5878. J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank (Indianapolis, IN)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
July 31, 1927
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana (39.768, -86.158)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
41cf2d22

Response Measures

None

Description

The bank was closed by the State Bank Commissioner on July 31, 1927 and placed in receivership; articles discuss subsequent receivership, litigation, and recovery efforts. There is no explicit description of a depositor run in the articles provided—closure appears to be regulatory (government action) following discovery of thefts/diversions and alleged insolvency.

Events (2)
1. July 31, 1927 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
State Banking Commissioner Luther F. Symons ordered the bank closed after examiners' check-up; closure followed discovery of stolen bonds and questionable transfers.
Newspaper Excerpt
following the closing Saturday noon of the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, 123 E. Market St. ... A conference ... who ordered the bank closed
Source
newspapers
2. August 1, 1927 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
A receiver must be appointed to wind up affairs of the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, State Bank Commissioner Luther F. Symons declared today. ... the closing Saturday noon of the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, 123 E. Market St.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (17)
1. August 1, 1927 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, August 1, 1927

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

WILD BANK IS BEING CHECKED State Commissioner Confers With President. BULLETIN A receiver must be appointed to wind up affairs of the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, State Bank Commissioner Luther F. Symons declared today. State examiners have not determined how much depositors will lose, but they should be prepared to suffer some loss, Symons' statement said. Examiners continued to work today on the check-up following the closing Saturday noon of the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, 123 E. Market St. A conference, was. held this morning between State Banking Commissioner Luther F. Symons, who ordered the bank closed, and J. F. Wild, founder and president of the institution. It was announced by Symons that a joint statement of the bank officials and the State banking department would be forthcoming. Patrons having safety deposit boxes at the bank will be permitted to obtain their contents soon, Symons declared. The closing of the institution will in no way affect persons having valuables stored for safe keeping.

2. August 4, 1927 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, August 4, 1927

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

WILD BANK LOSS OF 20 PER CENT SEEN posits, pending settlement of the Depositors in the J. F. Wild & bank affairs, it was learned. Co. State bank, closed by the The audit being made by the State banking department Saturbanking department continues, day, will suffer a 20 per cent loss, State Bank Commissioner Luther F. or possibly slightly less, bankers in Symons announced today that it touch with the Wild Bank situation was unlikely that it would be combelieved today. pleted until the first of next week. Other Indianapolis banks are Attorney E. H. Iglehart, receiver loaning the Wild institution deposifor the institution, declared that he tors up to 60 per cent of their dewould make a statement to depositors as soon as he received the audit. "This probably will be in the midJURORS PROBE dle or latter part of next week,'.' Iglehart, said. He knew nothing of a meeting of depositors to be held GRADER LOAN in Superior Court, Room 1, Friday night. According to announcement, the meeting will be for the purpose of Contractor That Hear organizing depositors to protect their interests, but names of the Used County Machine. organizers have not been made public. The Marion County grand jury There are approximately 18,000 stopped its investigation of political accounts at the bank and the total corruption today long enough to deposits are a little less than $4,000,look into alleged irregularities by 000. he reported. county officials. "Our work at the bank is being The jury investigated alleged retarded some what by the many inloaning of a county road grader to quiries which we receive," Symons Smith Hawkins, Shelby County conasserted. "Should we assume a tractor. It was said Commissioner high-handed atitude toward the George Snider, minority member, public we might progress more found the grader on a road south of rapidly, but it is the department's Shelbyville. policy to be courteous and to give Luther Tex, road superintendent, information to all legitimate insaid Hawkins had previously loaned quirers." the county some equipment. The general banking situation in Snider, Tex, John Carlisle, counthe city has not been affected. ty auditor's office employe. and

