of Madagascar, has reached the eastern coast of the island. SURROGATE ROLLINS of New York has declared void the will of the late Joseph Tilby, giving $200,000 to his second wife. FANNY BEHL, of Cincinnati, O., fell in love with a man, and discovering he was married, shot herself in the presence of her mother. JOHN MURRAY, of Moretown, Vt., has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife. THE Beloit Paper Pail Company, at Beloit, Wis., burned out on the 20th. PROF. E. E. BARNARD, of Nashville, Tenn., has discovered a new comet approaching the earth, and will receive the Warner prize. A. A. MCDONALD has been appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward's Island. IT is reported that a French comedy troupe in Algiers has been massacred near the frontier by the Arabs. SECRETARY CHANDLER is looking over the ground for the proposed naval school at Newport, R. I. MRS. B. G. ROOTS, of Tamaroa, Ill., was thrown from a road cart and instantly killed at Milwaukee, Wis., on the 20th. AT Shaners, Pa., Samuel Smith was instantly killed and his daughter fatally injured by a railroad train on the 20th. A PACKAGE of $7,000, forwarded from New Orleans to the United States Treasury, was found upon its arrival at Washington to be $4,000 short.

3. July 26, 1884 Savannah Morning News Savannah, GA

Article from Savannah Morning News, July 26, 1884

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POST OFFICE RETURNS. Returns received at the Post Office Department from 159 letter carrier post offices, which produce nearly one-half of the postal revenues, show that the gross receipts for the quarter ended June 30, 1884, were $5,169,052 or $350,316, 5 7-10 per cent. less than the receipts from the same offices during the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. Upon this basis the receipts from all post offices during the quarter would aggregate $10,000,000, and the receipts for the year would be about $2,000,000 less than the receipts for the previous fiscal year. Sixteen offices show increased receipts. The diminution is attributed to the reduction of the letter rate from 3 to 2 cents, and the result of the year's business, which is better than was expected, is highly gratifying to the financial officer of the Post Office Department. FINANCIAL CRASHES. Suspicious Facts Developed in the Harrison Bank Failure. INDIANAPOLIS, July 25.-There are some astonishing developments being made concerning the failure of the Harrison Bank. The bills receivable in the hands of Judge Lamb, receiver of the suspended bank, are estimated at less than $3,000 in value, while the cash asset amount to $119. In April the bank's statement for taxation showed assets of $566,959, and the firm was credited with real estate to the amount of $71,000. The deposits shown by the same report were $598,729. During the run on the bank $132,000 was paid out, which reduced the liabilities to about $466,000.

4. July 29, 1884 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, July 29, 1884

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# THE HARRISON FAILURE. The Receiver's Report To Be Filed This Morning-What the Bondsmen Say. There was nothing particularly new yesterday in the affairs of the broken banks, but important developments are expected this morning, when Mr. Harrison will make his report to the court in the matter of the receivership of the Indiana Banking Company. It has been practically admitted that the $80,000 or $90,000 of the funds of that concern, which Receiver Harrison is supposed to have in his possession, are not now available, having been sunk in the general wreck of the Harrison Bank. It is also given out that Mr. Harrison's defense to the court will be that, as receiver for the Banking Company he deposited its money with Harrison's Bank, having confidence in its stability, and owing to force of circumstances the money was lost in the collapse of the bank, the deposit having been drawn upon exactly as all other funds were; and that while Mr. Harrison is clearly responsible for the money, he is not criminally liable for its loss, as he took every precaution for its preservation. The feeling against Mr. Harrison on the part of his bondsmen, as well as the general public is quite bitter, and the former have positively refused to prevent the law from taking its course in case he cannot, for any reason, account for the $95,000 (which includes the Ketcham fund) in his possession as receiver. There are some who have gone so far as to say that they would press the case against him in the Criminal Court unless the matter was satisfactorily cleared up without unnecessary delay. The police surveillance was yesterday withdrawn from the interior of Mr. Harrison's residence, although an officer is still detailed to guard the outside.

