8476. Citizens Bank (Chestertown, MD)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
September 22, 1925
Location
Chestertown, Maryland (39.209, -76.067)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
bb4644cd

Response Measures

None

Description

Bank president Hope H. Barroll committed suicide and had ordered the bank closed; state examiners reviewed books and the bank reopened the next day(s). Newspapers explicitly report there was no run. Closure appears to be a short, voluntary/precautionary closing tied to the president's act rather than insolvency.

Events (2)
1. September 22, 1925 Suspension
Cause Details
President Hope H. Barroll ordered the bank closed immediately before/after he shot himself; precautionary/administrative closure tied to his suicide and fears of depositor runs.
Newspaper Excerpt
The first intimation that anything was wrong came at about 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning, when a depositor of the Citizens Bank went to the bank and found the doors closed, upon which was posted a sign reading Bank closed.
Source
newspapers
2. September 23, 1925 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
The bank was opened for business this morning and the day there was dence contemplated run on the ... Depositors Show No There has been no sign of run the bank, has there been the slightest show anxiety on the part of any of the depositors ... examiners found the bank ... in excellent condition.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)
1. September 23, 1925 The Daily Times Salisbury, MD
Article from The Daily Times, September 23, 1925

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Article Text

KENT BANKER COMMITS SUICIDE Huge Narcotic Smuggling Ring Uncovered At Tampa THINKS BANK WILL FAIL, HE SHOOTS SELF Hope H. Barroll, Prominent Chestertown Lawyer-Banker, Commits Suicide BODY FOUND IN POOL OF BLOOD BY SON III Health Caused Despondency; Bank Re-opened, Books Found All Right (Special to The Evening Times) Chestertown, Md., Sept. 23.- Because of the prevalent belief that the death of Hope H. Barroll, Chestertown banker and lawyer was suicide, prompted by despondency and fear of ill health, Dr. Harry L. Dodd, coroner, stated today that he did not believe an inquest will be necessary. Mr. Barroll was found in his office at the Citizens Bank, of which he was the president, with a bullet wound in the temple shortly after noon yesterday. revolver lay on the floor near his unconscious form. The bank business was resumed this morning and the doors of the institution opened the usual hour. An examination of the bank's books, made in compliance with a request of Barroll proved the bank's financial status to be excellent, George D. Lofland, Vice President, declared. State Bank Commissioner Page said he had not ordered. and knew no reason for the closing of the bank but sent two examiners. Mr. Lofland siad Mr. Barroll told him about 10 o'clock in the morning that there would be a run on the bank and demanded that it be closed. Lofland expressed the opinion that Mr. Barroll contemplated suicide and believed his act would cause the run on its resources by depositors. Mr. Barroll did not regain consciousness. He was found in lavatory of his office behind locked doors. Death occurred four hours later. One of his legs was amputated several years ago and he had experienced difficulty in obtaining an artificial leg which he could use without pain. This fact worried the banker, who, prior to the amputation was an active man, friends say. He was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the state and was leader among the Democrats of Kent county. He an estate valued at new $100,000, it is said. The first intimation that anything was wrong came at about 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning, when a depositor of the Citizens Bank went to the bank and found the doors closed, upon which was posted a sign reading "Bank closed.' Officials of the bank immediately began an investigation, and it was learned that B. L. Bonnett, a merchant who wanted to make a deposit, had telephoned to Mr. Barroll's office and asked why the bank was closed. Mr. Barroll's reply was "I ordered it closed." S. Scott Beck, president of the Chestertown Bank of Maryland. and Alan A. Harris, cashier of the same bank, went to Mr. Barroll's office to offer any assistance they could render, but were told by Mr. Barroll's stenographer, Miss Wallace, he had given orders he could not be seen, and had even refused to allow his son, John W. Barroll, to see him. Mr. Beck and Mr. Harris were standing on the outside of Mr. Barroll's office when the son and an em(Continued on Page Two).