3. November 17, 1927 The Noblesville Ledger Noblesville, IN
Article from The Noblesville Ledger, November 17, 1927

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

BANK RECEIVERS F. Wild Institution to Get 50 Per Cent Before Christmas Depositors in the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, of Indianapolis, now in receivership, will receive part payment on their deposits before Christmas it' planned by Richard L. Lowther and Eugene Iglehart, co-receivers, who expect make first payment of about 50 per cent on deposits by December 15. Preferred claims against the Wild bank amounting to $388,060 were allowed by Judge Mahlon E. Bash in the Marion county probate court, Wednesday afternoon. The largest claim that of Ralph S. Crowl, a builder of sorority and fraternity houses to whom was allowed claim of $218,187. The other claims were allowed to various realty companies which had money in the bank. Money Held in Trust Judge Bash said that the money of Crowl was held by the bank as trustee and was to be paid out on various construction jobs on the order of architects. The money of the various realty companies also was held by the bank as trustee and was used in the payment of dividends on preferred stock issued the realty companies, Bash said. Since these preferred creditors obtained all the money they had deposited in the bank, it will make

4. December 5, 1927 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, December 5, 1927

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

STOLEN BONDS OF WILD BANK MAY BE FOUND Receivers Hope to Recover Part of $271,000 Loot, Long Gone. GRAND JURY ON PROBE Investigation Being Made; Depositors' League Is Ready to Act. Hope that some of the $271,000 in negotiable bonds stolen from the J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, Nov. 17, 1926, will be recovered is entertained by receivers for the bank, now defunct, Richard O. Lowther, one of the receivers, said today. The Marion County grand jury has had the bond theft under investigation from time to time ever since the bonds disappeared. The theft was one of the factors in the bank's crash, July 31, 1927. The grand jury now has before it testimony given in Superior Court Three last Friday, disclosing that the bank officials diverted $171,000 from "profit and loss account" to pay dividends upon preferred stock of a subsidiary realty firm and retire some of the stock, when the subsidiary failed to make a profit itself. Lowther said that the receivers had been conducting a quiet search for the bonds and hoped soon to compel the return of some of them. Several months after the bonds disappeared, $51,000 worth of them were traced to a man in Minneapolis. He was arrested. He said he obtained them from a garage owner. He, too, was held. Local detectives, however, failed to bring the men here, because they obtained their liberty on a writ of habeas corpus, the judge holding the evidence against them insufficient. Joseph R. Williams, attorney for the Wild Depositors' League, attempting to aid the receivers to get as much out of the bank assets as possible, said: "We will ingist that Probate Court compel the receivers to file such suits as the law will sustain against present officers of the bank and those who have been connected with it in an official capacity since 1921. "We also shall insist that suit be brought on the bond given by J. F. Wild, Sr., as president, and Otto P. Kern as cashier, for faithful performance of their duties." Williams stated that the receivers had told a depositors' league committee three weeks ago that they hoped to have some of the stolen bonds back within ten days. The bank had $75,000 worth of theft insurance upon the stolen bonds. Only $50,000 worth of this insurance has been paid.

5. September 22, 1928 The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Star, September 22, 1928

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

STATUS OF BANK DISPUTED Witnesses Disagree on Insolvency of Institution in Note Case Testimony. The J. F. Wild & Co. State bank not insolvent when it was closed last year by the state banking department, Stephen M. Davis, public accountant, testified yesterday at the hearing conducted by Judge Linn D. Hay of Superior court, Room 2. on petition by which three signers of notes totaling $100,000 seek to prevent the bank's receiver from selling the notes with other assets of the defunct bank. Mr Davis based his testimony on an analysis of the banking department's final bank, which he made for the committee organized shortly after the institution failure. Contrasted to this testimony the statement of Richard Lowther, one of the receivers, that the bank's directors had "marked up common stock Majestic building, Wild bank asset, from $275,000 eight days after the theft of in bonds from the bank on Nov. 19, This value was included in the bank examiner's report, it was shown. Appraised at Higher Figure. On Lowther testified that the Indianapolis Real Estate Board had appraised the building at that figure after the stock was "marked Mr. Davis stated that his analysis the bank commissioner's report showed that the institution could have paid all liabilities and then turned $65,000 to the stock holders bank was capitalized On the other hand, Mr. Lowther stated that round the bank had assets and liabilities of when he took its management. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Elizabeth Calland, testified that they had retained their accounts the bank because published statements of the bank's condition showed in sound condition Mr. said he had assured the that was in condition. tion he admitted that the published were "not entirely misleading. Contends Closing Unnecessary. James W. Noel, attorney ing the defunct bank, asserted just before Mr. Davis was placed on the witness stand that are contend from now on that the bank not insolvent and should not have been Samuel Good, examiner for the banking that the notes in were cluded in assets the bank, according to his Signers of the note were Frank M Millikan, Indianapolis capitalist: John Appel, president Grogory Robert dead, former president the apolis Street Railway Millikan signed an $50,000 and the other signed similar notes for $25,000 each. Hay B. Ross, one of the attorneys for

