City Bank (Houston, TX)

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Big Bank Failure

HOUSTON, TEXAS, Dec. 16.-Considerable excitement was occasioned here this afternoon by the failure of the City Bank of Houston, one of the oldest financial institutions in the city and having a paid up capital of $500,000. The doors were closed at 1 o'clock, a notice being posted thereon that the bank had suspended payment pending an application for the appointment of a receiver. The Hon. William R. Baker, the present mayor of the city, is president of the bank, and Benjamin F. Weems is cashier. While the failure caused some consternation throughout the city and a large crowd gathered about the bank clamoring for their money, yet the suspension was no

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Liabilities Over a Million

FAILURE OF THE CITY BANK OF HOUSTON. The City bank, of Houston, Tex., one of the oldest financial institutions in the city, and having a paid-up capital of $500,000, failed Saturday. The doors were closed at 1 p. m., a notice being posted thereon that the bank had suspended payment pending an application for the appointment of a receiver. At 2:30 Judge Materson, of the district court, on the petition filed by the bank's attorneys, granted an order appointing Benjamin F. Weems receiver, and that gentleman immediately qualified, filing a bond for $300,000. The Hon. Wm. R. Baker, mayor of the city, is president of the bank and Benjamin F. Weems cashier. While the failure caused some consternation throughout the city and a large crowd gathered about the bank clamoring for money, yet the suspension was no surprise to the other banks and business men generally. The total liabilities of the bank, including the capital stock, will exceed $1,000,000.

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HOUSTON'S CRASH

Withdrawal of Large Deposits the Inamediate Cause. HOUSTON, TEX., Dec. 21.-The run on the Houston Savings Bank continued for a few hours this morning, and then gradually ceased. The savings bank published an official statement showing that it was not involved with the affairs of the City Bank, which suspended oa Saturday, beyond small sums amounting to $342 due from the latter bank. The suspension of the City Bank was precipitated by the withdrawal of large deposits by some of the oldest customers.

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THE closing of the old City Bank of Houston is a disaster of no ordinary character to that city, and to the state. Around the gray old walls hang many sacred memories. But memories, be they sacred or profane, do not run a bank, pay depositors and pay interest on borrowed money. We are really and genuinely sorry that this fine old bank has gone down.

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Bank Suspension.

Special to the River Press.

HOUSTON, Texas, December 19.—The City bank has suspended. Paid-up capital, $500,000; liabilities, nearly $1,000,000.

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THE City Bank, of Houston, Texas, has been placed in the hands of a receiver. It had a paid up capital of $500,000.

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FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY

The Managers of the Houston City Bank Hauled Over the Coals. Special to the Gazette. HOUSTON, TEX., Dec. 22.-At a meeting of the depositors and creditors of the City bank held this morning, about one hundred being present, rosolutions were adopted denouncing the bank managers for receiving deposits after they knew the bank was failing. The resolutions declared their action fraudulent and void and also advised the appointment of joint receiver, recommending H. S. Fox. An element of the meeting strove to draw It mild but a large majority of those present were very bitter.

