6493. Savings Bank (Louisville, KY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Unsure
Bank Type
savings bank
Start Date
January 14, 1880
Location
Louisville, Kentucky (38.254, -85.759)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
2f6a516accc1999b

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple newspaper dispatches (Jan 1880) report discovery that cashier J. H. Rohrer (Rhoer/Rhoerer) was a defaulter (~$67,000–$100,000). The bank was closed/suspended on Jan 14 and many depositors called/attempted withdrawals the next day. Directors pledged stockholders would make good the deficit. Articles do not report a subsequent reopening or final closure, so outcome is unsure.

Events (2)
1. January 14, 1880 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Suspension of payments after discovery of cashier's large defalcation (reported $67,000–$100,000).
Newspaper Excerpt
THE Louisville Savings Bank suspended on the 14th, upon the discovery that J. H. Rhoer, the Cashier, was a defaulter for over $67,000.
Source
newspapers
2. January 15, 1880 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Deposit withdrawals/agitaiton triggered by discovery that cashier J. H. Rohrer was a defaulter for tens of thousands of dollars.
Measures
Bank closed to business; depositors were told to wait until condition of institution was defined.
Newspaper Excerpt
To-day a large number of persons called at the bank, which was closed to business. Many depositors came in the hope of withdrawing their money.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (9)
1. January 21, 1880 The Indiana State Sentinel Indianapolis, IN
Article from The Indiana State Sentinel, January 21, 1880

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The Busted Savings Bank of LouisvilleDefalcation of the Cashier $100,000. LOUISVILLE, Jan. 15.-The defalcation of Cashier Rhoerer, of the savings bank, creates much excitement in this vicinity. To-day & large number of persons called at the bank, which was closed to business. Many depositors came in the hope of withdrawing their money. but they were told to wait until the condition of the institution is defined. Many who had boxes in the safe deposit vault opened them and found all was right. This department was beyond the reach of any officer of the bank, each*deposition, keeping his own Bey, and it is entirely free from loss, The sayings department of the bank has been kept separate on the books from the regular banking de. partment, bpl both constitute one concern in the loss and are liable each for the other. Joshua F. Speed, Jr., assistant cashier, has had control of the savings side, and on examination his accounts were found to be in perfeet order. The false entries made by Rhoerer to cover the sums taken by him are supposed to be entirely in the books of the regular banking side. The amount of defalcation can not yet be told, even by Rhoerer, but is little, if any, less than $100,000, perhaps more. This is the amount of the capital stock, which is donbtless lost; but it is hoped and believed that the depositors will not suffer. One of Rhoerer's plans for covering his detalcations was to enter smaller sums on the bank's books than the depositors really left. The entries on deposit books were. of course, accurate. There is a great curiosity to know how the cashier lost the money, for it is thought be has lost all. It is known that be went into California Tule lands speculation, losing all be put into it, and that he sunk a great deal of money in Pewee valley property. He also had to pay a number of heavy security debts. If be dabbled in stocks, it was in mining stocks, through his connections formed in San Francisco during the Tule lands fever. The capital stock of the bank is $100,000, which 18 heid as follows in round numbers: J. A. Rhorer,$20,400; W C. Hite, $10,000; J. W. Honing, $11,200. 1. F. Speed, $11,200; w. B. Caldwell, $6,300: J. Lawrence Smith, 86,300; A. Sabine, $3,200: John I Reade, $6,000; Miss E. P. Anderson, $1,500; Miss M. B. Adams, $1,000; Mrs. Breckenridge, 85,000; John H. Ward,2,000, John Caperton, $6000; John Caperton, trustee, 818,700. Total $93,600. The stockholders of the bank are liable only to lose their stock. They can not be held for any thing bey ond that.