6. January 16, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, January 16, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# WILD CASE RULING # WILL COME SOON Ruling on the suit in which Richard L. Lowther, receiver for the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. State bank, seeks to have $100,000 worth of "accommodation notes," donated to the institution by Indianapolis business men, declared salable assets, is expected to be given soon by Superior Judge Linn D. Hay. The court took the matter under advisement Tuesday afternoon, after several hours argument by attorneys on each side. He indicated that he would rule as soon as he had reviewed the evidence. The men who gave the notes were Robert I. Todd and John J. Appel, both of whom have died since the bank was closed, and Frank M. Millikan. Attorneys for Lowther declared the bank was insolvent several months before it was closed, and that the bank examiner was misled by the presence the "accommodation paper" in the bank which, he alleged, was published as assets of the institution. Attorneys for the deceased men and Millikan asserted the bank was solvent and that it was closed without consideration of assets actually held.

7. February 6, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, February 6, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# POSTPONE SUIT TO # RECOVER BANK FUNDS Tral Date in Defunct Wild Bank's Petition Set Feb. 15. Hearing on the suit of Richard L. Lowther, receiver of the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. State bank, to collect $152,313, from the Elevator Realty Company, a subsidiary firm of the bank, was postponed Tuesday by Superior Judge William O. Dunlavy when attorneys for Lowther were unable to appear. The court tentatively set the trial date for Feb. 15. Lowther alleged that the bank "loaned" the realty company this money over a period of five years to keep the company, which owned a grain elevator near Beech Grove, functioning. He is seeking to collect the amount for bank depositors from stockholders in the realty company and through sale of the company's assets. U. S. Lesh, realty company receiver, is resisting the petition.

8. February 28, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, February 28, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

STUDY RULING HOLDING WILD BANK SOLVENT Bank Commissioners Are Scored by Judge for Closing Doors. County prosecutors today scrutinized the ruling of Superior Judge Linn D. Hay, in which he held the J. F Wild & Co. State Bank sol- vent when the doors were closed by state bank examiners in July, 1927. Hay's opinion on the solvency of the institution was contained in his dec. ee given Wednesday on the $100,000 in "accommodation notes" made by three Indianapolis business men, two of whom have since died. In this case Richard L. Lowther, receiver of the bank, was seeking to have the court declare the notes assets, to be sold in liquidating the bank's debts, but Hay held the makers of the notes were not liable. Bank Commission Scored Prosecutor Judson L. Stark, who, with Homer Elliott, special prosecutor, is conducting a second investigation into the bank's closing, said that since the first question to be decided in this probe was whether or not the bank was insolvent, the court's ruling "will be interesting to us." Hay criticised bank commissioners for not "giving more consideration" to the situation before demanding a receiver. "It would have been better for depositors and creditors of the bank, had a receiver not been appointed and officers and directors of the bank been given more time to work out the condition of the bank without the sacrifice necessary to liquidate the receivership," the court said. "The bank might have tided over the condition if a little more consideration had been given by the bank examiners to the interest of creditors and depositors." Surplus Was Possible Lowther brought the suit to collect the notes from the estate of the late Robert I. Todd and John J. Appel, and Frank M. Millikan. Lowther maintained that the bank would have been closed, had not the notes been used to "bolster" the bank's assets. Frank B. Ross, attorney for Lowther, said within a few days a new trial will be asked and added that the court's ruling will have no effect on the receivership which was granted in probate court. Hay also held that if $100,000 in city school bonds, that were transferred to another local bank on order of bank examiners, had been retained in the Wild bank there would have been no danger of insolvency. He said these would have balanced the $100,000 in "accommodation notes" and the bank, according to testimony given in the case "should then have had a surplus of at least $38,000." Note Makers Not Liable The court pointed out that the surplus figure might have been as high as $96,000, if other items had been considered. The makers of the notes could not be held liable for any alleged attempt to defraud depositors by boosting the bank's assets with the notes, the court said, because the notes, when made with John F. Wild, president, were "merely for accommodation purposes and for no other." Luther F. Symons, state bank examiner, stated, following the ruling. that there was "no question that the bank was in a failing condition when it was closed." Oral arguments on the petition of Mrs. Frieda P. Harrington, Evanston, Ill., a preferred stockholder, to remove Lowther as probate court receiver for the J. F. Wild Realty Company will be heard in federal court at 11 a. m. Friday.

