Chetopa State Bank (Chetopa, KS)

Episode Information

Episode UID
83029871492
Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
8302987 routing
Routing Number
83-0298
Start Date
April 23, 1924
Location
Chetopa, Kansas (37.037, -95.090)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
1ba56dd0cdc099f8

Response Measures

None

Events (1)

1. April 23, 1924 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Malicious/untrue rumor circulated by a local man (John Grant) that prompted withdrawals; rumor was traced and proved unfounded.
Random Run
Yes
Random Run Snippet
Malicious untrue rumor traced to John Grant; proved false
Measures
Bank officials and citizens quickly traced and exposed the rumor, notified authorities leading to arrest; community calmed withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt
A small sized run on the Chetopa State Bank, one of the soundest financial institutions ... was started Wednesday, but the cool-headedness of Chetopa citizens soon stopped it
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Oswego Independent, April 25, 1924

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Article Text

ARREST CHETOPA MAN John Grant is Alleged to Have Started a Rumor, Which Caused Run on Chetopa State Bank Wednesday. THE LAW IS PLAIN ON THIS. Rumor Was Run Down By Chetopa Citizens and Traced to Grant's Door, It Is Saidโ€”Gave Bond for $1,000 and Will Appear in Court This Morning. Indulging in idle talk about banks or maliciously starting rumors affecting the standing of banks, bids fair to be a very serious business in Labette County after this. A small sized run on the Chetopa State Bank, one of the soundest financial institutions in this part of the state, was started Wednesday, but the cool-headedness of Chetopa citizens soon stopped it and saved the day. It developed that someone had started a rumor about the bank and that it was responsible for the run. The rumor was chased down by bank officials and others interested and was finally brought to the door of John Grant, as its alleged starter. Chas. Whitby, cashier of the bank, and A. D. Neale, attorney and stockholder, hastened to this city and secured a warrant from Deputy County Attorney Chas. H. Cory, and Mr. Grant's arrest followed. He gave bond in the sum of $1,000 for appearance in the court of Justice Mollenhour, this (Friday) morning. Attorney Cory explains that there is a Kansas statute that is very plain on this subject and the penalty provided for starting a rumor of this kind, is severe and that it will be enforced to the letter. In these panicky times it is or should be well known to the people generally, that there are few, if any, small town banks prepared to stand a run, and they cannot be expected to, and that the greatest care should be exercised in discussing financial institutions of this kind that might in any way prompt anyone to act hastily or stampede a solvent institution.


Article from Nowata Daily Star, April 25, 1924

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Article Text

BANK "GOSSIPER" OUT ON BOND Parsons, Kan., April 25.โ€”John Grant of Chetopa, Kan., was free on bond today following his arrest last night on a charge of circulating a rumor against a sound bank. Grant was arrested when officials of the Chetopa State Bank complained Grant was circulating untrue reports of their institution because of a personal dislike for the bank. The Chetopa State Bank is one of the oldest and strongest banks in southeastern Kansas. The Farmers National Bank of this city closed its doors a few weeks ago after a heavy run on its resources and the Oswego State Bank of that city went to the wall last week after a vain effort to recover from a run. The Parsons Republican says of the case: Starting a rumor about a bank which is apt to cause trouble with its depositors threatens to become serious business in Labette county. Yesterday a small run started on the Chetopa State Bank at Chetopa, one of the strongest banks in the county, but the cooler heads checked it before closing time. County Attorney Ratner was notified of the rumor that had been started in Chetopa which resulted in a small run, and his deputy, Chas. Cory, hurried from Oswego to Chetopa and made an investigation. Late yesterday, he caused a warrant to be issued out of Justice Mullenhour's court in Chetopa, charging John Grant with responsibility for the rumor. Grant was arrested by Constable Lancaster and gave bond in the sum of $1,000 for appearance Friday morning. "We traced the report to one man and ordered his arrest," was Cory's explanation last night. The law provides severe penalty for persons guilty of malicious and slanderous reports that result in loss of confidence in any bank.