2. January 21, 1880 New Ulm Weekly Review New Ulm, MN
Article from New Ulm Weekly Review, January 21, 1880

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voted to unseat Mr. Hale. They also reported in faver of unseating Mr. Dunnell, a Republican member, but the House recommitted the repart and adjourned. THE Iowa Legislature assembled and organized on the 13th, and the Wisconsin Legislature on the 14th. Republican officers were chosen in both bodies. TELEGRAPHIC communication with Oregon, after a week's interruption, was restored on the 14th. On the 9th the city of Portland was visited by a destructive hurricane, which caused nearly $100,000 damage. One man was killed and several were seriously hurt by falling buildings. The storm raged with great violence in the interior, and great damage to property resulted and several lives were lost. The lines of railroad extending from Portland to Dallas were buried under fallen timber so deep that new lines will have to be constructed. A SANTA FE dispatch of the 14th states that Major Morrow caught up with Victoria's band on the head waters of the Pershaw River two days before. Victoria made a stubborn fight from noon to sundown and then fled toward the head-waters of the Anima. Several dead Indians were left on the field. The United States forces had one man killed and several wounded. THE Louisville Savings Bank suspended on the 14th, upon the discovery that J. H. Rhoer, the Cashier, was a defaulter for over $67,000. After acknowledging the deficit, Rhoer started for the jail to surrender himself to the authorities, but the Directors overtook him and informed him that he would not be prosecuted, and that the stockholders had decided to make good the deflcit. UPON representations made by the Bee-Keepers' Association, the Post-Office Department on the 15th reconsidered its order that queen bees be excluded from the mails. ON the 15th the House Committee on Indian Affairs began an investigation into the causes of the recent Ute outbreak. General Adams was before the committee, and gave a long statement of the grievances of the Indians. Miss Meeker was present, but did not testify. Reporters were excluded. THE New York Graphic of the 15th had a report from Menlo Park to the effect that the carbon horseshoes, the main reliance of Mr. Edison in perfecting his electric light, had failed, and that in consequence he had decided to suspend their further manufacture. Mr. Edison, however, was not down-hearted. Another report was to the effect that Mr. Edison denied that the lamps had gone out and that the carbon horseshoes had broken; it was true that some of the lamps had been cracked, and that air had thus gained ontrance to the flame, but this did not affect his invention, and was only a mechanical faulta trouble with the glass, which he hoped, by continued experiments, to remedy. MR. LAMSON, President of the Fusion Senate of Maine and claiming to be Acting Governor, notified the Sheriff of Kennebee County on the 15th to remove his deputies from the State-House. That official declined to recognize his authority and ordered his men to remain at their posts. On the same day Mr. Lamson filed in the Supreme Court a paper protesting against the consideration by that body of the questions submitted to it by the Republican members, whom he designated as an illegal and revolutionary body. During the day General Chamberlain issued a circular to the people, assuring them that there was no probability that trouble would occur, complimenting Mr. Lamson for his moderation and courtesy, and advising poli-

