Bank of Highland - Highland, KS

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: state
Start Date: April 1, 1895*
Location: Highland, Kansas (39.860, -95.267)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 30cf3db2

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Books examined

Description

State bank commissioner examined the Bank of Highland which reportedly led to publication or leakage of information that triggered a depositor run in which $14,000 was withdrawn but deposits later returned. No suspension or closure mentioned. Date of article is 1895-04-27; article references the run as occurring 'last week' so date approximated to April 1895.

Events (1)

1. April 1, 1895* Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Public was given information from some source after the state bank commissioner's examination; the article describes this as causing a run and implies the information was false or spiteful.
Measures: No formal measures described; depositors returned funds after seeing money on hand.
Newspaper Excerpt: Soon after, the public had been given information from some source that caused a run of depositors upon the bank, and $14,000 was withdrawn in a short time. When the run had continued long enough to enable the depositors to see that their money was on hand they became ashamed of themselves and the deposits began to come back.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. April 27, 1895 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS

Article from The Topeka State Journal, April 27, 1895

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Article Text

# ACCUSE BREIDENTHAL Charged With Maliciously Closing a Bank at Highland. # BREIDENTHAL INDIGNANT ABOUT IT. Says He Has Information That Should Not Be Published in Relation to the Affair. The Troy Chief of this week contains the following about the state bank commissioner: "Last week, Bank Commissioner Breidenthal appeared at Highland, and, going into Joe Beeler's bank, ordered the doors closed, as he wanted to make an examination. Beeler replied that the doors could not be closed during banking hours. Breidenthal then expressed his determination to close and lock the door, when Beeler notified him that if he did so he would knock the top of his head off. Consequently, Breidenthal had to make the examination with the door open. "After completing it, he informed Beeler that he was not through with him yet, but that he would hear from him again. Soon after, the public had been given information from some source that caused a run of depositors upon the bank, and $14,000 was withdrawn in a short time. When the run had continued long enough to enable the depositors to see that their money was on hand they became ashamed of themselves and the deposits began to come back. We are not able to speak from knewledge, but it is believed that this movement was spite work growing out of certain recent lawsuits. A state officer who will permit himself to be used by a clique of a man's enemies to ruin him, deserves to be fired, and it cannot be done too quickly." When asked about this story, Bank Commissioner Breidenthal said: "I do not care to say anything in regard to the affairs of the bank of Highland further than to say that in this case, as is the practice of this department. I have simply acted in accordance with the law and have protected the interests of the creditors without detriment to the owners of the bank. The public should be satisfied with knowing that their interests are fully protected. The bank commissioner in the discharge of his duties becomes possessed of information which is not proper to give to the public. As to the statements contained in the article in the 'Chief,' I can only say that each and every statement is absolutely false in every particular and I am confident that when Mr. Beeler's attention is called to same he will promptly denounce them as false."