9. March 30, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, March 30, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

GRANT WILD HEARING Plea for New Bank Trial to Be Heard in April. Oral arguments in support of a new trial motion in the suit brought by Richard L. Lowther, receiver for the J. F. Wild & Co. state bank, against three Indianapolis business men, two of whom now are dead, to collect $100,000 worth of accommodation notes, will be made in April. Attorneys for Lowther filed a petition asking permission to argue the new trial motion and Hay granted it, announcing that a date will be set later. Three weeks ago Hay held that although the men had signed the notes to the bank they could not be held liable. Lowther contended that since they put up the notes, they should pay the amount as assets of the bank. Robert I. Todd and John J. Appel signed two of the notes several years before their deaths and Frank M. Milliken signed another.

10. April 1, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, April 1, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

F. WILD BANK NEAR CRASH IN '21, NOTES SAY Overdraft by Elevator Firm Caused Early Tangle in Affairs. The J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, which was closed in July, 1926, was perilously close to a crash in April, 1921. and was saved only by the pouring in of $380,395 of money and securities by friends of the president, J. F. Wild, it was disclosed today. The disclosure was contained in a memorandum, signed by the directors and stockholders of the bank, which has been made part of the record in the suit of Richard L. Lowther, received for the Wild bank, against the Elevator Realty Company. a bank subsidiary also in receivership. The suit seeks to recover $172,000 alleged to have been paid by the bank to keep the realty company functioning for several years. The $380,395 raised in the 1921 emergency was to cover an overdraft of that amount which the bank officials had permitted to accumulate in the account of the Big Four Elevator Company. Meetings Held The memorandum discloses that the bank officials and officials of another Indianapolis bank held hurried meetings and hustled around from financier to financier to raise the money while a state bank examiner held over them an ultimatum that the overdraft had to be covered by a certain date. Henry H. Hornbrook, then attorney for the bank, proposed a plan "to meet the siutation" at a meeting April 15, 1921. According to the bank records, his plan, which was followed, was that the Big Four company give its demand note for the full amount of the overdraft indorsed by LeRoy Urmston, then president of the company and owner of the common stock of the Elevator Realty Company. The Elevator Realty Company was to increase its preferred stock to $200,000 and its common to $100,000, with the preferred stock then outstanding to be retired and the bank to purchase the new preferred stock at 95, which would produce $190,000.

11. April 4, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, April 4, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# WILD BANK ASKS # RETIREMENT OF # REALTY STOCK Remuneration to Depositors Depends on Petition Filed Today. Preferred stockholders in the J. F. Wild Realty Company today filed in probate court a $760,000 stock claim against Richard L. Lowther, receiver for the defunt J. F. Wild & Co. state bank, which, if granted will cripple all future hopes of bank depositors receiving any additional dividends from the money they had in the bank when it was closed. The claim was filed in the form f an intervening petition by the stockholders committee of the realty company and asked Judge Mahlon E. Bash to order the bank to retire the preferred stock of the realty company and to pay interest of almost $40,000 that has been accrued in the last year. Depositors Received Dividends Lowther, following filing of the twenty-page petition, declared all future remuneration to depositors depended on the "settlement of the intervening petition." Up to this time, depositors have received dividends aggregating 62½ per cent. According to the petition, the bank, although a tenant in the Wild Realty Company's building, 123 East Market street, on which the stock was issued, handled the financial operation of the structure and was to retire the preferred stock. Thirty thousand dollars worth of the original issue already has matured and been paid. A petition for a federal receiver for the realty company was filed before Federal Judge Robert C. Baltzell in February, but he dismissed the action because of lack of jurisdiction. Have no Claim on Property Another point in connection with the bank building property was uncovered by The Times today. This was that the realty company has no direct claim on the property on which the $800,000 building was bought because it was subleased for ninety-seven years and seven months from the Marcus Loew Indianapolis Realty Company, which already has failed to buy this property and adjoining theater property following the expiration of two of three options to purchase. The third is effective in 1935, it became known, and if the land is not bought then, further opportunities are denied and the entire property will revert back to the original Coleman estate when the lease terms expire. The tract on which the bank and a theater building on Pennsylvania street stands was leased from the estate of the Marcus Loew Booking Company several years ago. Then this interest was transferred to the Loew Realty Company, which subleased the bank building area.