5. July 31, 1884 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, July 31, 1884

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stood firm, refusing to abate the amount. They also visited the station-house and had a conference with Superintendent Lange, the arrest having been made in his absence. They explained to the superintendent that the presence of the police officers within the residence of Mr. Harrison, who is in bed, under charge of a physician, was an irksome and unnecessary surveillance under the circumstances. The superintendent refused the request, being unable to see how it could be granted consistent with duty. It is understood that Mr. Harrison's attorneys will institute habeas corpus proceedings, for the purpose of bringing about a reduction of the bond. In an interview with a News reporter, yesterday, Mr. Harrison said that he deposited the funds that came into his hands as receiver of the Indiana Banking Company in Harrison's Bank, as any other depositor; that at first he divided the deposits, placing a part with the Fletchers, and afterward paid a dividend of $70,000. He did not think the Harrison Bank could go down; it had run so long he thought it would pull through, and said it would have pulled through had it not been for the run precipitated by the Fletcher & Sharpe failure. "I never dreamed," said he, "of bad faith, or wrongful use of the funds, toward anybody; and there would have been no trouble or loss, but for the panic. I have more than secured my bondsmen now, according to Assessor Hadley's estimate of the value of my property turned over." ALFRED HARRISON'S PROPERTY RE-MORTGAGED. Yesterday afternoon Alfred Harrison, the senior member of the late banking firm of A. & J. C. S. Harrison, made and filed with the county recorder the follow ing mortgage, which, it will be seen, repudiates a mortgage executed by him to Charles Mayer and others, July 18, 1884. The instrument reads as follows; This indenture tnesseth that I, Alfred Harrison, of Indianapolis, Indiana, mortgage and warrant to Adaline F. Hannaman, Desdemona Howland and Lydia B. Harrison, severally. as their interests may appear hereinafter, all of Indianapolis, Indiana, the following real estate in the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, to-wit: All of lot number eight, and nine feet off of the south side of lot number seven, in square number six of Isaac Coe's subdivision in said city; and otherwise known as the present residence of the mortgageor, on north Meridian street in said city, to secure the following described notes and a draft, the said notes all being executed by the United States Encaustic Tile Company, and the draft drawn upon and accepted by said company, and all indorsed by the mortgageor herein, and all of said notes and draft are bearing interest at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum from date. One of said notes is dated September 4, 1880, due in twelve months, amount $2,172, payable to the mortgageor and others; another dated April 14, 1880, amount $800, due in one year from date, payable to the mortgageor; another note dated February 2, 1883, due six months after date, amount $2,450; another of date February 2, 1883, due in one year, amount $1,000-the last two payable to the mortgageor and others; also,another of date March 31, 1884, amount $290.83, due in one year, and payable to mortgageor and others; also,a draft of Lyon on said tile company, and accepted by said company, payable to mortgageor and J. C. S. Harrison, of date April 27, 1883-amount $742. All of the above described notes are indorsed by the payees thereof; also, the said draft indorsed by payees to said Adaline F. Hannaman, and are her sole property; also, the following described two notes, which are the property of said Desdemona Howland, to-wit: one dated July 6, 1880. due in one year, amount 2,000, payable to said Desdemona Howland and indorsed by mortgageor and others; also, one dated March 15, 1881, due in one year, amount $2,000, payable to the mortgageor and others and indorsed by payees to said Desdemona, who now owns the same in her own right. Also, the following notes held and owned in her own right by said Lydia B. Harrison to-wit: one dated May 18, 1880, due in twelve months, amount $5,000, payable to the mortgageor and others and indorsed by payees to said Lydia B. Harrison; also, one dated October 31, 1883, due in one year thereafter, amount $2,261, payable to the order of said Lydia B. How. land; also, one dated December 14, 1883, due on demand, amount $400, payable to the order of mortgageor and J. C. S. Harrison and indorsed by payees to said Lydia B. Harrison; each and all the above-described notes signed by the United States Encaustic Tile Company, and the said draft drawn upon said tile company and accepted by it, and all of said obligations bearing interest at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. The said mortgagees, each and all, by the acceptances of these said mortgages agree to, and they are hereby expressly authorized to contest the validity of a certain mortgage executed by myself to Charles Mayer and others, of date July 18, 1884, upon said premises, which said mortgage to said Mayer and others was and is without consideration to me, and which I now repudiate. And the said moregageor expressly agrees to pay the sums of money above described, and each of them without relief from valuation or appraisement laws of the State of Indiana. Witness my hand and seal, this 30th day of July, 1884. ALFRED HARRISON. The witnesses to the above instrument are James G. Douglass and Ellen Douglass; the notary public Charles K. Wasson.

