National Bank - Elkton, MD

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 1236
Charter Number: 1236
Start Date: September 27, 1873
Location: Elkton, Maryland (39.607, -75.833)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 20fc135e

Response Measures

None

Other: The article describes a prank/erroneous chalking of 'Suspended' on the door after the bank moved locations; depositors were briefly misled but no actual suspension or mass withdrawals are reported.

Description

Article (The Cecil Whig, 1873-09-27) reports the National Bank of Elkton moved premises and a prankster chalked the word Suspended on the old door, prompting some depositors who saw the sign to assume the bank had failed and to turn away. There is no evidence the bank actually suspended or was placed in receivership — this appears to be a localized misinformation incident that produced nervous customers but not a formal suspension.

Events (1)

1. September 27, 1873 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: A prankster/chalked sign reading 'Suspended' on the bank's door after the bank moved premises, causing depositors to assume the bank had failed.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: Prankster chalked 'Suspended' on bank door; caused alarm but was false
Newspaper Excerpt: Some wag on Sunday or early Monday morning chalked in large letters on the door 'Suspended.' ... several ... who had checks on the Bank, called at the door ... and finding the door still closed ... with the ominous word 'Suspended' ... took for granted that the National Bank of Elkton ... had gone ...'
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. September 27, 1873 The Cecil Whig Elkton, MD

Article from The Cecil Whig, September 27, 1873

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Article Text

firm of B. H. Brown & Co., NO. 138 North Del. Avenue, Philadelphia, has removed his place of business to 232 North Delaware Avenue. Mr. Brown's card will be found in The Whig to-day. The pear growing men are very kind to the Oxford Press men. Every paper we pick up has an announcement of special acts of kindness of those pear men to those Oxford newspaper men. There cannot be an implied understanding between the parties of you tickle me, &c. ? Trinity Church.- - The hour for Sunday m. evening service will be half past 7 p. instead of 8 P. M. as heretofore. Yield of Grain.- Mr. Hugh M. Cameron, near Zion, raised an average of 38 bushels of white wheat per acre, this year, it is reported. We would like our enterprising farmers to send us a statement of their average yield of grain per acre the present year. Such statements when made truthfully, would be an encouragement to broth er farmers, and also induce immigration to the county by farmers from neighboring States seeking good land investments.Make public the resources of your lands and the information will add value to your farms. " Suspended." The National Bank of Elkton removed on Saturday evening from the building occupied by the bank for several years, to the old Oliver property which has been purchased and fitted up for a banking room. Some wag on Sunday or early Monday morning chalked in large letters on the door " Suspended." Several steady going business men and old farmers who had checks on the Bank, called at the door of the old establishment on Monday morning before notice of " Removal" had been posted, and finding the door still closed after nine o'clock, with the ominous word Suspended" chalked in large letters in it two places on the front entrance, took for granted that the National Bank of Elkdown in the recent financial with Jay Cooke & Co., rest crash ton them; had gone the and ugly the of and after staring at look ing word " Suspended" till the meaning was fairly made out, they pronounced the significant epithet " gone up," and turn ing on their heels strode doggedly away. pronouncing the whole concatenation of banks and brokers a set of swindlers. Court Proceedings.- The Circuit Court has continued in session during all of the past week. In the case of Samuel T. Reynolds, and others lessee vs. Kirk. on trial at the close of our report last week, the jury rendered a verdict for the defendant. The Grand Jury finished its labors Saturday morning last at twelve o'clock, having found 34 indictments, all "true bills," and for the following offences:Selling liquor upon Sunday, 14: selling bat minors, 8; larceny, 6; assault and to 2; and obstructing a public road, tery, libel. attempt to kill, and for murder, one each. The following criminal cases have been tried during the week: State vs. Wm. McNutt; indicted at the term of court for larceny of money last from the store of Gottschalk & Orr, in Port Deposit. Tried before a jury and for verdict of guilty. C. McCullough State; W. S. Evans and L. M. Haines for prisoner. State vs. Julia Higgins (colored) indictfor larceny of a basket of marketing ed from the house of Francis E. Bradbury, in Elkton, on the 6th of July last. Tried with before a jury, and 3 verdict of guilty, the recommendation to the mercy of a Court. C. McCullough for State; W. S. Evans for prisoner. State vs. Samuel Harris; indicted for the larceny of two guns from the blacksmith shop of Holland Hargraves, near Elkton, on the night of the 4th of October last.Tried before a jury, and verdict of guilty McCullough for State; L. M. Haines and W. S. Evans for prisoner State 08. Townsend McCammings; indicted for selling liquor on Sunday two and indictments; plea of guilty confessed, fined $20 and costs in each case. State C8. Henry Rowan; indicted for obstructing public road through his property, in the First district. Plea of guilty confessed, and the defendant stating that the obstructions had been placed upon the road undesignedly. the Court imposed fine of only twenty-five cents and costs, and granted him until the first of January which next, to remove the obstruction, consisted of growing hedge. State cs. James P. Hammell; indicted for selling liquor on Sunday. Plea of guilty confessed, and fined $20 and costs. The case of the State vs. Isaac Thorpe, indicted for selling liquor to minors, and also indicted for selling liquor on Sunday in and the State C8. Alexander Johnson, dicted for larency, were removed to Har ford county, the defendants making oatli that they could not have a fair and impar tial trial in this county. State r8. Washington Hinton (colored) indicted for the murder of a child, two years old, on the 1st day of the present month, in the First District. An account of the affair appeared in our paper at the time. On trial as we close our report, W McCullough and Cruikshank for State; S. Evans and L. M. Haines for prisoner D.S. Cook, next friend of C. R. Cook, vs. William T. Lyon. This was an ac ion of replevin to recover store goods destrain landed on for rent by the defendant as who, lord's bailiff. Tried before a jury, under the instructions of the Court, ren dered a verdict for the plaintiff. Constable for plaintiff; Archer for defendant. Henry Magraw and Emily H. Magraw R. their next friend, &c., C8. Adam Ma by Magraw, late executor of Emily W. of graw; issues from the Orphans Court this county. By agreement of the parties the controversy, jury was empanelled, is who to rendered a verdict for what in which law termed the careators; the effect of is set aside the will of the late Mrs. Emily to W. Magraw, of this county. At one time and this promised to be a long continued amicaexpensive litigation, but through an the ble arrangement between the parties, matter has been settled as above stated J. P. Poe, of Baltimore city, for the cavea tor; Alex. Evans for the respondent. Robert Johnson and Michael McKenna, both natives'of Ireland, were naturalized. if Court will continue the greater part of, not all of next week, possibly longer.