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GENERAL NEWS

While testing the boilers at the Lactriel rolling mills in Harrisburg, Pa., yesterday morning, one of them exploded and scattered the steam and debris in every direction. Over one hundred persons were in the vicinity at the time and six were injured, two seriously. At Parkersburg, W. Va., Monday evening Mrs. Fred Kopt went to the store near by leaving her girl, 4 years and babe 18 months old locked up in the house. The house caught fire and the children were burned to death. The Dominion government have wired instractions to all inspectors and commissions under the Dominion License Act to cease all attempts to enforce the act as it is now a dead letter. The provincial government alone will now issue liquor licenses. Early yesterday morning burglars broke into the jewelry store of Ramsay & Co., of Milton, Ont., and carried off a cart load of jewelry, silver ware, money, etc. The store was cleaned out. The goods were worth thousands of dollars. The frame warehouse and elevator of the Wabash railroad at Huntington, Ind., was burned Tuesday night with all its contents. Two frame dwelling houses were also consumed. The loss is $50.000. A despatch"from Houston, Texas. says that about a hundred of the creditors of the sus pended city bank held a meeting Tuesday, and adopted a resolution declaring the deeds of trust executed by the bank in favor of the officers and directors, when they knew of the bank's insolvent condition, fraudulent and void, and pledging their utmost endeavors to have the same set aside and the depositors paid. Mrs. Lizzie Brown, a young Chicago widow, has for some time been annoyed by the persistent attentions of John Oakley, a barber. Saturday she had him arrested on charge of disorderly conduct. In leaving the court room he assaulted her with a razor, wounding her severely. and then attempted in vain to take his own life. Chunk McLenden shot and killed his father-in-law, Judge Rufus Johnson, at Greenville, Ga., yesterday, while the latter was endeavoring to collect rent. General Alexander Shaler of New York, appeared in the general sessions court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the indictment recently laid against him charging bribery in connection with the selection of armory sites. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was waited upon yesterday morning at his residence by Alderman George Curtis and Councilman Wm. Taylor of Boston, who presented him with a beautiful gold watch, the gift of the city government of Boston, as a memorial for the service he rendered the city of Boston, October 22, in delivering the eulogy on Gen. Grant. Mr. Beecher made a feeling response to the address, in which Alderman Curtis presented the time piece. Rev. Daniel James Noyes, D. D., who for nearly a half century was one of the most valuable instructors in Dartmouth College, died Tuesday night in Chester, N. H. He was born in Springfield in 1812. It is reported that a settlement of the suit of the Erie Telephone Company against its old officers has been made by which the Erie will receive between $30,000 and $40,000, and the receipt of this money will nearly cancel all the indebtedness of the Erie. While a lot of longshoremen engaged in unloading a vessel at the sugar refinery on South Second Pier, IN. Y., Tuesday, were washing up for dinner one of their number was pushed into the great "breaker" so called where the lumpy sugar is broken up and converted into syrup-and instantly killed. He was crushed and mangled in a fearful manner. Schaeffer defeated Slosson yesterday at billiards in Chicago 800 to 668. Schaeffer's highest run was 122 and Slosson's 108. Mr. Parnell says he cannot attend the land league convention in Chicago in January and the convention has been postponed to some date to be named hereafter. The Houston Insurance Company of Houston, Texas, whose capital was badly impaired by the recent failure of the City bank of Houston has reinsured all its outstanding risks in the City of London company (Limited) and the Houston company will immediately wind up its affairs and go out of existence. The stockholders expect to lose"the entire amount of the capital $300,000, nearly all of which was invested in the City bank stock.

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HOUSTON BANK SWINDLE

Special telegram to the Statesman. HOUSTON, December 22. -A meeting of depositors and creditors of the City bank was held this morning, at which 100 were present, and adopted resoIntions very denunciatory of the bank managers in receiving deposits, knowing the bank was failing and declared their action fraudulent and void and advised the appointment of a joint receiver, recommending H. S. Fox. An element of the meeting strove to draw it mild but the majority was bitter.

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The City Bank of Houston, Texas, has failed and gone into the hands of the receivers.

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THERE is one thing about the failure of the City Bank of Eouston which bath a fishy smack to it. The cause of the collapse is asserted to have been the sudden withdrawal of the large deposits of the Central railroad, and those of several other large depositors. This looks like collusion, and at the expense of the lesser depositors-those least able to stand the loss, If this should prove to be true, and it ought to be thoroughly investigated, somebody ought to go to state's prison over it. The protection of the rich at the expense of the poor, is a crime. In Europe such a failure would have gotten somebody into trouble.

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A TEXAS BANK FAILS

Another Bursted Bank With a Long Line of Depositors. Considerable excitement was occasioned at Houston, Texas, on the 19th by the failure of the City Bank of Houston. one of the oldest financial institutions in that city, and having a paid up capital of $500,000. The doors were closed at I o'clock, a notice being posted thereon that the bank had suspended payment, pending an application for the appointment of a re. ceiver. At 2:30 that day Judge Waterson, of the District Court, on a petition filed by the bank's attorney, granted an order and appointed Benjamin F. Weems receiver, and that gentleman immediately qualified tiling a bond for $300,000. Hon. William R. Baker, the present Mayor of the city, is President of the bank, and Benjamin F. Weems, cashier. While the failure caused some consternation throughout the city and a large crowd gathered about the bank, clamoring for their money, yet the sus. pension was no surprise to the other banks and business men generally. The total liabilities of the bank, including the capital stock, will exceed a million dollars