6. August 1, 1884 The Red Cloud Chief Red Cloud, NE

Article from The Red Cloud Chief, August 1, 1884

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10 Areas 1nd SEM Ellinos "If *eSu BROCELLANEOUS. ELIZA ILESON, an inmate of the Louispus JOAO uns SRM 'esnoquiom ellia by a Cheaneake & Ohio passenger train the otherday while walking on the track. GENERAL HAZEN says that Lieutenant Greely Iterally accomplished everything Party siq thought pus 'op 01 qu/s SUM eq safely A the point were his responsibility ended,viz., Cape Sabine. A TERRIFIC gas explosion in the German Bank a Wheeling, W. Va., recently, badly burned Chief Clerk James Heil WIMBUSH, POWELL & Co.'s printing office at Kansas City, fell the other evenserious- SUM Close petrett [1]] V ! 'y injured. The damage amounted to about JO 880[ B including '000'91$ about $1,500 to the Live Stock Indicator. The cause of the accident was due to the excavation for a new building. child B 'Pez the uo uo Orlease MeN AF died with symptons of yellow fever. The black vomit vasmicroscopically examined, however, and physicians declared it was not the black vomit of yellow fever. AT a meeting of the Municipal Council Public 10 Director the 'Pez the uo Paris, JO Aid declared that no case of genuine Asiatic or sporadic cholera had been reported at the Paris hospitals. He said the deaths attributed to cholera were really due to other causes. THE extensive dry goods house of Wear, Boogher & Co., of St. Louis, assigned recently to Nathan Cole. The assets of the firm were given at about $620,000, embracuado :000'0WS merchandise pus spooS Sug accounts and bills receivable, $175,000; other matters, $5,000. Liabilities were not definiately known, but aggregated '000'09'S about THE Erie Preserving Company of Buffalo, N. Y., suspended recently for the purpose of looking over the books pendSUM 4I creditors. 971 M stttement B duy claimed their embarrassment was brought "of 28 "X" 'f Jo Jailure the Aq uo Chicago, whose draft they accepted for a uns [arge HELEN OWENS, a handsome and educated young lady of Anne Arundel County, -nu V quith Assbington 04 eloped has "PN latto coachman. AT Gloucester, Mass., recently a work. man carrying a bucket of dynamite packages discovered a spark among the cartridges, and immediately hurled the bucket away. It struck a tree, and a terrible explosion of cartridges followed, badly shaking the houses along Washington and the contiguous streets, and breaking many window glasses. No lives were lost. SALVATON LANDINA an Italian who murmurdered his wife July 4, on being arrested New York a day or two ago, swallowed a posion. Jo esop [atal AT Jackson, Miss., an engineer named Amos was shot dead by Everett Stratton, a fireman on the same engine. At Cincinnati Patrick Hartuck was convicted of murder. He chopped his wife's head off with an ax. THE deerstalkers, gillies and laborers on the estate of the American millionaire, Winans, near Inverness, Scotland, endillie V recentify. 743y terrible " u! pe3e8 named Campbell killed a laborer named Macgillivray. Campbell was arrested. BARTY TURNER, the Sheriff of Phillips County, Ark., was reported short about $4,000 in his accounts with the State. THE treaty recently negotiated by Great Britain with the King of Abyssinia binds the latter to abolish slavery and the slave trade within his kingdom. A GENTLEMAN from Philadelphia has shown'a secret service officer in Chicago a twenty dollar treasury note made wholly complete 08 bujeq executting superscript(s) 'ued B quit as to deceive a keen expert. -UJ . jo MODIA the PIERCE HINNV MMS. mous lientenant in the Confederate army, hanged herself at her home in Baltimore, -o.id 04 SUM eys because recentily vide for her three children. Before the eye Statement JO belled eqs SUM eqs JUM Confederate Society will care for her orpeusud A MEETING of creditors of Whittemore, Cabot & Co., dry goods dealers, were held at Boston recently. Their liabilities were SUM 000'68$ which Jo '000'788$ eq 04 punoj secured. The assets, according to the *000'291$ a 'srooq A DISPATCH from Cincinnati, dated the MOU si drouth Area V :SAUS affecting nearly the whole of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. In many places there has Undess 71 sung ship II" 78 rajus ou useq rain comes within a week most serious losses will occur. ALEXANDER SULLIVAN, President of the Irish National League, has calleds convention at Boston for August 13. '4% the uo peounous omerilly SUM " TW expedito cholera eqs the Paris, to seilles and Toulon was decreasing, The pood SUM Paris jo under A. OVERHOLT& Co.'s distillery at Connellsville, Pa., caught fire recently, and in less than three hours the main building, to. gether with the bonded warehouses and seven hundred barrels of whisky burned. *000'097$ SUM Ansist the JO enjury ssors The pus Suppling no sso[ eqs pus '000'211$ RED JACKET and forty other Indians, heavily armed, arrivedjin Durangotheother day. The City Marshal attempted to ar"survery JOJ them JO euo 1sa1 промлед PRICE 2004 148y . neqa the band and citizens. Twenty shots were the reported SUM euo ou and 'parg DEPOSITORS were excited over the Harrison Bank failure at Indianapolis. Gross SUM pus arem spnusy equal joi eq: 04 pepuemmoses Jung pusis NEAR Rushville, Ind., a steam thrasher "H"H adower JO unrus our uo pepopdxa

