First National Bank (New York, NY)

Episode Information

Episode UID
92301272
Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
9230 national
Charter Number
923
Start Date
December 7, 1905
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
97e997f661204403

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Date receivership started
1907-10-25
Date receivership terminated
1908-02-10
OCC cause of failure
Losses

Events (5)

1. March 21, 1865 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. December 7, 1905 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
A passerby misreported that an art store opposite the bank had failed and been seized by the sheriff; the garbled remark led to a rumor the bank had failed.
Random Run
Yes
Random Run Snippet
Rumor that art store opposite bank seized; misheard as bank failed
Measures
Hundreds of small deposits withdrawn (no suspension mentioned)
Newspaper Excerpt
A run on the First National bank was inaugurated to-day, and hundreds of small deposits were withdrawn.
Source
newspapers
3. October 25, 1907 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. February 10, 1908 Restored To Solvency
Source
historical_nic
5. November 22, 1928 Voluntary Liquidation
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from New-York Tribune, February 26, 1903

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Article Text

PREFER THREE CHARGES Twining's House Searched While f Wife Lay Seriously Ill. Asbury Park, N. J., Feb. 20.-Just as the excitement attending the collapse of the First National Bank and the Monmouth Trust and Safe Deposit Company had somewhat subsided the community was startled again this noon by the arrest of President Albert C. Twining and Treasurer David C. Cornell, of the trust company, growing out of charges of falsification of statements to the State Banking and Insurance Commissioner. There are three charges against Twining. in two of which Cornell is jointly charged with him as taking part in offences alleged. The two joint charges are that on December 12 Twining and Cornell submitted a false report to the State Commissioner of Banking and Insurance as to the condition of the trust company at the close of business November 25. 1902; and also that on January 20 the two submitted a false statement at the close of business December 31. 1902 The other charge against Mr. Twining tlat he submitted a false statement as of outstanding of business December alone-is to the the close number certified 31. The checks latter at charge is believed to be closely connected with the mysterious purchase of the 381 shares of the First National stock on February 13. President Twining was apprehended as he was entering a drug store by County Detective Charles Strong, but not until the latter had searched the Twining home, in Fourth-ave., from cellar to garret, while Mrs. Twining lay dangerously ill with nervous prostration, brought on by worry over the financial calamity that had befallen her husband. Constable Theodore Hulick arrested Cornell just as he was the Monmouth Trust Building. Previarrests all railroad ous leaving to the stations prevent had the been men placed under surveillance to wanted from leaving town, the outgoing trains being watched by Detective Strong. Constable Hulick and Chief of Police Gravatt. Twining and Cornell were brought before Police Justice Borden, where both waived a hearing and offered bail, which was accepted, Twining being released in $5,000, while Cornell's bail was fixed at $4,000. The arrests were made at of John E. Foster, Prosecutor of on the complaint of the the Pleas, instance warrants Larue Vreden- being burg, State Bank Examiner, the issued from Freehold, whither Mr. Vredenburg went yesterday to prefer his charges. It is conjectured that the two joint charges are connected with the $10,200 note of the Asbury Park Athletic Association, which, it is alleged, was rediscounted or hypothecated by the Trust Company in the First National Bank. This enterprise was a pet scheme of Twining for several years, and many of the former as well as some present officials of both banking institutions were stockholders and leading officials in the palmy days of its existence. The makers of the note declare that they are not having have had legal liable They say for they its payment, advice, already and paid that it. they have been informed that, had the First National been an innocent receiver of it, it would have had to be paid, but, as some of the officers of one institution were directors in the other. it is alleged. they were cognizant of the hypothecation. The makers will fight any attempts to make them pay again. The reported assignment of President G. F. Kroehl of the First National Bank of New-York City to-day wasn't unexpected here, as a rumor to the effect that he had this move in contemplation has been street gossip for several days. A number of his friends have intimated that he would pursue this course as the only safe one for his foreign creditors. The exact extent of Mr. Kroehl's property interest here is not known. He owns a fine home in Summerfieldave., which is known to contain many costly works of art. and is furnished in an expensive manner. He also owns a pretty cottage in Sixth-ave. It is believed that his principal assets will be found to consist of stock and other securities. a complete list of which may not be procurable until the assignee's schedule is filed.