3. January 21, 1880 New Ulm Weekly Review New Ulm, MN
Article from New Ulm Weekly Review, January 21, 1880

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voted to unseat Mr. Hale. They also reported in faver of unseating Mr. Dunnell, a Republican member, but the House recommitted the repart and adjourned. THE Iowa Legislature assembled and organized on the 13th, and the Wisconsin Legislature on the 14th. Republican officers were chosen in both bodies. TELEGRAPHIC communication with Oregon, after a week's interruption, was restored on the 14th. On the 9th the city of Portland was visited by a destructive hurricane, which caused nearly $100,000 damage. One man was killed and several were seriously hurt by falling buildings. The storm raged with great violence in the interior, and great damage to property resulted and several lives were lost. The lines of railroad extending from Portland to Dallas were buried under fallen timber so deep that new lines will have to be constructed. A SANTA FE dispatch of the 14th states that Major Morrow caught up with Victoria's band on the head waters of the Pershaw River two days before. Victoria made a stubborn fight from noon to sundown and then fled toward the head-waters of the Anima. Several dead Indians were left on the field. The United States forces had one man killed and several wounded. THE Louisville Savings Bank suspended on the 14th, upon the discovery that J. H. Rhoer, the Cashier, was a defaulter for over $67,000. After acknowledging the deficit, Rhoer started for the jail to surrender himself to the authorities, but the Directors overtook him and informed him that he would not be prosecuted, and that the stockholders had decided to make good the deficit. UPON representations made by the Bee-Keepers' Association, the Post-Office Department on the 15th reconsidered its order that queen bees be excluded from the mails. ON the 15th the House Committee on Indian Affairs began an investigation into the causes of the recent Ute outbreak. General Adams was before the committee, and gave a long statement of the grievances of the Indians. Miss Meeker was present, but did not testify. Reporters were excluded. THE New York Graphic of the 15th had a report from Menlo Park to the effect that the carbon horseshoes, the main reliance of Mr. Edison in perfecting his electric light, had failed, and that in consequence he had decided to suspend their further manufacture. Mr. Edison, however, was not down-hearted. Another report was to the effect that Mr. Edison denied that the lamps had gone out and that the carbon horseshoes had broken; it was true that some of the lamps had been cracked, and that air had thus gained ontrance to the flame, but this did not affect his invention, and was only a mechanical faulta trouble with the glass, which he hoped, by continued experiments, to remedy. MR. LAMSON, President of the Fusion Senate of Maine and claiming to be Acting Governor, notified the Sheriff of Kennebee County on the 15th to remove his deputies from the State-House. That official declined to recognize his authority and ordered his men to remain at their posts. On the same day Mr. Lamson filed in the Supreme Court a paper protesting against the consideration by that body of the questions submitted to it by the Republican members, whom he designated as an illegal and revolutionary body. During the day General Chamberlain issued a circular to the people, assuring them that there was no probability that trouble would occur, complimenting Mr. Lamson for his moderation and courtesy, and advising politicians and others to keep away from Augusta, as their services were not needed and their presence only increased the anxiety felt by all good citizens. The Fusion Legislature met at the usuel hour but

4. January 22, 1880 The Milan Exchange Milan, TN
Article from The Milan Exchange, January 22, 1880

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WEST AND SOUTHWEST. News was received at the War Department on the 12th that the Indians at Mescalero Agency, New Mexico, were threatening serious trouble and that Gen. Pope had ordered all the available troops in the southern part of the Territory to march thence at once. The renegade Apache Indians under Morrow have also returned from Mexico to their old haunts and are liable to resume their raids upon settlers. Capt. W. G. Wilson, leader of the band of the National Soldiers' Home, Milwaukee, on the night of the 11th shot both his wife and himself. Both were dead when found. Cause, domestic troubles. At Davenport, Iowa, on the 11th, Alice Webb, aged 28, was fatally burned by her clothing taking fire from a lamp. She died within two hours. Quite an extensive riot occurred in the vicinity of the Chicago stock-yards and packing-houses on South Halstead Street, on the 13th, caused by the attack of striking butchers upon non-Union men as well as some Union men who had gone to work after a month's idleness. A large number were badly beaten, and finally it was necessary to send some 200 policemen to the ground to hold the mob in check. An extensive strike of coal miners, embracing nearly the entire bituminous region in Pennsylvania and Ohio, has been inaugurated. Senator Lamar had a stroke of paralysis at his home in Jackson, Miss., on the 12th. His condition, although declared not dangerous by his physicians, was such as to give his friends grave apprehension. A most terrific hurricane prevailed throughout Oregon and Washington Territory on the 9th, information of which was not received until nearly a week later, on account of the total interruption of telegraphic communication with San Francisco. At Portland many buildings were blown down and one man was killed, and at Umatilla, Astoria, Vancouver, Salem, and other places more or less damage was done. A dispatch from Fargo, D. T., 14th, said that the Dakota Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad had been completely blockaded by snow and ice for a week past. Senator Lamar had a stroke of paralysis at his home in Jackson, Miss., on the 12th. His condition, although declared not dangerous by his physicians, was such as to give his friends grave apprehension. The Louisville (Ky.) Savings-bank suspended payment on the 14th, caused by a deficit in the accounts of the Cashier, Mr. J. H. Rohrer, to the amount of $67,000. Mr. Rohrer is 60 years of age and is one of the largest stockholders in the Bank. The Directors will make good the deficit. A negro named Charles Smith, charged with arson, was hanged by a mob at Walton, Ky., on the 14th. Abe Rothschild, the convicted murderer of Diamond Bessie," has been granted a new trial by the Texas Supreme Court. Major Morrow's command had another brush with Victoria's Apaches on the 13th, striking them at the head of the Rio Puerco in New Mexico and driving the savages towards the Animas, where Morrow expected to again come up with them. Sergeant Gross and one Indian scout of Morrow's command were killed and several hostiles were killed and wounded.