7. August 12, 1884 Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer Seattle, WA

Article from Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer, August 12, 1884

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The Harrison Bank. INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 11. - Receiver Lamb, of the late Harrison Bank, filed a partial report this morning. He finds the assets to be $108,000, of which, $31,000 are available, and that only if there are no offsets. He had not concluded the schedule of liabilities, but says they will exceed half & million. The Vessels of the Greely Relief Ex-

8. August 15, 1884 Burlington Weekly Free Press Burlington, VT

Article from Burlington Weekly Free Press, August 15, 1884

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THE WALL STREET BANK FAILS. Its Suspension Caused by the Irregularities of the Cashier, John P. Dickenson-Depositors will be Paid in Full. NEW YORK. Aug. 11.-The Wall Street bank has closed its doors, owing to irreguarities of the cashier. The bank will remain closed until mattersare investigated. The president is Thomas W. Evans, and the cashier John P. Dickinson. It is a State bank. When the last annual statement was issued in September, 1883. it had capital of $500.000 a surplus of $65,000. and undivided profits amounting to 847.The capital stock will probably be swept away. The depositors will eventually be paid in full. Fifty per cent will be paid them by the end of this week. It is stated the cashier's shortage amounts to $200,000, and that the bank has $50,000 in bad debts. Soon after the announcement of the suspension a great crowd gathered around the bank, but nobody was able to inside. Policemen had to be placed on guard. The last statement published showed the bank to have a surplus of $100,000. with deposits of $1,000,000. It was originally called the Mechanics Banking association and was founded in 1838. It is what is known as a broker's bank. its chief transactions being loaning money on stocks. The effect of the suspension on the New York stock market was small. and at a late hour prices were on the advance. Henry Clews said that Chas J. Osborn, who is worth several million dollars, and a director in the Wall street bank. had expressed a willingness to help the bank in its present emergency. A rumor prevailed that the deficiency would reach $250,000, and Dickinson had been in the habit of charging on the books for larger loans than he actually made. and pocketing the difference. The latter. however, did not receive general credence. .T. P. Dickinson is 38 years old and is a son-inlaw of Chas. F. Simpson. vice-president of the Wall street bank. The bank has been regarded as shaky for some time past and depositors had been withdrawing their accounts from it. At theclearing house the bank had liquidatedall itsdebts and its accounts were even. Rumors of the failureof other firms closely connected with the bank could not be verified. The directors of the Wall Street bank held a long session this afternoon for the investigating of the books and accounts. President Evans said its affairs were found to be in a most disordered condition. and it would be very doubtful if a report or statement could be made for several days. All the directors were reticent and refused to say anything whatever in regard to discoveries they had made. The executive committee of the clearing house met this afternoon and formally declared the bank's suspension. The amount of the bank's indébtedness at the clearing house this morning was $28,000 which was paid. Bank Superintendent Paine has made a report of thecondition of the bank. in which he savs, since 1865 it has been regarded as a broken bank' Other Business Troubles. Resin A. Wight this afternoon filed his assignment giving a preference of $127,to Elizabeth S. Kelley for moneys received from and for stocks and securities belonging to her, and loaned to him, upon which as collateral he had borrowed sums of money, now outstanding. Receiver Lamb of the Harrison bank of Indianapolis, Ind., filed a partial report this morning. He finds as assets $138,000 of which $31,000 is available. The liabilities will exceed $500,000. ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC LIE NAILED. Gen. A. M. West will by no Means Support Cleveland. NEW YORK, Aug. 11.-The following telegrams passed to-day between the seeretary of the National committee of the National party and the party's candidate for the Vice-Presidency: NEW YORK, Aug. 11. Gen. A. M. West, Holy Springs, Miss. The managers of the National Democratic headquarters are claiming they have advices from you to the effect that you will support Cleveland. Nail the lie. B. W. TERLINDE. (Signed) Mr. West's reply was as follows: HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss., Aug. 11. B. W. Terlinde, New York The claim false. I have had no correspondence whatever with the Democratic headquar-

