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THEFT WRECKS A BANK Special to the Jersey City News. FORT SCOTT, Kas., Oct. 14, 1895.-The State Bank of this city suspended today because of the defalcation of Cashier Coleman, who is said to have stolen $30,000.
State Bank (Fort Scott, KS)
Episode Information
- Episode UID
6682470691150- Episode Type
- Suspension β Closure
- Bank Type
- trust
- Bank ID
-
668247069hash - Start Date
- October 14, 1895
- Location
- Fort Scott, Kansas (37.840, -94.708)
Metadata
- Model
- gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
- Short Digest
4bb399a23077b8b1
Response Measures
None
Description
Depositors gathered when the bank failed to open, but articles describe a suspension due to cashier embezzlement and appointment of a receiver rather than a distinct run.
Events (3)
1.
October 14, 1895
Suspension
- Cause
- Bank Specific Adverse Info
- Cause Details
- Cashier J. R. Coleman/Colean's long-term embezzlement/defalcation (estimated $25,000β$50,000) forced the bank to close by order of the state commissioner.
- Newspaper Excerpt
- This bank is closed subject to the order of the state bank commissioner. Depositors will be paid in full. The failure to open is caused by the defalcation of the cashier.
- Source
- newspapers
2.
October 24, 1895
Receivership
- Newspaper Excerpt
- Assistant Attorney General A. A. Godard today made application for the appointment of a receiver for the State bank... and Judge J.S. West appointed C. W. Mitchell...
- Source
- newspapers
3.
December 18, 1895
Other
- Newspaper Excerpt
- C. W. Mitchell, receiver of the defunct State bank, has commenced payment of the first dividend and all depositors who call receive 25 per cent of their deposit.
- Source
- newspapers
Newspaper Articles (19)
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Bank Suspended. KANSAS CITY, Oct. 14.-The State bank at Fort Scott closed today by order of the state commissioner. The failure was caused by the cashier defaulting.
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THE CASHIER STOLE. State Bank of Fort Scott, Kan., Compelled to Close. A CANADIAN BANK SUSPENDS. Big Failures at Omaha and Altoona, Pa.-The Pittsburg Municipal Scandal. Fort Scott, Kan., Oct. 14.-A sensation was created this morning when Vice President J. J. Stewart, of the State bank, posted the following notice: "This bank is closed subject to the order of the state bank commissioner. Depositors will be paid in full. The failure to open is caused by the defalcation of the cashier. A large crowd of excited depositors gathered. Cashier J. R. Coleman has had the utmost confidence of all. He had been cashier since the bank was organized in 1883. Last Wednesday he left town, saying he was going to his old home at Jerseyville, III., where his wife was visiting. Cashier Coleman confessed to President D. F. Coon, of the bank, in St. Louis last Saturday night, that he had lost about $25,000 in stock and bond speculations. The theft had been systematically practiced for over ten years and covered up by manipulation of the books. In a statement issued by the bank today, the officials say the loss will fall wholly on the stockholders, as the assets are amply sufficient to pay all the depositors. When Coleman left Wednesday he had no intention of returning. He was under a specialist's care for nervous trouble. On Friday he wrote to President Coon that he had become a wreck. Coleman's irregularities up to that time had not become known. Coon telegraphed to Coleman to remain in St. Louis, and went on to meet him there. On Saturday night, in the presence of his wife and brotherin-law and President Coon, Coleman made a confession. He broke down and cried piteously.