2. September 23, 1925 The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, MD
Article from The Baltimore Sun, September 23, 1925

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Article Text

Chestertown Bank President Had Ordered Doors Of Institution Closed. BOOKS ARE REPORTED CONDITION Long III, Had Feared Ruin by Depositors. Staff Chestertown. Sept. H. Barroll: banker and lawyer, who died today from bullet wound in the head. committed suicide because of despondency over ill health. Harry Dodd. tonight. not likely that there will be an inquest, Dr. Dodd said. Barroll for years was one the prominent Democrats Maryland. At times he was the recognized leader his county. He almost well known in Baltimore his home county. His political. social connections the city always Three of his Wethered lawyer: Morris Keene Barroll and Hope H. Barroll, live in Baltimore. Books Found George Lofland, first the Citizens' which Mr. Barroll said in statement books the institution had inspected by Charles Hobbs and W. Gerbig. bank examiners, and found in condition. The bank be opened morning position meet any emergency, Lofland said Friends found Mr. Barroll, still an of his office when his failure return home luncheon had alarmed his Mrs. Margaret Wethered Barroll. Mrs. Barroll and her John present when removed. failed gain access the office through the door. Tilden Cooper and negro climbed through window and unlocked the door. Bullet Head. bullet from small pistol entered the right temple, coming out the back of the head. The pistol and empty cartridge lay the floor. Because heard shot, well established that suicide was committed noon when all the surrounding offices were empty. Mr. Barsecretary told the coroner door Barroll's inner office had locked for about hour when went Mr. Barroll, was 65 years old August died 3.30 without regaining About 10 o'clock this morning Mr. Barroll called Mr. Lofland the telephone from private law office and asked him come to his office On Bank "When Mr. Lofland said. Barroll said there going the bank unless closed Lofland told Barroll he had authority close the bank. giving you authority Mr. Barroll replied. that done Mr. Loffand agreed do Barroll and he turned to leave office Mr. Barroll called him back and his hand. their hands Mr. George, not be seeing you again, telling of this, Mr. Lofland said: Barroll evidently thought suicide might start the bank and was very like him guard the end the institution and people had influenced during Doors Mr. Lofland went the bank and ordered the cashier. close institution and go home. Mr. Connelly went Miss Helen the only other ploye. promptness with which Mr. Baraction discovered tributed to long habit unfailing Residents Chestertown that they could their clocks by the time horse and carriage passed their homes when he going coming from office. Although siderable he clung horsedrawn vehicles. The old horse drove perfectly trained that only would stand anywhere ing. but would wheel the buggy Barroll enter Lost Leg Dr. physician for said his patient had been health for many years and peculiarly tressed during the last months In June Barroll had stroke Added other disabilities from amputated lost stump tried the rear stage coach.

3. September 24, 1925 The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, MD
Article from The Baltimore Sun, September 24, 1925

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Article Text

CHESTERTOWN BANK AFFAIRS FOUND Institution Whose President Ended Life Opens For Business As Usual. DEPOSITORS SHOW FAITH Messages Of Condolence Received By. Family Of Late Hope H. Barroll. Chestertown, Md., Sept. 23 (Special). Following examination of the affairs of the Citizens Bank here by two examiners sent last night by the State Bank Commissioner, George D. Loft, vice-president, and J. Frank Connelly, cashier, placed in charge. The examiners found the bank, whose president, Hope H. Barroll, ended his life yesterday, excellent condition Mr. Barroll's suicide attributed over ill health by Dr. Harry L. Dodd, coroner. Depositors Show No There has been no sign of run the bank, has there been the slightest show anxiety on the part of any of the depositors stockholders the safety of their funds. Mr. Loft said that there are ample funds availtake care any emergency that special meeting di the board of directors has been called for Friday when the question of successor to Mr. Barroll may taken but no election probable before the month. Open As Usual. The bank was opened for business this morning the usual hour, and the day there was dence contemplated run on the