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1111, 111 1118 annual report w que Date De partment, speaks very flatteringly of Bismarck and the success of His colonial and other policies. THE Mayor of Venice, Italy, has sent out a circular in which he declares that the stories of cholera are much exaggerated. A FIERCE battle took place in Poplar Island Narrows, Maryland, the other night between a fleet of dredge boats and one of the oyster police steamers. The steamer found the at to them. arrest dredges They which work resisted and and returned attempted opened fire on the steamer, was at first with small arms. The dredgers made it hot for the steamer until her Captain opened fire upon them with a cannon. This silenced their fire and put them to flight. THE Houston (Tex.) Insurance Company, whose capital was badly impaired by the failure of the City Bank of Houston, has reinsured all its outstanding risks in the of London The City stockholders expect to Company, lose $300,000. limited. THE Grant monument fund has reached a total of $111,728. A PORT TOWNSEND, W. T., special says: A citizens a 125 an number miles distant, of telegraphed of Quellente, here that town Indian was for The grows protection. outbreak trouble feared, of doubtless the and Indians asked out of the ill treatment by the white settlers. It is not believed that it will be serious. ONE of the Schlitz Brewing Company's storehouses at Milwaukee, containing 120,000 bushels of choice barley, was damaged by fire the other day. The loss was $75,000, the insurance $68,000. THE Christmas tree at the county hospital, Chicago, caught fire during the entertainment on Christmas day. An indescirbable panic occurred among the children and others in consequence. Fifty persons were badly injured and many others slightly, but no one was killed. The fire was subdued without serious damage. Two men were killed and two dangerwounded by the a at the ously Spring Valley bursting waterworks, of boiler San Francisco, recently. The damage amounted to $150,000. THE French Chamber of Deputies has the a 274 270. It is adopted to Tonquin rumored credit that by owing vote to of the closeness of the vote the Cabinet has resigned. FIRE in Cincinnati the other night caused a loss of $60,000 on the building and stock owned by the Western Paint and Roofling Company and M. E. De Hart & Co., patent roofers. THE Manchester-Congo Railway Comhas been a pany granted franchise to to construct a railway from the upper the lower Congo region in Africa. THE Montreal Board of Health has perordered the Pointe to emptorily Longue Asylum lady have superior all the of the inmates vaccinated at once. There were eighteen cases in the asylum. SEVENTEEN convicts out of a force of 150 on a railroad in the conworking escaped other night. Stokes The County, victs waited men were on one at each entrance to when all to one guard, ade, N.C., until rushed only two the entrance, stockwhere they overpowered the guard and with axes cut out the planks of the gate and seventeen escaped through the opening. A FATAL accident occurred the other morning at the Walnut Hills Incline Rail way, near Cincinnati. Jack Failon, a subdriver, while on the descending car lost his hat and jumped off to get it, and was the car up to the of the hill. One foot was cut and caught top by going and dragged off he was terribly bruised from his waist down. He was taken to the hospital where he died. J.C. FRANCE, while examining a pistol, was accidentally shot and killed at Rockfield, Ky., recently, Three days before he was kicked by a horse and had his leg broken. A YOUNG man named Benjamin Beebe was killed while jumping from a passenger train at Berea, O., the other night. Hip body was completely cut to pieces. was is of Abyssinia, IT reported engaged that in the King occupation John, of Massowah and is preparing to make war upon the Italians. THE residence of Dr. Emil Bessells, the Arctic explorer, at Glendale, Maryland, was burned the other morning, and all of his books, charts and other valuable documents relating to Arctic matters were totally destroyed. BETWEEN eleven and twelve o'clock the other night fire broke out at 424 Water street, New owned and as a occupied York.in the by M. three Fink story building factory of whale and fish oils. The fire caused an estimated damage of $40,000; partly insured.