5. January 24, 1880 American Citizen Canton, MS
Article from American Citizen, January 24, 1880

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At Davenport, Iowa, on the 11th, Alice Webb, aged 28, was fatally burned by her clothing taking fire from a lamp. She died within two hours. Miss Ward, who shot her mother in Boston in a fit of somnambulism, has been discharged from arrest. Quite an extensive riot occurred in the vicinity of the Chicago stock-yards and packing-houses on South Halstead Street, on the 13th, caused by the attack of striking butchers upon non-Union men as well as some Union men who had gone to work after a month's idleness. A large number were badly beaten, and finally it was necessary to send some 200 policemen to the ground to hold the mob in check. An extensive strike of coal miners, embracing nearly the entire bituminous region in Pennsylvania and Ohio, has been inaugurated. A most terrific hurricane prevailed throughout Oregon and Washington Territory on the 9th, information of which was not received until nearly a week later, an account of the total interruption of telegraphic communication with San Francisco. At Portland many buildings were blown down and one man was killed, and at Umatilla, Astoria, Vancouver, Salem, and other places more or less damage was done. A dispatch from Fargo, D. T., 14th, said that the Dakota Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad had been completely blockaded by snow and ice for a week past. The Louisville (Ky.) Savings-bank suspended payment on the 14th, caused by a deficit in the accounts of the Cashier, Mr. J. H. Rohrer, tothe amount of $67,000. Mr. Rohrer is 67 years of age and is one of the argest stockholders in the Bank. The Directors will make good the deficit. A cablegram from St. Thomas says news has arrived of terrible floods on the Island of St. Kitts, by which 200 lives have been lost, property to the extent of $250,000 destroyed, and the whole island devastated. A fleet of piratical oyster vessels have taken possession of the lower Rappahannock River in the neighborhood of Laneaster County, Va., and defy the lawful owners of the bivalves, the residents along the banks, to prevent their depredations. Two of the citizens were killed at long range from one of the vessels. The Legislature of the State has appropriated money sufficient to equip a force of 200 militia, which will be sent to disperse the marauders. A negro named Chas. Smith, charged with arson, was hanged by a mob at Walton, Ky., on the 14th. Abe Rothschild, the convicted murderer of "Diamond Bessie," has been granted a new trial by the Texas Supreme Court.