12. April 25, 1929 The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Star, April 25, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

DISCUSS DROPPING OF WILD CHARGES Depositors' League Officials Consider New ActionStatement Scores Stark. Withdrawal of criminal charges against officials of the defunct J. F Wild & Co. State bank was discussed by officers of the depositors' league of the bank at called meeting yes. terday. The 3,200 depositors who hold membership in the organization will meet within the next few days to decide upon plan of action, Joseph R. Williams, attorney for the league, announced. Williams issued statement on behalf of the league in which he criticized Judson L. Stark, Marion county prosecutor, for dropping the charges against J. F. Wild, bank president and three other officials of the institution. Claims Evidence Lacking. Stark declared that his office dropped prosecution because of a lack of sufficient evidence to insure conviction. "It seems rather strange that after the state banking commissioner, who is the legally constituted authority to investigate the banks of Indiana, has declared that this bank was insolvent and should be closed, and after an application has been filed in Probate court and notice duly given, required by law, that such an application has been made to declare this bank insolvent and after the officers of the bank, or some of them, admitted that it was insolvent, and did not oppose of receiver the prosecutor of Marion county should now come to the conclusion that the bank was solvent at the time it closed its doors,' Williams' statement asserted 'We are very much surprised at the attitude now assumed by the prosecutor's office It appears as the law enforcement branch of our government locally has broken down, especially when this conclusion not to investigate as serious matter as this has arrived at this late hour almost two years having elapsed since the doors of this defunct bank were closed," the statement continued. Holds Statements "Flimsy." The statement charged that reasons assigned in the "apologetic" statements of the prosecutor are "flimsy, indeed, when not single witness, not even the bank receiver, has been called before the last Marion county grand jury. The paper also points to the fact that indictments against officials returned by former grand jury charging bank embezzlement were quashed by Judge James A. Collins in Criminal court because of technicality caused "by the inefficiency of the prosecutor's office, which would not have occurred at the hands of an experienced attorney. Stark termed the statement "a lot of generalities.' Prosecutor Not Surprised. "I am not at all surprised at the attitude taken by the league," the prosecutor stated. "It is just one of those things should expect while doing my duty as see it to be and assuming responsibility in reaching decisions It is the price must pay for my The prosecutor declared that his office would "gladly" order grand jury investigation if the evidence was produced or was obtainable. will order the officials prosecut ed at once have evidence to warprosecution Stark asserted He stated that Williams conversed with him several days ago but that he did not present any tangible evidence in the matter.

13. May 21, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, May 21, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

REFUSE WILD CLAIM Bank Loses $170,000 Suit Against Realty Firm. The long-fought legal battle of Richard L. Lowther, receiver of the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. State Bank, to collect $170,000 from stockholders of the Elevator Realty Company, a subsidiary, ended today with the situation the same as it was before the suit was brought. Superior Judge William O. Dunlavy announced his ruling that disallowed the claim by Lowther and also one contained in the cross complaint of U. S. Lesh. realty company receiver. who sought $142,000 from the bank. With Dunlavy turning down both demands, neither group benefited. Lowther claimed that the realty company accepted money from the bank with which to pay dividends and that it should be repaid. Lesh contended that the bank owed the stockholders for $142.000 worth of stock purchased in 1921.