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COLEAN CAN'T LIVE. The Ft. Scott Defaulting Banker is a Physical Wreck. Is Thought He Can Live but a Short Time. HIS DEFICIT GROWS. It Amounts to $35,000 and May Go Higher. Ten Thousand Dollars of the Best Notes, Missing. KANSAS CITY, Oct. 16.-A special to the Star from Fort Scott says: Cashier Colean's shortage has grown to $35,000, and may go higher yet, Bank Commissioner Breidenthal completed the examination of the State Bank's condition today and reported to the attorney general that the bank is insolvent. It has been found that $10,000 of the best notes held by the bank, and which are almost due, are missing. Colean is in such a mental condition that he can give no account of their disposition. A $6,000 shortage in the St. Louis Bank of Commerce is also reported. Judge Thornton Ware of Chicago, the largest stockholder in the bank and an especial friend of Colean, arrived today and may take an active part in settling the bank's affairs. The depositors are petitioning for the appointment of Charles Nelson, vice president of the Bank of Fort Scott, as receiver for the defunct institution. Bank Commissioner Breidenthal thinks the receiver can make the first payment to depositors within sixty days. Colean's condition is precarious and it is believed he will live but a short time,
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THE FORT SCOTT BANK WRECK. Cashier Coleman Stole $30,000-The Bank Won't Prosecute. Fort Scott. Kan. Oct. 15.-Cashier Coleman. of the State bank. who on Saturday confessed to having embezzled $13,000, arrived in the city this morning, accompanied by his wife and children. He was so weak that he had to be assisted to a carriage, and was driven to his home. where he is now in bed very sick. Coleman is believed to be penniless. State Bank Commissioner Breidenthal is here in charge of the bank. It is expected a receiver will be appointed in a few days. Mrs. Coleman has surrendered her diamonds, her husband's paid-up life Insurance of several thousand dollars, and all else she possesses to the bank It now appears that Coleman's shortage cannot be less than $30,000. Vice President Stewart today said he did not think the bank would prosecute Coleman, but Bank Commissioner Briedenthal would cause his arrest when the examination of the institution's affairs is completed. The back's resources are placed at $172,000. and the deposits at $94,000. Delicious butter-took first prize in Yak-
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ticians in Great Bend yesterday predicted the election of Ira Brougher by 200 majority. The Lyons Democrat has moved to Sterling. The Topeka Journal is putting up a building. The sale of the Santa Fe road will occur in November. The Topeka schools are closed on account of diphtheria. Two wells were poisoned in Topeka last week, but were discovered in time to ayert fatality. Dr. Tandy, who advertises himself as a specialist over the state, is a snide quack and a fraud. It is very probable that there will be a scarcity of freight cars on all western lines this fall. John R. Mulvane has added more land to the already large Mulvane ranch near Rossville. J. R Colean, cashier of the Fort Scott State bank, is a defaulter and the bank has suspended. C. K. Holliday of Topeka has accepted the nomination as an independent candidate for chief justice It is said the populists will next year advocate state control and sale of liquor, as in South Carolina. Senator John Martin will resume the practice of law in Topeka upon the expiration of his senatorial term. The Santa Fe's taxes in Kansas amount to $800,000-almost enough to keep the district schools of the state running. The Kansas State Agricultural college has sent out a preliminary circular on Kansas weeds in which it asks for specimens of the weeds from every county in the state to aid the department of botony in the prepara: tion of a bulletin upon the distribution, or range, in Kansas of the var' ious kinds of weeds.
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A THIEVING CASHIER. The State Bank at Fort Scott, Kan., Forced to suspend. FORT SCOTT, Kan., Oct. 15.-This morning Vice President J. J. Stewart, of the state bank of this city, posted the following notice at the hour of opening: This bank is closed, subject to the order of the state bank commissioner. Depositors will be paid in full. The failure to open is caused by the defalcation of the cashier. J. J. STEWART, Vice President. A large crowd of excited depositors gathered around the bank doors and discussed the situation. The cashier, J. R. Colean, has had the utmost confidence of all. He had been cashier since the bank was organized in 1883. Last Wednesday he left town, saying that he was going to his old home in Jerseyville, III., where his wife is visiting. Colean confessed to D. F. Coon, president of the bank, in the West End hotel in St. Louis last Saturday night that he had lost $25,000 in speculation in stocks and bonds. An investigation showed that the theft had been systematically practiced for a period of over two years, and covered up by a manipulation of the bank books.
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Si ck, but Under Guard FORT SCOTT. Kan., Oct. 17.-J. R. Colean, cashier of the wrecked state bank of this city, whose defalcations caused the bank's suspension, was arrested by Sheriff Allen onjistate warraant charging him with embezzling $9000 in cash from the reserve fund of the bank. Colean is still in a very critical condition and it was impossible to have him moved. A guard Irom the sheriff's office was left at his bedside.