6. January 29, 1880 Iron County Register Ironton, MO
Article from Iron County Register, January 29, 1880

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LATE NEWS ITEMS. An extensive strike of coal miners, embracing nearly the entire bituminous region in Pennsylvania and Ohio, has been inaugurated. A most terrific hurricane prevailed throughout Oregon and Washington Territory on the 9th, information of which was not received until nearly a week later, an account of the total interruption of telegraphic communication with San Francisco. At Portland many buildings were blown down and one man was killed, and at Umatilla, Astoria, Vancouver, Salem, and other places more or less damage was done. A dispatch from Fargo, D. T., 14th, said that the Dakota Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad had been completely blockaded by snow and ice for a week past. The Louisville (Ky.) Savings-bank suspended payment on the 14th, caused by a deficit in the accounts of the Cashier, Mr. J. H. Rohrer, tothe amount of $67,000. Mr. Rohrer is 67 years of age and is one of the argest stockholders in the Bank. The Directors will make good the deficit. A cablegram from St. Thomas says news has arrived of terrible floods on the Island of St. Kitts, by which 200 lives have been lost, property to the extent of $250,000 destroyed, and the whole island devastated. A fleet of piratical oyster vessels have taken possession of the lower Rappahannock River in the neighborhood of Lancaster County, Va., and defy the lawful owners of the bivalves, the residents along the banks, to prevent their depredations. Two of the citizens were killed at long range from one of the vessels. The Legislature of the State has appropriated money sufficient to equip a force of 200 militia, which will be sent to disperse the marauders. A negro named Chas. Smith, charged with arson, was hanged by a mob at Walton, Ky., on the 14th. Abe Rothschild, the convicted murderer of "Diamond Bessie," has been granted a new trial by the Texas Supreme Court. Nat. Smith, a negro, confined in the Jail at Jonesboro, Gr., for an assault upon a woman, was hanged by a mob on the night of the 16th. A horrible murder, which followed upon a crime still blacker, occurred at Groton Ridge, near Ayer, Mass., on, the 17th. The victim was Mary C. Crew, aged 28, wife of Joseph Crew, a farmer. Mr. Crew left home at noon, and upon his return, at about 8 p. m., he found his wife lying dead in a bed-room, shot three times in the head and once in the breast. A neighbor who called at the house during the afternoon found Mrs. Crew engaged in conversation with a stranger, whose ostensible purpose was to buy a farm. There seems to be no doubt that this man was the guilty party, and efforts were at once put forth to effect his arrest. Mrs. Margaret Tumy, aged 70, a lady living in the suburbs of Cincinnati, became possessed by an hallucination that she had no stomach, and could not be induced either to eat a morsel of food or drink a drop of water. For 30 days, as vouched by her family and physicians, nothing entered into her stomach, and at the expiration of that period she died from actual starvation.

7. January 29, 1880 Puget Sound Weekly Argus Port Townsend, WA
Article from Puget Sound Weekly Argus, January 29, 1880

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NEWS SUNDARY The strike of 10,000 coal miners in Bel: has terminated-S. H. H. Clark is ele president of the St. Louis, Kausas & Ari railroad ----- Louisville Savings Bank closed, loss $100,000; cause a defaulting ier--Th Louisana sngar for 187 estimated at 175,000 housheads--The mal Swamp canal sold for $275,000occurred in a tenement house, New York which three little children were smothe on Tuesday night-- Frank Leslie lease his property, real and personal, trade m to his wife-Senator Lamar's recover announeed-Parnell addressed 2,000 sons at Fall River and received $1,500 in scription to the Irish relief fund-Par and Dillon have been invited to Omaha Over $5,000 have bees collected in Spi field, Mass., for thesuffering Irish Th land of St. Thomas has been visited 1 storm that destroyed 200 lives and $250 worth of property-Recruiting for British army will soon begin in Ottawa The Duchess of Marlborough relief fund reached £19,000-The Senate is floo with petititions of woman suffragistsrumored that Postmaster Haycs of St. L. will succeed Hoyt as Indian Commissi -A bill appropriating $100,000 for a office building in San Francisco has been troduced—About forty business firms San Francisco protest against the remova Collector Higby--The treasury departr has just purchased 420,000 ounces of si for the use of the mints-Queen bees allowed to travel by mail-The numbe banks in Ohio, State and national, is with capital in aggregate of $33,256,079 A man was lynched in Leadville a few w ago, and his wife brings suit against county for $20,000 damages-An exten strike of cotton operatives at Bolton, But 1 and Ashton-Under-Tyner is imminent. ters refuse to yield to the demand for D per cent. increase--Orders for 25,000 ange trees have been sent to Los Angeles Sacramento--Coinage at the San Franc mint for 1879 amounted to $38,065, double eagles, $24,476,000-Sydney, N W., has subscribed £2,000 to the Irish r fund--Consolidation of the Union Pa and Kansas Pacific railroad is being plan William Gross, while hunting in Teleg Avenue, Oakland, fatally shot a child years of age and wounded a young lady shot at a supposed wild cat about 75 y distant--The bridge across the Frit Tay will be rebuilt. 20 feet lower than be -The Biddleford, Me., light infantry ordered to be in readiness to go to Aug at a moment's notice-Speaker Ran aenies having sent a dispatch advising fusionist Legislature of Maino to stand : or any other dispatch-The U.S. Supi Court will take a recess from the first A day in February to the first Monday March-The Pacific Coast delegation becoming restive on the Chinese ques -John Dyer has been convicted at All Indiana, of the murder of histwife and tenred to imprisonment for life--------------------Queen will open parliament in person Duke Antoine De Gramont, French di matist, is dead-The Catholic bisho Salford disapproves the Irish land agitat --Dissensions have arisen among the ghan leaders; General Roberts has bee pairing fortifications and extending his I tion-Herberbert Spencer will cut shor journey in Egypt, returning to Englan February--The Princess Louise will from Liverpool for Halifax on the 22d Five of the roughs who led the bread in Cork have been sentenced to six we imprisonment--Two brothers in Reno a quarrelabout some*kindling wood W resulted in the-suicide-of years -by hanging---The goods of Statt Bros., Chicago, were sold under the 1 mer, the whole stock going at 58% cent the dollar negro who ran off wi white girlwas overhanled at Warrenton, and hanged-J. Winthrop Taylor, 1. N, died in Boston on the 19th, of heart ense--Parnell has made a long speed Providence--Chioago has forwarded 700 to Ireland----Frank Leslie's will be contested by his son - The bark G C. Tobey, for London, lies aground at loe Sats, having been run into and disa by the steamship City of Savannahson's troubles thicken and his critics crease. Fifty recruits for assignment in the infantry will be forwarded to Governor land, Colorado-The Supreme Court decided the Pueblo land suit in favor o city of San Francisco-The jury in case of Hayden. on trial at New Have the murder of Mary Stannard, disagreed were discharged; Hayden was returne jail-The mortgage on the Rio Grand vision of the Texas Pacific Railroad has approved-Arthur Gorman is U. S. S tor elect from Maryland, to take his March 4th-The anniversary of Ge Lee's birthday was celebrated at Mobil the 19th- strike showing 9,000 ou of silver to the ton has been made in Silver Horn mine, Col-Compositor the morning papers of Kansas City struck Kel- " did