14. June 25, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, June 25, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# JUDGE TO RULE # ON WILD CLAIMS Ingelrose Bond Purchasers to Learn Decision. Probate Judge Mahlon E. Bash today announced he will rule this week on the $33,000 claim suits filed against Richard Lowther, receiver of the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. state bank, by purchasers of bonds of the Ingelrose Investment Company. Bash announced this after hearing oral argument Monday by attorneys for claimants and counsel for Lowther. Defense counsel argued that the claims were filed too late and that demands should have been made on J. F. Wild, bank president, and other officials of the institution. Attorneys for claimants, pounded the point that the bonds were sold by bank officials "through fraud and deceit." Witnesses have testified that purchases were made on "inducement by bank officials." Testimony also has been given that the bonds were not registered with the state securities commission, which the plaintiffs contend is a violation of the "blue sky" law. "This clearly is a violation of the law that should be taken cognizance of by state authorities," Joseph Wood, attorney representing the claimants, said.

15. June 27, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, June 27, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

JUDGE ALLOWS $33,000 WILD BANK CLAIMS Bash Scores Unregistered Bond Sale After Collection 0. K. 'VIOLATION OF LAW' Receiver's Contention of Immunity Due to Purchase Date Is Refused. Allowing $33,000 claims against Richard Lowther, receiver for the J. F. Wild & Co. state bank, Probate Judge Mahlon E. Bash today declared the second mortgage Ingelrose Investment Company bonds sold the claimants by the bank were not registered with the Indiana securities commission. "This was a most flagrant violation of the law," Judge Bash declared. "It is safe to say that if the situation had been presented to the commission, the sale of these bonds would not have been authorized." Judge Bash allowed eight claims, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. He held them to be general claims against the receiver, which means that holders of the bonds will get 62 1/2 cents on each $1-the same amount that had been paid depositors in the defunct bank. Frederick E. Schortemeier, one of the claimant's attorneys, said it would appear from the holding of the court that the court thought the bonds were sold illegally. He remarked that the statute of limitations has run on all but one of the claims-that of Miss Amanda Hamilton of Greensburg, Ind., who bought $2,000 of the Ingelrose bonds in July, 1928. It is understood there has been no inquiry by the grand jury or prosecuting attorney looking toward prosecution along this line. Plaintiff's attorneys contended that the bonds were not registered, and so were sold in violation of the "blue sky" law. Lowther contended he was not liable for claims on purchases from bank officials made prior to the receivership, but Judge Bash held the receiver took over the bank's liabilities as well as its assets. The $10,000 claim of Charles Schlegal, 635 West Twenty-ninth street, was the largest of the eight claimants, included one trust company, three banks and four individuals.

16. July 1, 1929 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, July 1, 1929

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# TEST WILD LEASE Refuse to Accept Savings Concern Rental. Court action to determine if the State Savings and Trust Company's lease on banking rooms of the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. State bank in the Wild building, 123 East Market street, is valid, will be filed soon, it was learned today. The lease was made by Richard Lowther, bank receiver. Circuit Judge Harry O. Chamberlin granted a petition of Edgar M. Blessing, receiver of the Wild Realty Company, which operates the building, permitting him to refuse to accept further rentals from the occupants. The petition stated that subsequent moves to determine validity of the lease will be taken, probably by the savings company. One of the foremost points of the litigation will be whether Lowther, as bank receiver, had authority to lease property of the realty company, a separate concern, operating the bank structure.

17. December 8, 1931 The Indianapolis Times Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indianapolis Times, December 8, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# DEFUNCT BANK ASSETS # BOOSTED $100,000 High Court Holds Estates of Wild Officials Are Liable. Assets of the defunct J. F. Wild & Co. State bank, placed in receiv- ership in 1927, were increased by $100,000 today under a supreme court ruling. The ruling was on a suit brought by Richard L. Lowther, receiver, against estates of Robert I. Todd and Frederick J. Appel and Frank M. Milligan. Decisions of Marion superior courts and the appellate court that the three officials, two of whom are dead, are not liable for personal notes listed with the bank's assets to satisfy a loss in a $275,000 Lib- erty bond theft, were reversed. The supreme court held the notes must be paid to the receiver.