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FORT SCOTT, Kan.-J. R. Colean, cashier of the wrecked state ibank of this city, whose defalcations Γ§aused the bank's suspension, was arrested by Sheriff Allen on a state warrant charging him with embezzling $9,000 in cash from the reserve fund of the bank. Colean is still in a very critical condition and it was impossible to have him moved. A guard from the sheriff's office was left at his bedside.
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BREIDENTHAL ROBBED. The Kansas Bank Commissioner Losses $120,000 in Securities. Π’ΠΎΠ³Π΅ΠΊΠ΄, Kan., Oct. 18.- Commissioner Breidenthal left his overcoat and his valise, containing the securities of the State bank of Fort Scott, amounting to about $120,000, in a Rock Island chair car at the Kansas City Union depot last night. The train pulled out without him and all efforts to recover the missing property have for proved fruitless. It has been the custom of the bank commissioner to bring in all the movable assets he found in failing banks, which he hold at Topeka until the appointment of a receiver. He was pursuing this plan with the Fort Scott assets when the disappearance occurred at Kansas City, ALP the securities have been stolen the thief will be compelled to commit forgery to realize on any of them, but it they should not be recovered it will entail ruin upon the stockholders who have already been badly hit.
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RECEIVER FOR FT. SCOTT BANC. C. W. Mitchell has Bean Appointed by Judge West. FORT SCOTT, Oct. 24.-Assistant Attorney General A. A. Godard today made application for the appointment of a receiver for the State bank of this city, which was closed by the defalcation of Cashier Colean, and Judge J.S. West appointed C. W. Mitchell of the insurance agency of Mitchell. Chapin & Peasley, fixing his bond at $100,000. The city council has been somewhat exercised over the prospect of recovering the city funds from the State bank. The amount of city money on deposit is $22,249.14. A special committee of the city council and the city attorney have made a minute examination of the condition of the bank and the several bondsmen for the bank as city depository, and, it is claimed, will report to the council that they are well satisfied that the city is sufficiently secured to recover every cent. City Attorney Crider expressed the belief that all the claims against the bank would be paid in full without anyone being compelled to take recourse on the stockholders under double liability act
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# WESTERN. At Kansas City thieves robbed Mr. and Mrs. William D. Bassett, who are on their honeymoon trip, of valuable wedding pres-ents. At St. Johns smugglers have brought in enormous quantities of rum. One schooner owner in twelve months got 4,200 gallons of rum. A negro named Bob Marshall was tarred and feathered at Greeley, Colo., for having insulted Gov. McIntyre at the Potato Day celebration. There were eight fatal casualties at Milwaukee Friday. The worst of the accidents was at No. 828 7th avenue, where three men were asphyxiated in a well. The satchel containing $120,000 securities of the defunct Fort Scott Bank, lost by Bank Examiner Breidenthal, of Kansas, was found in a railroad car at Denver. Five women who had been attending a Dunkard meeting at Ottawa, Kan., were thrown from a carriage by runaway horses. All were seriously and one fatally injured. By the explosion of a boiler in a sawmill near Paris, Texas, George Johnson, the colored engineer, was torn to fragments. Two farmers standing near were fatally hurt. A brutal murder occurred in Grant County, South Dakota. Frank Kaatsitz, a German, went home about 4 p. m., in an intoxicated condition, and quarreled with his wife and kicked her to death. Peculiar meteorological conditions prevailed in the Northwest Friday. In North Dakota the first snow of the season fell, and in South Dakota and Minnesota high winds and sand and dust blizzards prevailed. Dan E. Young, an old citizen and prominent politician of Folsom, N. M., was murdered in Oak Canon. He had been shot from behind and was badly