8904. Benton Harbor State Bank (Benton Harbor, MI)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
December 9, 1927
Location
Benton Harbor, Michigan (42.117, -86.454)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
99887a2a

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspapers (Dec 9–10, 1927) report a receiver was appointed for the Benton Harbor bank by Judge Fead and the state supreme court stayed actions pending appeal by Ben Purnell. No run or depositor run is mentioned; the bank was placed in receivership (government action).

Events (2)
1. December 9, 1927 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The order was issued as Benton Harbor bank, appointed receiver by Judge Fead last summer.
Source
newspapers
2. December 9, 1927 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Court action led to appointment of a receiver for the Benton Harbor bank by Judge Fead; state supreme court issued an order staying disposition pending appeal.
Newspaper Excerpt
The state supreme court issued an order tonight receivership for the pending from circuit court finding against Purnell. The order was issued as Benton Harbor bank, appointed receiver by Judge Fead last summer.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. December 9, 1927 El Paso Herald El Paso, TX
Article from El Paso Herald, December 9, 1927

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Article Text

Court Orders Ben Left In Charge Lansing, Mich., Dec. Ben Purnell, accused of morality and fraud administration of his House David colony Benton Harbor, property few months longer The state supreme court Issued an order last night postponing operation of the colony pending an apepal from circuit court finding against Purnell. The order was issued Benton Harbor bank, receiver judge Louis H. Fead, attempted control of the property. extended trial before judge Fead summer, Purnell found to subjected young girls the to obtained from prospectmembers by

2. December 10, 1927 The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, GA
Article from The Atlanta Constitution, December 10, 1927

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Article Text

KING BEN WINS EVICTION DELAY Lansing. Mich., December 9.(United Ben Purnell, accused of immorality and fraud in administration of the affars of his House of David religious colony at Benton Harbor, will remain in control of his prosperity a few months longer at least. The state supreme court issued an order tonight receivership for the pending from circuit court finding against Purnell. The order was issued as Benton Harbor bank, appointed receiver by Judge Fead last summer. Purnell found to have subjected young girls the and money from prospective by The eultist is severely ill with tuberculosis. He confined to and has been for months. His followers believe will recover their religion teaches that Purnell immortal and the leader of the world. refrain from disposing of any its property, valued at millions of dollars, pending the appeal and court required $25,000 bond to insure its instructions would be followed.