Boston Bank - Boston, MA

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: state
Start Date: September 27, 1920
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (42.358, -71.060)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 9642c4b1

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspaper items describe recurring runs on the Boston Bank (headline 1920-09-27 and detailed crowd/police action 1921-07-31). No mention of suspension, closing, reopening, or receivership. Cause attributed to malicious propaganda among immigrant/foreign depositors and speculators offering to buy bankbooks.

Events (2)

1. September 27, 1920 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Headline reports that a run on the Boston Bank begins again, consistent with circulating rumors/propaganda prompting withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt: Run on Boston bank begins again.
Source: newspapers

2. July 31, 1921 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Police reported malicious actors spreading propaganda among the foreign element to induce withdrawals; men were also offering to buy bankbooks below value.
Measures: Twoscore patrolmen, three mounted policemen, and additional officers detailed to the bank; speculators ejected from the street.
Newspaper Excerpt: Some malicious secret force is at work spreading propaganda among the foreign element, getting them to withdraw their savings and cause a run on the Boston bank.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

1. September 27, 1920 Evening Star Washington, DC

Article from Evening Star, September 27, 1920

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Article Text

Today's News in Paragraphs Harding greeted by crowds on way to Baltimore. Page 1 League funds dwindling as nations Page 1 wrangle. Far west showing little enthusiasm in either nominee. Page 1 Senator Kenyon predicts drastic action by Congress to stop rent profiteering Page 1 in Washington. Poles capture Grodno, taking prisoners and war material. Page 1 Idaho is for Harding, says David Lawrence. Page 1 Explosion in Cork wrecks department store front. Page 1 Envoys from communist party reported to have aided reds at Baku. Page 2 New Jersey to hold primaries tomorrow. Page 2 Baltimore mecca for local G. O. P. Page 2 Page 3 Racing balloons forced to land. Air leaders abroad charge foul tricks in Bennett race. Page 3 Sixty-four American students awarded Rhodes scholarship honors. Page 3 Gov. Milliken of Maine tells anti-alcohol congress "dry" law has proved immense saving to U. S. Page 4 More Army appointments. Page 4 Run on Boston bank begins again. Page 7 Bituminous operators seek to avert famine by increasing output. Page 12 Pennsylvania motorists in license Page 12 tangle. Cox discusses league and farming. Page 13 Coolidge advises against vindictiveness. Page 13 Cox for progress, Gompers writes. Page 14 White denies Baruch is "democratic angel." Page 14 U. S. gets no new ideas from captured German subs. Page 16 is Great interest shown as debate opens at world financial conference in Brussels. Page 16 Reports Jews are outraged. Page 17

2. July 31, 1921 New-York Tribune New York, NY

Article from New-York Tribune, July 31, 1921

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Article Text

sound. Twoscore patrolmen and three mounted policemen were detailed to duty at the bank, and when it was seen that this force was unable to cope with the excited depositors officers were hur- ried to the bank from other stations. Thomas C. Evans, Deputy Police Su- perintendent, acting for Superintendent Michael Crowlez, said, "Some malicious secret force is at work spreading propa- ganda among the foreign element, get- ting them to withdraw their savings and cause a run on the Boston bank." Police officers discovered several men in the crowd of depositotrs, offering to buy bankbooks far below the amounts shown on deposit. These speculators were ejected from the street.