9. August 22, 1884 The Kimball Graphic Kimball, SD

Article from The Kimball Graphic, August 22, 1884

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General News Items. Johns Hopkins' university has the largest polariscope in the world. It has 43,000 lines in an inch. Winchester, VA, is on tiptoe over the elopement of a pretty eighteen-year-old girl with a negro hunchback. Rev. Wilbur F. Crofts, of New York, preached in Chicago Sunday night on the sinfulness of Sunday mails, trains and newspapers. Regna Wright, of New York, filed an assignmentfor the benefit of creditors to Lighton Williams, giving preference of $127,000 to Elizabeth Skills. The Denver Republican and Denver Tribune, leading Republican newspapers of Colorado, have consolidated. The newspaper will be known as the Denver Tribune-Republican, and remain Republican in politics. The editorial and business forces of the Republican will cenduct the new paper. The Wall street bank, of New York, a state institution, suspended payment on Monday. Cashier Dickinson has been lending money too freely on insufficient margins, and it is estimated the loss will be about $200,000. None of the family have seen Dickinson since Friday last, and he was then at the Oriental hotel, Coney Island. At Indianapolis, Ind, Receiver Lamb, of the Harrison bank, filed a partialreport He finds assets of $138,010, of which $31,000 are available, and that much only if there are no offeets. Re has not concluded the schedule of liabilities, but says they will exceed half & million. Bond was furnished in $60,000 for the appearance of Harrison. The bondsmen are N. McCarty, S. W. Watson, John A. Reaum, David V. Burns, George W. Spahr, Robert Emmitt, N. S. Byram and B. Rorison. The bond was accepted and Harrison's residence relieved from surveillance.

10. August 23, 1884 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, August 23, 1884

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Litigation in the Federal Court. Two suits, growing out of the failure of the Harrison Bank, were filed in the federal court yesterday by the Corn Exchange Bank, of New York-one against George W. Stout, of this city, who gave a promissory note for $5,000 to the Harrisons on the 1st of last April. It was afterward assigned to the plaintiffs, and judgment is asked for $3,000, in addition to $3,000 which was paid on the 4th of August. The other suit is against Charles Mayer & Co., who executed two promissory notes of $5,000 each, on the 3d of July, payable at the Corn Exchange Bank, in New York, on Aug. 1. Judgment is asked against them for $15,000.

11. March 11, 1885 The Indianapolis Sentinel Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Sentinel, March 11, 1885

