Bastrop State Bank - Bastrop, LA

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type: state
Start Date: June 11, 1900
Location: Bastrop, Louisiana (32.756, -91.872)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 45b4f069

Response Measures

None

Description

Cashier Alex B. Marks shot himself opening bank 1900-06-11; bank closed pending exam. By 1900-07-20 bank reopens after discovering a >$10,000 shortage, bond of $10,000 and 50% stockholder assessment covered losses; resumed business with about $13,000 on hand. No article describes depositor run.

Events (2)

1. June 11, 1900 Suspension

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Cashier Alex B. Marks committed suicide at his desk; bank closed pending examination of his books and later discovered a shortage of more than $10,000.
Newspaper Excerpt: Suicide of Cashier Alex B. Marks at Bastrop, La....shot and killed himself in the bank just after opening the doors for business this morning. ...the bank is closed, pending an examination of his books.
Source: newspapers

2. July 20, 1900 Reopening

Newspaper Excerpt: The Bastrop State Bank, which has been closed since 11th ... was opened this morning for business. Mark's shortage was more than $10,000... He was bonded by a guarantee company for $10,000... The stockholders paid an assessment of 50 per cent. and the bank resumes business with amounting to $13,000 on hand.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

1. June 12, 1900 Pine Bluff Daily Graphic Pine Bluff, AR

Article from Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, June 12, 1900

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Article Text

SHOT HIMSELF IN THE BANK. Suicide of Cashier Alex B. Marks at Bastrop, La. NATCHEZ, Miss., June 11.-Alex B, Marks, cashier of the Bastrop State Bank, of Bastrop, La., seventy miles northwest of here shot and killed himself in the bank just after opening the doors for business this morning. No cause can be assigned for the suicide. His accounts are believed to be all right, but the bank is closed, pending an examination of his books. Marks was a son of the late Rev. Alex B. Marks, formerly rector of Trinity Episcopal church in this city. He married a Miss Felt us, of this city, who, with three children, survives him. He leaves three brothers here, all cf whom occupy responsible positions. If you want any thing from a drug store and want it quick, tele-

2. July 20, 1900 Greene County Herald Leakesville, MS

Article from Greene County Herald, July 20, 1900

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Article Text

Last Spike in Connecting Railway. Natchcz.-After many years, the last spike has been driven in the connecting line which unites the New Orleans & Northwestern Railway and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley at Natchez. This connection was proposed to the board of aldermen several yaars ago, but it was not until Thursday, March 15th, 1900, that the board saw fit to grant the necessary franchise. At the meeting before that the board was memorialized by the Progressive Business League praying for the franchise, and this memorial was the entering wedge to success as was attested yesterday. when Chief Engineer C, G. Vaughn, of the New Orleans & Northwestern Railway Company drove the last spike in the connecting line. The first car over the connection was consigned to the wholesale grocery firm of Postelwaite & Chase. Under the franchise, the railroad will deliver cars into the very warehouses of the merchants who have spur tracks running into their warehouses and to the compresses without extra charge. This connection will open a new route for the farmers and lumbermen of Concordia, Catahoula and other parishes into New Orleans. The Bastrop State Bank, which has been closed since 11th, at which time its cashier, Mr. Alex. Marks, committed suicide at his desk, was opened this morning for business. Mark's shortage was more than $10,000, but the exact amount has not been made public. He was bonded by a guarantee company for $10,000, which will be paid. The stockholders paid an assessment of 50 per cent. and the bank resumes business with amounting to $13,000 on hand.