bruised on the head. It is thought the whitecaps, some of whom he had exposed, are connected with the murder. Lem Gammon, postmaster and general storekeeper, at Ramah, Colo., was bound and gagged by four masked men, who robbed the store and postoffice of $200 in cash, a quantity of stamps and other valuables. The sheriff and posse are trying to track the robbers with blodhounds. Meredith Mahan and Francis M. Chilton, of Eminence, Shannon County, Mo., were found in their room at the Ridgeway Hotel, St. Louis, the former dead and the latter unconscious and dying from suffocation by gas. The men were well-known stock raisers. It is supposed to be a case of blowing out the gas. Developments in the case of Defaulting Cashier J. R. Colean, of the Fort Scott, Kan., State Bank, shows his shortage to be $50,000 instead of $23,000, as at first supposed. Vice President Stewart says that Colean literally gutted the reserve fund, realizing on $20,000 of the best securities held by St. Louis, New York and Kansas City banks. San Francisco has had bloomer balls, bloomer marriages and now a bloomer restaurant has been opened in the very business center of the city. The restaurant is called the "Bloomer Cafe" and has been a success from the start. Four shapely girls, attired in neat fitting bloomers, attend to the wants of the customers and have proved such an attraction that more girls will have to be employed to take care of the increasing trade. At Ceylon, Ind., the pay car on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was wrecked Friday and three men killed and several badly injured. A gang of bridge workers had pushed their car on a switch to let the pay car pass, but neglected to close the switch and the train, running fifty miles an hour, dashed into them. The pay car and engine were wrecked. Physicians from Decatur and a wreck train went to the scene. Two of the dead men have large families. Fire broke out in the main hoisting slope of the Oregon Improvement Company's mine, at Franklin, Wash., causing the death of John H. Glover, S. W. Smalley, John Adams and James Stafford. The accident was caused by August Johnson, who dropped his lamp, setting fire to a gas feeder. Instead of throwing a shovelful of dirt to put it out, he ran down the slope to get the pit foreman. While he was bringing help the timbers caught fire. Finding that the flames could not be extinguished, the four men named volunteered to go down and close a door between the main and auxiliary slopes. It is supposed they never reached the bottom alive, but the bodies have not been recovered. The sawmill of E. W. Backus & Co., at Minneapolis, Minn., was destroyed by fire Friday evening. The loss will be $125,000 and 400 men are thrown out of employment. The mill shut down at 6 o'clock, but had considerable lumber to saw and as a general thing has been running night and day. There was considerable lumber around the mill, but it was all saved in spite of a fierce wind. The mill con-
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THE NEWS EPITOMIZED Washington Items. Spain backs down and restores diplomatic functions to United States Consul-General Williams of Cuba. Assistant Secretary McAdoo decided to turn over at once to the State of Massachusetts the old receiving ship Minnesota. now lying at New York, without making further repairs to her. Secretary Carlisle and Assistant Secretary Hamlin returned from Boston and resumed their duties at the Treasury Department. Secretary Hoke Smith has taken steps to protect gilsonite deposits in Utah. The Supreme Court of the United States has reassembled. J. Zell Hoover, a well-known Washington character. related how he secured $2100 from Lord Sackville-West, then British Minister to the United States. on a fictitious letter telling him that the Fenians were about to blow him up with dynamite. O. J. Carroll. United States Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina, arrived at Washington. having been summoned by Attorney-General Harmon. and had an extended conference with the Attorney-General in regard to the activity of filibustering expeditions in North Carolina waters, supposedly destined for Cuba. A new $10 counterfeit