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COURT-HOUSE LOCALS. The Parker Block Mortgage Before Judge Walker-Partial Report of the Grand Jury. John Hoffman has given $700 bonds as administrator with the will annexed of John Wartle, deceased. Henry Seyfreid was yesterday granted a license to sell liquor on McCarty street by the County Board. Benjamin Vertrees has qualified as guardian of Eliza, Charles, Ellen, Fannie and Lizzie, minor heirs of Daniel Hidgen, deceased. The coal bill of A. M. Kuhn & Co. for $1,230.77, and James Maley's grocery account for $863.20, were allowed by the County Board yesterday. Agnes G. Patterson has filed suit against Christian Hilgenberg and others to recover possession of lots 5, 6 and 7 in outlot 1. She also wants $2,000 damages. Jennie Roberts wants a divorce from James Roberts, whom she married in 1879. She charges failure to provide and cruel treatment. She wants the custody of the children. The damage suit of Edward Orr vs. The Street Car Company was tried by a jury in Room 1 on yesterday morning. The plaintiff sought to recover for being put off a street car. Albert Ellig wants to be divorced from Lena Ellig. These parties were married in February, 1878. The allegations are infidelity and abandonment. Plaintiff wants the custody of the child. The damage suit of George Merriam vs. the Merchants' Transportation Dispatch is on trial by the Court in Room 1. Plaintiff seeks to recover for failure to deliver goods according to contract. Emma Anderson wants a divorce from William Anderson, whom she married in August, 1882. She charges that he has been in the habit of cursing, slapping and striking her, and failed to provide for her. The bid of Dr. E. C. Thomas, of Haughville, for the pauper practice of Precinct No. 4, Wayne Township, at $40; of Dr. Peschee for the north third of Decatur Township, and Dr. Peachee for the practice of Precinct 3, Wayne Township, at $60; David Wall for Precinct 1, Wayne Township, at $50, and Dr. Ratliff for the south part of Decatur Township at $100, were approved by the Board of Commissioners yesterday. George D. Brown has filed suit against Richard L. Boyd and Benjamin D. Brown, alleging that in October, 1880, and until December, 1882, defendants operated the Western Elevator under the firm name of Brown & Boyd. Plaintiff shipped to these defendants 18,000 bushels of wheat graded as No. 2 red, valued at $18,000. Without any notice Boyd withdrew, or pretended to withdraw, from the firm in October, 1883. Plaintiff claims that he paid $4,000 for storage, defendants having informed him that his wheat was awaiting his orders, when, in fact, they had shipped it out and disposed of it and converted the proceeds to their use. Demand is made for $18,000. The Grand Jury made a partial report yesterday. The following indictments were returned: John W. Fitzgerald, petit larceny; William Johnson, petit larceny; William W. Prout, forgery; John Wilson, petit larceny; Jack Smith, burglary; Jack Smith, assault and battery with intent to kill; John W. Poe, assault and battery with intent to kill. All the defendants but Jack Smith were arraigned and entered pleas of not guilty. Smith is the fellow who recently was captured while trying to rob a car at the Pan-Handle shops, during which time he shot the watchman and was shot in return and then captured. Poe is the man who shot Remington Laffley near Kingan's one Sunday night several weeks since. The Grand Jury also recommended the discharge of Frank Smith. The Harrison Bank matter came before Judge Walker yesterday on a demurrer to the petition of Charles Mayer and others. The Court overruled the demurrer and the receiver is ruled to answer. Mayer and others set up in their petition that they had a mortgage on the Parker block which had been given to secure them. both as depositors in Harrison's Bank and as bondsmen on J. C. S. Harrison's bond as Receiver of the Indiana Banking Company. Since the receiver of the bank can not be made a party to a foreclosure suit, the petition was for the sale of the property, and the proceeds to be applied to the payment of the mortgage. In overruling the demurrer to the petition, Judge Walker said that the facts alleged therein constituted a good cause of action, and that it remained to be seen whether or not the facts could be proven. Judge Lamb will file an answer which he thinks will meet the claims of the petitioners in the mortgage. Judge Walker thinks the Parker block should be sold. This Morning's Blaze

12. March 21, 1885 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, March 21, 1885

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# THE CITY IN BRIEF. So far this month, 225 tramps have called at the station-house to be lodged during the cold nights. Elizabeth Cox, living at the corner of Pennsylvania and Eighth streets, has been recommitted to the Insane Hospital. There will be a meeting of the Woman's State Fair Association in the rooms of the State Board of Agriculture, at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will be issued in a few days, and will be the most exhaustive ever issued in this State. Judge Walker, on hearing the petition of Charles Mayer & Co. vs. the Receiver of the Harrison Bank, has ordered the sale of the Parker Block. John Lawrence, arrested for stealing corn out of a Big Four car, and Frank Arnold, charged with stealing a whip, have pleaded guilty in the mayor's court, and have been sent to the Criminal Court for sentence.