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Mr. RAINE, the American Consul at Beg in his annual report to the State Do partment, speaks very flatteringly of Bismarck and the success of his colonial and other policies. THE Mayor of Venice, Italy, has sent out circular in which he declares that the stories of cholera are much exaggerated. A FIERCE battle took place in Poplar Island Narrows, Maryland, the other night between a fleet of dredge boats and one of the oyster police steamers. The steamer found the dredges at work and attempted to arrest them. They resisted and opened fire on the steamer, which was returned at first with small arms. The dredgers made bot for the steamer until her Captain opened fire upon them with a cannon. This silenced their fire and put them to flight. THE Houston (Tex.) Insurance Company, whose capital was badly impaired by the failure of the City Bank of Houston, has reinsured all its outstanding risks in the City of London Company, limited. The stockbolders expect to lose $300,000. THE Grant monument fund has reached total of $111,728. A PORT TOWNSEND, W. T., special says: number of citizens of Quellente, a town miles distant, telegraphed here that an Indian outbreak was feared. and asked for protection. The trouble doubtless grows of the ill treatment of the Indians by the white settlers. It is not believed that will be serious. ONE of the Schlitz Brewing Company's storehouses at Milwaukee, containing 120,bushels of choice barley, was damaged fire the other day. The loss was $75,000, the insurance $68,000. THE Christmas tree at the county hospiChicago, caught fire during the enterainment on Christmas day. An indescirbpanic occurred among the children others in consequence. Fifty persons badly injured and many others slightbut no one was killed. The fire was subwithout serious damage. Two men were killed and two dangerpusly wounded by the bursting of a boiler the Spring Valley waterworks, San Francisco, recently. The damage amounted THE $150,000. French Chamber of Deputies has dopted the Tonquin credit by a vote of to 270. It is rumored that owing to closeness of the vote the Cabinet has esigned. FIRE in Cincinnati the other night caused loss of $60,000 on the building and stock wned by the Western Paint and Roofiing Company and M. E. De Hart & Co., patent oofers. THE Manchester-Congo Railway Comhas been granted a franchise to contruct a railway from the upper to the Congo region in Africa. THE Montreal Board of Health has permptorily ordered the lady superior of the longue Pointe Asylum to have all the invaccinated at once. There were ighteen cases in the asylum. SEVENTEEN convicts out of a force of 150 working on a railroad in Stokes County, C., escaped the other night. The conwaited until only two men were on uard, one at each entrance to the stockwhen all rushed to one entrance, here they overpowered the guard and ith axes cut out the planks of the gate seventeen escaped through the openA FATAL accident occurred the other norning at the Walnut Hills Incline Rail near Cincinnati. Jack Fallon. a subriver, while on the descending car lost his and jumped off to get it, and was aught by the car going up and dragged to top of the hill. One foot was cut off and was terribly bruised from his waist He was taken to the hospital where

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THE SOUTH,

By order of court, the Richmond (Va.) Whig has suspended publication.

JUDGE F. S. GOODE, of the Nineteenth Judicial District of Louisiana, committed suicide the other day at his home on the Ridgeland plantation by shooting.

MRS. CORNELIA SCOTT, daughter of the late General Winfield Scott, died at the University Hospital, Baltimore, recently in her sixtieth year. She had been ill for several months. She was the widow of Lieutenant H. L. Scott, U. S. A.

THE Houston (Tex.) Insurance Company, whose capital was badly impaired by the failure of the City Bank, of Houston, has reinsured all its outstanding risks in the City of London Company, limited. The stockholders expect to lose $300,000.

THE other evening Mrs. Fred Kohs, of Wadesville, near Parkersburg, W. Va., went to a store near by, leaving her girl of four years and hər babe of eighteen months locked up in the house alone. The house caught fire and the children were burned to death.

THE steamer Sallie Carney was burned in the Tallahatchie River, six miles above Greenwood, Miss., the other evening, together with 260 bales of cotton. Loss on boat, $8,000; on cotton, $13,000; insurance, $4,000 on boat.

A FIERCE battle took place in Poplar Island Narrows, Maryland, the other night between a fleet of dredge boats and one of the oyster police steamers. The steamer found the dredges at work and attempted to arrest them. They resisted and opened fire on the steamer, which was returned at first with small arms. The dredgers made it hot for the steamer until her Captain opened fire upon them with a cannon. This silenced their fire and put them to flight.

SEVERAL horrible outrages were reported recently in Austin, Tex., all evidently perpetrated by the same parties. After outrage the victims had been brained with an ax. Intense excitement existed.

SEVENTEEN convicts out of a force of 150 working on a railroad in Stokes County, N. C., escaped the other night. The convicts waited until only two men were on guard, one at each entrance to the stock-ade, when all rushed to one entrance, where they overpowered the guard and with axes cut out the planks of the gate and seventeen escaped through the open-ing.

J. C. FRANCE, while examining a pistol, was accidentally shot and killed at Rockfield, Ky., recently. Three days before he had been kicked by a horse and had his leg broken.

