Beulah State Bank (Beulah, MO)

Episode Information

Episode UID
80127671498
Episode Type
Suspension β†’ Closure
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
8012767 routing
Routing Number
80-1276
Start Date
October 17, 1924
Location
Beulah, Missouri (37.624, -91.917)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
7178a20240f66555

Response Measures

None

Description

Closure ordered after cashier's long-running embezzlement/speculation; treated as a permanent closing in press.

Events (1)

1. October 17, 1924 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier J. M. Vance confessed to five years of embezzlement/speculation on the NYSE totaling about $30,000, rendering the bank insolvent.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Rolla bank immediately ordered the Beulah bank closed.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The St. Louis Star and Times, October 17, 1924

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Article Text

BANK IS CLOSED AT BEULAH, MO., CASHIER IN JAIL Model Young Man Lost $30,000, More Than Institution's Capital and Surplus, Dabbling on New York Exchange. HE TOLD WIFE AND SHE MADE HIM CONFESS ALL So J. M. Vance Occupies Cell at Rolla and Does Not Want Out on Bondβ€”Peculations Covered Five Years. BEULAH, MO., Oct. 17.β€”(Special.)β€”J. M. Vance, 35-year-old cashier of the Beulah, Mo., State Bank, was the town idol. Born and reared in Phelps County, Vance lived here in a modest manner with his wife and four small children. Parents pointed him out to their sons as an example of what clean living could accomplish. He was the man without a vice. But Vance yesterday admitted to a state bank examiner that for five years he had secretly speculated on the New York Stock Exchange with funds belonging to the bank. Today he is in the county jail at Rolla. As usual, things went wrong and the amount of Vance's peculations finally reached $30,000, which was just $10,000 more than the bank's total capital and surplus. Wife Urged Confession. In a spirit of remorse, Vance told his wife all about it Monday night, and she made him promise to make a clean breast of it and take his punishment. He agreed. On Tuesday he went to Rolla and confessed to the officers of the Rolla State Bank, correspondent for the bank at Beulah. "I came to Rolla because I didn't have the courage to face my board of directors first," Vance told them. The Rolla bank immediately ordered the Beulah bank closed. The next day Vance repeated his confession to an amazed board of directors. Yesterday he again admitted his peculations to the state bank examiner and Prosecuting Attorney A. Ben Holmes. After his statement was concluded, Vance returned voluntarily to Rolla, thirty miles north of here. Holmes issued a warrant charging embezzlement and Vance was lodged in jail. He stated today that he did not desire to get out on bond. Thirty-Six Banks Closed. The failure of the Beulah State Bank makes the thirty-sixth state bank that has closed its doors in Missouri since the first of the year. According to the last sworn statement, the bank's deposits totaled $24,000; loans, $53,000; capital, $10,000; surplus, $10,000, and total resources, $61,360.67.


Article from Jefferson City Post-Tribune, October 17, 1924

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Article Text

TOWN IDOL GOES WRONG J. M. Vance of Beulah, Mo., Played the Market and Now Faces the Penitentiary. BEULAH, Mo., Oct. 17. (I. N. S.)β€”J. M. Vance, 35-year-old cashier of the Beulah State Bank was the town idol. Born and reared in Phelps County, Vance lived there in a modest manner with his wife and four small children. Parents pointed him out to their sons as an example of what clean living could do. He was the man without a vice. But Vance yesterday admitted to a State Bank examiner that for five years he had secretly speculated on the New York Stock Exchange with funds belonging to the bank. Today he is in jail at Rolla. As usual things went wrong and the amount of the speculations reached $30,000 which was just $10,000 more than the bank's total capital and surplus. In a spirit of remorse Vance told his wife all about it Monday night and she made him promise to make a clean breast of it and take his punishment. He agreed. On Tuesday he went to Rolla and confessed to the officers of the Rolla State Bank. "I came to Rolla because I did not have the courage to face my board of directors first," Vance told them. The Rolla Bank immediately ordered the Beulah Bank closed. The next day Vance repeated his confession to an amazed board. Yesterday he again admitted his guilt to the state bank examiner and Prosecutor A. Ben Holmes. After the statement was concluded Vance returned to Rolla. Holmes issued a warrant charging embezzlement and Vance is in jail. He stated today that he did not desire to get out on bond.