silver certificate, with the portrait of the late Vice-President Hendricks. series of 1891, check letter D. has been discovered. Its general appearance is very deceptive. The note has been "doctored" to give it an aged look. General Miles has leased for his residence in Washington the house at the corner of Twentieth and G streets owned by Medical Director Kindleberger. of the Navy. It is near the War Department and one square above the residence of Secretary Herbert. Spain has been warned from Washington. by her Minister there, it is presumed, that if she doesn't crush the revolt in Cuba forthwith Congress will recognize the insurgents as belligerents. Attoney-General Harmon said that the Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight could not take place on the Hot Springs Government reservation. Domestic. Women delegates to theSocial Purity Congress in Baltimore, Md., visited the slums of that city. Mrs. Miner, living south of Magnolia, Ark., locked her two children. age six and four, in a room while she went to a neighbor's home. While she was gone the house caught fire and the children were cremated. The Rev. Frank Hyatt Smith. of North Cambridge, Mass., was arrested in Denver, Col., accused of sending scurrilous postal cards through the mails. Morris Schoenholz was convicted in New York City of arson, first degree, second offence. making himself liable to a sentence of from forty to eighty years. General Taylor, Commander of the Arkansas State Guard, arrived in Hot Springs to prevent the proposed Corbett-Fitzsimmons prize fight. The Grand Jury of Monroe County, New York. indicted Rev. John M. Fitzgerald, pastor of the Holy Cross Church, Charlotte, for arson in the second degree. The National Association of Bankers held their twenty-first annual session in Atlanta, Ga. P. J. O'Connor, thirty years old, and P. McKellar, twenty-nine years old. were run over by a train at the Lawrence street crossing, Newark, N. J., and killed. The Farmers' National Congress at Atlanta. Ga., declared for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one. Ethel Oliver, a nurse in Seney Hospital, Brooklyn, confessed that she had stolen jewels and money from sister nurses and from patients. At Fort Scott, Kan., the State Bank closed its doors. Its cashier stole $30,000. Major Moreland, City Attorney of Pittsburg, resigned; he and his assistant will be prosecuted criminally for retaining interest on city moneys. The converter in the Frankstown Steel Works of Jones & Laughlin, Pittsburg, Penn., burst, throwing the liquid metal in all directions. Seven men were severely burned, one fatally and perhaps two mortally. Frederick K. Kelham, a young lawyer, was found dead on an elevated road track, New York City. He is supposed to have been killed by falling from a station platform, or by a passing train. Secretary Carlislespoke to the Massachusetts Reform Club, of Boston, Mass., in favor of a "sound currency."
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MORE THAN ENOUGH ASSETS. Condition of the Ft. Scott Bank is Encouraging to Creditors. FORT SCOTT, Nov. 13.-C. W. Mitchell, receiver of the State bank of this city, which was wrecked by the heavy defalcations of its cashier, J. R. Colean, who is now a prisoner in the county jail, made a statement of the assets and liabilities of the bank, which is most encouraging to the depositors and creditors. He savs that after a careful personal examination he finds the assets to be $134,341.66, instead of $93,482.70, as reported by Bank Commissioner Breidenthal, and instead of the $109,536.32 liabilities as reported by Breidenthal, Mr. Mitchell's report shows that they are but $98,787,78. Mr. Mitchell stated that $25,000 at the outside would cover the bank and doubtful paper, and after that was deducted from the assets more than enough would be left to cancel the liabilities and pay the cost of settlement without having to assess the stock.
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Fort Scott Bank Paying. FORT ScoTT, Dec. 18.-C. W. Mitchell, receiver of the defunct State bank. has commenced payment of the first dividend and all depositors who call receive 25 per cent of their deposit.