13. May 17, 1885 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, May 17, 1885

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The Supreme Court Decides that His Appointment Was Illegal and Void. An Unforeseen Decision Which Renders the Affairs of the Harrison Bank Still More Hopelessly Complicated. In the case of John T. Pressly against Alfre a Harrison et al, the Supreme Court yesterday gendered a decision reversing the judgment of the Marion County Superior Court, the effect of which is to annul the appointment of Judge R. N. Lamb as receiver of the defunct Harrison Bank. The decision is of vital importance to the interested creditors, but to what extent it will affect the affairs of the bank is not fully known. The whole case hinges on the course which was pursued by the Harrisons in procuring the appointment of a receiver. On the 18th of last July Alfred Harrison filed a petition in the Superior Court asking a dissolution of the partnership between himself and John C. S. Harrison, for the reason that their business was insolvent, and also requesting the appointment of a receiver. With this petition he filed an answer in behalf of John C. S. Harrison, the defendant, admitting the truthfulness of the allegations in the complaint, and consenting to surrender his individual property to a receiver. The receiver was appointed by Judge Walker in vacation. Subsequently, after having obtained judgment for $9,929.12, T. Pressly, a depositor, filed a complaint asking that the appointment of the receiver should be annulled, as illegal, and that he should be given execution on the property for the payment of his slaim as a preferred lien. The Superior Court decided the case adversely, and Mr. Pressly appealed to the Supreme Court. The opinion re versing the Superior Court's decision was rendered by Judge Mitchell, the other members of the bench concurring, with the exseption of Judge Elliott, who was indirectly interested in the case, and therefore had nothing to do with its consideration. In reversing the lower court's decision the Supreme Judges state in their opinion, "as the statute does not authorize, and public policy forbids, one party to appear for the others, it must be held that where it appears, as here, that the only jurisdiction which the court or judge has over the defendant was such as was acquired through the agency of the plaintiff in" appearing for him, its proceeding was without jurisdiction, and void. It 18 said by counsel for the appellee that the papers signed by John C. S. Harrison, and presented by Alfred Harrison, were in effect requests to the judge to appoint a receiver. It is in that character we regard them, and it is that fact which makes the whole proceeding in legal effect ex parte. It was nothing more than two partners uniting in a request to the judge of in vacation for the appointment a receiver, without a suit pending. We have no doubt that parties to a controversy in an action pending may consent to the appointment of a receiver. We know of no authority, however, for the partners to go before a court in term or a judge in vacation without a suit pending. and by mutual consent effect a voluntary assignment in the manner here proposed. The statute enacted for that purpose points out the appropriate means to that end, and it declares, further, that all other assignments shall be deslared fraudulent and void. The argument is made that as this is a collateral attack upon a judgment, the jurisdiction of the court or judge will be conclusively presumed. This contention cannot prevail. The complaint in this case avers and the demurrer admits, that at the time the receiver was appointed no action was pending; that no process had been issued or served on John C. S. Harrison, and that he did not appear to the action or motion in person or by attorney. From this admission it results that the judge acquired no jurisdiction over the subject matter of the receivership or of the person of the defendent, and the appointment was consequently not only irregular, but absolutely void." AN INTERVIEW WITH JUDGE LAMB. Judge Lamb, the receiver of the bank, when Interviewed regarding the probable effect of the decision, said that he had not anticipated such a result, and therefore had not given the case close attention. "If my appointment was illegal," be said, "I have been the receiver in fact, and I suppose that under the circumstances my offisial acts in that capacity will not be overthrown." He was of the opinion that, as the case had been appealed to the Supreme Court on the ruling on a demurrer, that the issue for final settlement of the matter would now have to be in a trial on the original complaint. He further expressed the opinion that, under the ruling, there might be an execution taken on the bank property, although the right of such a proceeding might be questionable. If these executions could be taken, however, the judgments would consume the entire estate, from which, with favorable judgments in pending litigation, he might realtze between $20,000 and $30,000. The decision sustains the claim of Mr. Pressly as a preferred lien, and, at least to the extent of its payment in full, will affect the depositors who have expected to realize equally from the assets. The effect of the annuliment of Receiver Lamb's appointment is a matter of some doubt. RECEIVER WALLACE NOT AFFECTED The effect of this decision is undoubtedly to still further complicate the bank's affairs. Under it the judgments against the bank fall, those depositors who seured judgment take precedence over the claims of depositors who are not similarly protected, and for these there will be absolutely nothing, as there is not even a remote probability of the assets yielding more than $30,000; and the judgments aggregate several times that amount. There was some anxiety expressed by some of the Fletcher & Sharpe depositors lest the appointment of William Wallace was also rendered invalid by the decision, as he, too, was first appointed during the court's vacation. However, Mr. Wallace's

14. May 21, 1885 The Indianapolis Journal Indianapolis, IN

Article from The Indianapolis Journal, May 21, 1885

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Affairs of the Harrisons. The decision relative to the legality of Judge R. N. Lamb's appointment as receiver of the Harrison Bank has caused supplementary proceedings to be instituted in the Circuit Court by the filing of eight different petitions calling upon Alfred Harrison, John C. S. Harrison and Robert N. Lamb to appear in court May 22 and make oath concerning property in their hands that is subject to execution. The several plaintiffs are Byron Hutchinson, Peter Lassau, Fred Packard, John W. Burt, Calvin F. Rooker, Edward Gaston, Peter Wright and John Lassau.