THE residence of Dr. Emil Bessells, the Arctic explorer, at Glendale, Maryland, was burned the other morning, and all of his books, charts and other valuable documents relating to Arctic matters were totally destroyed.

PHILIP EWALD, a laborer of Louisville, Ky., went home drunk Christmas night and began chasing his wife with a knife. His son, Phillip, jr., aged seventeen, interfered, and the father cut him twice on the head. The son then drew a pistol and shot his father four times, fatally injuring him.

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Houston Dots

to the Gazette. AHOUSTON, TEX., Dec. 31.-Suit was to-day to raise the mortgages ounting to $150,000 on the property of City bank. Mortgages were made by sofficers and directors of the bank, and re filed by creditors. An injunction u be sued out to stop the action of the sent receiver and get another. U.S. German paper, the Anzeiger, with a lick company, started here with a capof $10,000. Charter applied for, but st yet received.

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JUDGE MASTERSON, of the district court st Houston, has granted an injunction preventing the sale of property mortgaged by the City Bank of Houston. The application to have Major Weems removed, as receiver of the bank was refused.

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The City Bank, of Houston, Texas, has suspended. Its deposit liabilities are about $417,000, and its capital stock $500,000.

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[The City Bank

GALVESTON, Jan. 20.-A special to the News from Houston says: "Judge Masterson of the district court yesterday made an order allowing all persons having bills of exchange on New York, drawn by the suspended City Bank of Houston, to attach any money found to the credit of that bank in New York."

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HOUSTON

MERCANTILE FAILURES AGGREGATING $200,000. Special Telegram to the Statesman. HOUSTON, February 2.-To-day Geo. L. Porter, wholesale grocer, assigned to G. L. Fitzgerald, in favor of creditors. Liabilities placed at $121,860: assets at $114,1 121. The assets embrace real estate in half a dozen counties, and city pcoperty here, at Lampasas and at Hempstead. The Houston Flour Mills company assigned to W. A. Garrington, in favor of creditors. Estimated liabilities, $80,000; assets, about $60,000. These were drawn in by the failure of the City bank.

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Bank Failure

Special Telegram to the Light. HOUSTON, February 2.-The Houston Savings Bank failed to open its doors this morning at the usual hour, causing great excitement among citizens and business men generally. Developments show that a petition was filed last night for a receiver, which was granted. Dr. D. F. Stuart being appointed, and that several heavy depositors drew their money yesterday. When the City Bank failed last December a heavy run was made on the Savings Bank, but they met the run successfully. The officers of the late City Bank are the principal officers of the Savings Bank. It is estimated the deposits amount to $250,000. C.M.McD.

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Not Personally Ilable. Special to the Gazette.

HOUSTON, Tex., March 9.-In the district court this morning the case of Giddings & Giddings vs. R. Cohen, W. R. Baker, F. A. Rice, S. R. McIlhenny, W. B. Botts, Robert Brewster, S. Baldwin and B. F. Weems came up on demurrer. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were personally liable by their management for the failure of the City bank. To the petition Baker, Botts & Baker and Hutchinson & Carrington filed a demurrer. After being argued Judge Masterson sustained the demurrer and decided that the defendants were not personally liable. The plaintiffs in the case are bankers at Brenham and had $1000 on deposit in the City bank at the time it went into the hands of a receiver.

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Depositors Ask Justice

Special to the Gazette HOUSTON, Tex., April 28.-The depositors of the defunct City bank of Houston who deposited money the day of the failure, to-day, through their attorneys, applied to the master in chancery, C. Anson Jones, for a return of their money, on the ground that the bank had useded to close previous to the day of suspension. Their petition was overruled. Objec. tions were raised to the decision and the matter was referred by the master to the district court, where it will have & final hearing.

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A TEST CASE.

An Important Trial Under Way in the District Court at Houston.

Special to the Gazette. HOUSTON, TEX., March 14.--The District court was engaged to-day in the trial of the case of Giddings & Giddings vs. William R. Baker, late president of the defunct City Bank. The suit is brought to recover deposits in the bank at the time of failure to the amount of $10,000. Messrs. Scott & Levi of Galveston and O. T. Hoit represent the plaintiffs, and Hutchison, Carrington & Sears and Goldthwaite & Ewing appear for the defendant. This it is understood will be a test case, and if it is decided against the defendant will involve several hundred thousand dollars.