Menno State Bank - Lehigh, KS

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Closure
Bank Type: state
Start Date: October 21, 1919
Location: Lehigh, Kansas (38.373, -97.303)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 37bb27f1

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (Oct 21, 1919) reports cashier J. L. Rickert confessed to forging nearly $40,000 in notes; a receiver has been in charge for some months and creditors expected to receive about 60 cents on the dollar. No run is mentioned; the bank was placed in receivership following discovery of the forgery and appears to have closed.

Events (2)

1. October 21, 1919 Receivership

Newspaper Excerpt: For some months a receiver has been in charge of the institution. Bank creditors will receive about sixty per cent, it is stated. Cashier J. L. Rickert ... has pleaded guilty to forgery ... aggregating nearly $40,000.CONFESSES TO FORGERY Cashier Menno State Bank Tells of $40,000 Deal at Lohigh.Rickert was sentenced to an indeterminate term ...A large number of Mennonites ... were stockholders officers and depositors in the Menno State bank.
Source: newspapers

2. October 21, 1919 Suspension

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Discovery and confession of extensive forgeries by the cashier (J. L. Rickert) (~$40,000), undermining solvency and leading to suspension/receivership.
Newspaper Excerpt: For some months a receiver has been in charge of the institution.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. October 21, 1919 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS

Article from The Topeka State Journal, October 21, 1919

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Article Text

CONFESSES TO FORGERY Cashier Menno State Bank Tells of $40,000 Deal at Lohigh. Cashier J. L. Rickert of the Menno State bank of Lehigh, Marion eounty, has pleaded guilty to forgery, according to information received today by Walter E. Wilson, state bank commissioner. Ricke was sentenced to an indeterminate term in the state penitentiary ngt exceeding seven years. Rickert was charged with having forged notes in the Lehigh bank in an amount aggregating nearly $40,000. For some months a receiver has been in charge of the institution. Bank creditors will receive about sixty per cent, it is stated. Altho Rickert was exonerated of any crime at a recent church trial, he this week entered a plea of guilty. A large number of Mennonites in Marion county were stockholders officers and depositors in the Menno State bank.