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has fallen heir to a fortune estimated at about one million dollars. The Humane society of Kansas City has appointed a committee to investigate cruelty to animals at the stock yards. Judge J. S. West, who has just re signed as judge of the Sixth district will move to Kansas City, Mo., and practice law. James R. Colvin, who wrecked the State bank at Fort Scott waived a hearing and was remanded to jail under a bond of $10,000. Three young boys, Johnnie Hannon, Thomas Cahill, and Fred Garker were arrested Wednesday for burglarizing the cigar store of S. A. Renz at Kansas City. John Olson had both bones of his leg broken below the knee and his foot badly smashed by being caught in a hay press, at Fort Scott Thursday afternoon. Barre Wyatt a, farmer living near Scranton, was marshal of Bloomington, Ill., early in the fifties. Adlai Stevenson, new vice president, was Wyatt's deputy. C. W. Mitchell, receiver of the defunct State bank at Fort Scott, has commenced payment of the first dividend and all depositors will receive 25 per cent of their deposit. Napoleon Adkins was instantly killed by the bursting of the band wheel on a wood sawing machine at Hiawatha on the 28th. The entire top of his head was blown off. Wellhouse, the big apple raiser of Leayenworth county, has placed seven hundred rabbit traps in his orchards to prevent damage to the trees by the rabbits gnawing off the bark. Two tramps entered the residence of Squire Carelton, a mile north of Devon, and "ransacking the house, stole a silver watch. The squire's son pursued them, and recovered the watch after a struggle. A grocery drummer, who has been selling in Kansas towns for many years says Atchison eats side meat and cat fish, while Lawrence is given over to oat meal and dried prunes. Topeka likes tea and canned goods. J. T. Barker, a farmer near Kansas City, was arrested Thursday, on complaint of a negro peddler. While Barker was applying some bright green paint to his domicile the complaintant wanted to sell him some Christmas goods, and Barker applied a liberal coat of green paint to him. A man named Green from McCune, who got drunk and boisterous at Pittsburg the other day, after he had sobered up went before the county attorney and swore out a warrant for himself for disturbing the peace, was arraigned, pleaded guilty and was fined. His name and his nature are certainly well matched. Fred Myers and family of Lebanon, had an auction and sold out their personal property in order to go to Palestine to take up their abode. These people are of Jewish descent and are preparing to get in on the ground floor when the Jews are called home. Their religious faith is not like that of the Jews of to-day but more like the old first familes and tribes. They join a community there which will hold all property in common and in many other respects copy after the Oneida community in New York. A farmer appeared before county Attorney McWilliams of Chase county last week seeking to swear out a warrant for the arrest of a neighbor whom he charged with stealing a calf. "How much is the calf worth," asked the county attorney. "Five dollars," replied the farmer. "Let's see," argued the officer; "It would cost the county $100 to prosecute the case. Are you after money or revenge?" The man said he wanted the calf or the pay for it. "Well here is five dollars," said MeWilliams, putting out the money. "I guess the county can't afford to take your case." Silk flags were presented in public Thursday night of last week to each class in the public schools of Atchison, by the G. A. R. Sometime ago a wholesale whisky house sent a letter to the postoffice at Seammon, with the instructions to the postmaster that if the party to whom it was addressed could not be found, to hand it to some other responsible person. The postmaster handed it to his wife and thereby learned the contents. Governor E. N. Morrill built and operated the first saw mill in Kansas.
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JUDGE BIDDLE OF FORT SCOTT Judge Biddle of Fort Scott has filed a motion asking the court to require Receiver Mitchell of the State bank, to pay to L. C. Boyle $2,150 which J. R. Colean, the defaulting cashier assigned to him as attorney's fees. Colean claimed to have that amount in the possession of D. F. Coon. A young Oklahoma couple, who had just been married and were on their way north, applied at the police station at Lawrence, for a place to sleep, saying that their money had given out and they wanted some place to stay, and were given it. They were in the best of spirits, and the young man was hopefully looking forward to next spring, when he could get a claim somewhere and begin farming. His bride was in a very happy mood, and entertained the prisoners at the station by singing them a number of songs. They left Tuesday morning for Nebraska. Fred Walters, a stranger, went crazy on the street at Atchison Monday. His hallucination is that he brought a bottle of whisky over from East Atchison and offered an Atchison man a drink and that since then everybody in Atchison has been after him in a threatening manner. The steamer Helen, laden with 170,000 bushels of Kansas corn, sailed from Galveston for Belfast last week. That probably is about all the corn that has been shipped out of Kansas since the new crop. The idea seems to be finally fixed that corn is a good thing to
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Bank Wrecker Colean Sued. FORT SCOTT, Jan. 25.-Receiver C. W. Mitchell of the State bank of this city, which was wrecked by the speculation of Cashier J. R. Colean, today brought suit against Colean for his shortage. The receiver is convinced that Colean did notlose all the money gambling, but that after losing beyond what he had hopes of replacing he took the reserve fund.
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FORT SCOTT-Receiver C. W. Mitchell. of the State bank, yesterday received an old draft that is something of a curiosity. It was for $70 and was issued by the State bank on a New York bank by Cashier Colean about two weeks before the bank closed, yesterday-over a year later the draft turned up with this expressive notation on it: "Bank busted; cashier in pen."