8. January 30, 1880 The Jasper Weekly Courier Jasper, IN
Article from The Jasper Weekly Courier, January 30, 1880

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WEST AND SOUTHWEST. A most terrific hurricane prevailed throughout Oregon and Washington Territory on the 9th, information of which was not received until nearly a week later, on account of the total interruption of telegraphic communication with San Francisco. At Portland many buildings were blown down and one man was killed, and at Umatilla, Astoria, Vaneouver, Salem, and other places more or less damage was done. A dispatch from Fargo, D.T., 14th, said that the Dakota Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad had been completely blockaded by snow and ice for a week past. Senator Lamar had a stroke of paralysis at his home in Jackson, Miss., on the 12th. His condition, although declared not dangerous by his physicians, was such as to give his friends grave apprehension. The Louisville (Ky.) Savings-bank suspended payment on the 14th, caused by a deficit in the accounts of the Cashier, Mr.J. H. Rohrer, to the amount of $67,000. Mr. Rohrer is 60 years of age and is one of the largest stockholders in the Bank. The Directors will make good the deficit. A negro named Charles Smith, charged with arson, was hanged by a mob at Walton, Ky., on the 14th. Abe Rothschild, the convicted murderer of " Diamond Bessie," has been granted a new trial by the Texas Supreme Court. Major Morrow's command had another brush with Victoria's Apaches on the 13th, striking them at the head of the Rio Puerco in New Mexico and driving the savages towards the Animas, where Morrow expect-

9. February 5, 1880 The Bolivar Bulletin Bolivar, TN
Article from The Bolivar Bulletin, February 5, 1880

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The Louisville (Ky.) Savings-bank suspended payment on the 14th, caused by a deficit in the accounts of the Cashier, Mr. J. H. Rohrer, to the amount of $67,000. Mr. Rohrer is 67 years of age and is one of the largest stockholders in the Bank. The Directors will make good the deficit. The management of the Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern Railroad have purchased a majority of the stock in the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. Under this arrangement the entire line from Hickman, Ky., to Chattanooga, with several branches, passes into the L., N. and G. S., giving that company control of some 3,500 miles of road, the largest system in the enire South.