Article from New-York Tribune, May 10, 1905

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Article Text

RECEIVERS HERE ALSO. Local Banks and Trust Companies Restrained from Paying. Judge Lacombe, in the United States Circuit Court, yesterday afternoon signed an order appointing J. D. Colt, of Boston, and Walter D. Edmunds, of No. 31 Nassau-st., this city, ancillary receivers of the Haight & Freese Company, fixing their bond at $10,000. The court also granted an order restraining New-York banks and trust companies from paying out any money deposited in the name of the alleged bankrupts, or that of William H Lillis, George G. Turner, Harry Watson, Charles B. Poor, jr., William G. Conklin, - Beardesley, John Doe and Richard Roe. The appointment of the receivers was secured by Roger Foster, of No. 15 Broad-st., who filed with the court three affidavits, which contain charges against the company. One. made by Ridgeway Bowker, of Camden, N. J., states that he deposited $5,500 with the concern's Philadelphia offices, and alleges he was induced by George W. Turner to permit a man named Daniels to manipulate his account. He further alleges that on January 11, 1903, his account was without warning closed out. Bowker swears that the concern bought and sold no stocks whatsoever, and made up fictitious accounts of alleged stock transactions which were given to its customers. The Haight & Freese Company, the affidavit declares. had more than five thousand customers, whose claims amounted to more than $1,000,000. An affidavit made by Arthur M. Johnson, of No. 502 West 152a-st., stated that he had been employed by the company in various capacities and in a number of the offices. Johnson also swore that no stocks were bought and sold on margins for customers and explained at great length the method employed by the managers in making up the alleged fictitious sales accounts so that each customer would be a loser. A similar affidavit, made by John M. Warwick, another employe, purported to corroborate the statements of both Bowker and Johnson as to the methods employed by the concern. Receiver Edmunds late in the afternoon took possession of the company's local offices, at Broadway and Exchange Place. Mr. Foster, who is counsel for the receiver. said later that the appointment of a receiver had been asked for on the ground that the Haight & Freese Company was insolvent and on the additional ground of fraud. "It is charged." continued Mr. Foster. "that the brokerage business of Haight & Freese was entirely fletitious. The firm took orders to buy and sell stocks for customers and never executed these orders. The orders. in other words. were bucketed. Fraud on customers and abstraction of assets by officers are charged. Every customer who ever gave an order to this firm can be a creditor of the firm. "Some assets have been found in the Seaboard and in the Consolidated National banks. but they will not meet the debts. Bowker, I understand, made his trades through the Philadelphia office of the concern, but that does not affect the issue in any way." The offices of the Haight & Freese Company were crowded all the morning. but toward noon, when news of the Boston court proceedings became known, a line of customers formed to withdraw their accounts. Harvey Watson, the local manager. said early in the afternoon that steps were being taken to get the Boston receivership vacated. "We do not know why this suit for a receiver was brought, added Mr. Watson. "It is evidently a matter of spite. Mrs. Welss formerly had an account with the Boston house, but we settled with her some time ago, and she signed a release. No claims were made upon us. and we do not know what she wants. Our counsel in Boston tells us that the court must have been imposed on in getting the receivership. Here in New-York, and everywhere else, we are paying all claims made upon us. Some of our customers here. when they heard about the trouble in Boston, came to us for their money. and we have paid them promptly. Some of them have reopened accounts with us since they have talked with us over the matter. We have been here fifteen years. and we have always paid every just claim. I understand that the main executive office in Boston is making a formal statement." The Haight & Freese Company has been well known for years as a broker in stocks and grain on margin. It advertises extensively. and has many branch offices and correspondents throughout the country. It was formerly a member of the Consolidated Exchange, but now has no local exchange connections. The most recent number of "The Corporation Directory" gives the directors of the concern as William B. Sommerville, George G. Turner and John M. Campbell, who are named respectively as president, secretary and treasurer. The capital is given as $100,000.


Article from Las Vegas Daily Optic, December 7, 1905

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Article Text

Novel Run. New York, Dec. 7.-A run on the First National bank was inaugurated to-day. and bundreds of small deposits were withdrawn. The run was caused a rumor that the art store oppoby site the bank had been siezed by sher. iff. A passerby remarked to a friend that the art store opposite the First National bank has failed. Some one heard only the last few words and rumor spread that the bank had failed.