4. September 26, 1925 Worcester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise Pocomoke City, MD
Article from Worcester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise, September 26, 1925

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Article Text

CHESTERTOWN BANK PRESIDENT ENDS LIFE Hope H. Barrol Shoots Self Through Head.-C.E. Crane Dies After Long Illness. Chestertown, Md., lost two of her most prominent citizens this week, one through the ravages of disease; the other by a suicidal hand. The former was Curtis E. Crane, one of the directors of the Marvel Package Company ,a vestryman of the Episcopal Church, formerly a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of Washington College, and, some years back, a representative in the Maryland General Assembly. He had been in failing health for quite a long while and his death was not a matter of great surprise to his host of friends and acquaintances. The other was Hope H. Barroll, Esq., a prominent lawyer, banker, and politician. He locked himself in his office, shot himself with a 35 calibre revolver, and died from the effects of the wound a few hours later. Mr. Barroll gained his political prominence by attacking the financial management of Kent county and arraigning the officials who had been elected by the regular democratic organization. He built up an anti-organization faction which fought the powers through many campaigns, sometimes very successfully. In his banking capacity, he was president of the Third National Bank, succeeding the late Judge James Alfred Pearce. While acting as such, difficulties, probably political, sprang up between him and the cashier, Hon. W. B. Copper, the present State Senator from Kent. The result of this difference was that he resigned from the bank and Mr. Copper was made president. Mr. Barroll then organized another bank which he called. The Citizens Bank, and it was the general consensus of opinion that this was to fight the Third National. Thinking possibly his contemplated suicide would cause a run on the Citizens, he closed the doors before he fired the fatal shot. The affairs of the bank are said to be in excellent condition. The deceased no doubt dwelt painfully on the turn for the worse in nearly all the phases of his existance. Early in life he lost a leg. This precluded all that exercise which he needed, since he was an indefatigable worker, remaining at his desk thruout the hours of the day, and many times of the night. His health became undermined; his banking influence weakened; his political power vanished; his ability to slave at his desk gone;-he, probably, thought life not worth living, despite his interesting family of wife and four sons, a beautiful home on the banks of the Cheter, and, so far as everyone thought, a handsome competence. The Chestertown bar has been conspicuous in comparatively recent years for suicides-no fewer than three having occurred within, probably, five years. The first was R. Groome Parks, Esq., who sat down before a table on which he had secured a gun in such a way as when he pulled the trigger, the load centered in his head, causing instant death. The second was S. P. Townshend, Esq., referee in bankruptcy, who shot himself in the early hours of the morning, being found dead in an outhouse. The third was Mr. Barroll as related above.

5. September 30, 1925 Smyrna Times Smyrna, DE
Article from Smyrna Times, September 30, 1925

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Article Text

CHESTERTOWN BANK IS OPEN Institution Whose President Ended Life is Not Impaired Following examination of the affairs of the Citizens Bank of Chestertown, Md., by two examiners sent by the State Bank Commissioner, George D. Loft, vice-president, and J. Frank Connelly, cashier, were placed in charge. The examiners found the bank, whose president, Hope H. Barroll, ended his life Tuesday of last week, in excellent condition. Mr. Barroll's suicide was attributed to despondency over ill health by Dr.Harry L. Dodd, coroner. There has been no sign of a run on the bank, nor has there been the slightest show of anxiety on the part of any of the depositors or stockholders as to the safety of their funds. Mr. Loft said that there are ample funds available to take care of any emergency that may arise. A special meeting of the board of directors has been called for Friday morning, when the question of a sucseccor to Mr. Barroll may be taken up but no election is probable before the end of this month. The bank was opened for business Wednesday at the usual hour, and throughout the day there was no evidence of a contemplated run on the institution. The directors of the Third National Bank at a meeting adopted a resolution offering assistance in any emergency that may arise in the affairs of the Citizens Bank. Hundreds of telegrams and messages of condolence have been received by the family of Mr. Barroll since the tragedy.