6698. Farmers State Bank (Hope, KS)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
February 3, 1892
Location
Hope, Kansas (38.690, -97.077)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
6ea4a178

Response Measures

None

Description

Cashier W. P. Robinson absconded with most of the funds (embezzlement). A receiver was appointed and attachments issued; final receiver's report (1894) shows only $22.67 for dividends, indicating permanent closure/receivership. No clear contemporaneous depositor run is described — failure caused by internal embezzlement and subsequent receivership.

Events (3)
1. February 3, 1892 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
CASHIER W. P. ROBINSON, of the Farmers' bank at Hope, Kavy county, has mysteriously disappeared. The creditors grew frightened and attachments were issued for claims amounting to about $6,000, while there are as many more yet to come. The loss will probably be total unless, as some surmise, Mr. Robinson is detained from home by foul means.
Source
newspapers
2. September 8, 1892 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier W.P. Robinson absconded with most of the bank's funds (embezzlement) leading creditors to attach assets and a receiver to be appointed.
Newspaper Excerpt
Under section 21 receivers have been appointed for the following banks: ... and Farmers bank of Hope, Kas. In the case of the Farmers bank, Hope, Kas., W.P. Robinson, cashier, absconded with most of the funds of the bank, and the creditors immediately attached before the commissioner had notice; but as soon as notified he left immediately for Hope and demanded possession of the loans and discounts and other assets of the bank held by attaching creditors.
Source
newspapers
3. February 16, 1894 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The receiver of the Farmers' bank of Hope has filed his final report. It shows that of the many thousands of dollars which the bank's depositors entrusted to its manager, W. P. Robinson, only $22.67 is available for dividends. Robinson disappeared two years ago.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)
1. February 3, 1892 New Ulm Weekly Review New Ulm, MN
Article from New Ulm Weekly Review, February 3, 1892

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Article Text

# THE WICKED WORLD. PATRICK BOYLE was hanged at Edwardville, Ill., for the murder of John Meunch Aug. 12 last. MEMPHIS has a very sensational tragedy, a prominent young society lady killing another with a razor. WILLIAM EARLE, the St. Paul diamond robber, who conducted his own defense, is convicted. AT Chicago recently, charges of fraud and conspiracy were made in a petition filed in the Superior court by Edward A. Filkins, receiver of the insolvent bank of S. A. Kean & Co. EX-COUNTY TREASURER LIKENS was arrested at Basset, Neb., and is now in jail charged with embezzling $7,533.60 of the county's funds. An expert accountant has unearthed this amount and expects to find more. Likens, it is alleged, speculated in Chicago corn too heavily, with the above result. THE jury in the action of Edward S. Stokes against John Mackay and Hector D. Castro at New York were decided by Judge Ingraham, of the supreme court, to find a verdict in favor of Mr. Stokes for $75,000, with interest from Dec. 26, 1888. This is the full amount that Stokes claimed. CASHIER W. P. ROBINSON, of the Farmers' bank at Hope, Kavy county, has mysteriously disappeared. The creditors grew frightened and attachments were issued for claims amounting to about $6,000, while there are as many more yet to come. The loss will probably be total unless, as some surmise, Mr. Robinson is detained from home by foul means.

2. September 8, 1892 Abilene Weekly Reflector Abilene, KS
Article from Abilene Weekly Reflector, September 8, 1892

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Article Text

Banks of Kansas. The REFLECTOR has received the first biennial report of Hon. Chas. F. Johnson, State Bank Commissioner. It makes an exhaustive report of the banks of the State under the new law and shows them to be generally prosperous and successful. The report shows that on the fourth day of June last these banks had a paid up capital of $3,427,076.56, including surplus and undivided earnings, with deposits of $18,445,944.50; bills payable, $517,090.68; bills rediscounted, $106,123.18. Mr. Johnson makes a number of valuable suggestions one of which was foreshadowed by an interview with the REFLECTOR some weeks ago. Particularly does he urge that the minimum capital stock be not less than $15,000 instead of $5,000 as now. As the liability of stockholders is but double the amount of stock, a bank with $5,000 capital stock and $40,000 or $60,000 deposits has an altogether disproportionate liability. He recommends also that the reserve in savings banks be reduced to 10 per cent to be held in cash and 10 per cent in first class bonds. The coming Legislature will doubtless take action upon the matter and revise the law. Although yet to an extent an experiment it is proving one of the best on the statute books. Of the several hundred banks in Kansas organized under the State law, there have been but four failures since the law went into operation, a record making a better showing than any other Western state. The report speaks of these failures and says of a case of local interest: Under section 21 receivers have been appointed for the following banks: Bank of Macksville, International bank of Edna, Ewing's bank of Thayer, and Farmers bank of Hope, Kas. In the case of the Farmers bank, Hope, Kas., W.P. Robinson, cashier, absconded with most of the funds of the bank, and the creditors immediately attached before the commissioner had notice; but as soon as notified he left immediately for Hope and demanded possession of the loans and discounts and other assets of the bank held by attaching creditors. They refusing to yield possession. a receiver was appointed and a demand made by him, and I am informed that the district court held the attachment good.

3. February 16, 1894 The Globe-Republican Dodge City, KS
Article from The Globe-Republican, February 16, 1894

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Article Text

# Bad for Depositors. The receiver of the Farmers' bank of Hope has filed his final report. It shows that of the many thousands of dollars which the bank's depositors entrusted to its manager, W. P. Robinson, only $22.67 is available for dividends. Robinson disappeared two years ago.