9396. Central Trust Company (St Charles, MO)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
trust
Start Date
January 5, 1931
Location
St Charles, Missouri (38.784, -90.481)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
7d23a510908480dd

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple contemporaneous articles report a slow, steady run on Central Trust Company of St. Charles, which was closed by its board in early January 1931 (articles give Jan. 5, 1931 as the closing date). Directors suspended operations and later made partial payments to depositors, but the bank did not resume normal operations and the active bank officer (J. C. Willbrand) was later criminally prosecuted (1933). Thus the sequence is a run that led to suspension and permanent closure (run_suspension_closure).

Events (4)
1. January 5, 1931 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Reports that County Collector George Karrenbrock had attempted to close out a $103,000 county account prompted depositors to withdraw funds, precipitating a run.
Measures
Directors closed the bank; later officers arranged partial distributions (checks mailed to depositors, 10–15% payments discussed) and liquidation/collections pursued.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Central Trust Company of St. Charles closed its doors Monday morning as a result of a slow, steady run on the bank.
Source
newspapers
2. January 5, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Board voted to close after runs caused by reports about the county account and large withdrawals; bank cited heavy withdrawals and doubtful loans in examiner reports (loans ~ $373,000 listed doubtful).
Newspaper Excerpt
The Central Trust Company of St. Charles was closed Monday by its Board of Directors on account of slow steady run.
Source
newspapers
3. December 17, 1931 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
The checks from the Central Trust Co. to depositors will be mailed out sometime ... About fourteen hundred checks must be written ... The outlook at the present time is good for another payment of five or ten per cent within a month or so ... the ability of the bank to make these payments is conditioned on the outcome of certain cases in court and the good or bad fortune in making certain collections on notes. Cash money is very difficult to obtain and this adds to the problem.
Source
newspapers
4. February 10, 1933 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Julius C. Willbrand ... was found guilty ... Willbrand was the secretary-treasurer and active head of the Central Trust Co. of St. Charles, closed by its directors on Jan. 5, 1931. ... Evidence showed ... loans listed $373,000 of the bank's loans as doubtful ... Willbrand testified ... Reports reaching depositors that County Collector George Karrenbrock had attempted to close out the $103,000 account of his office caused a run on the bank, and the resultant closing.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)
1. January 7, 1931 St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, MO
Article from St. Louis Globe-Democrat, January 7, 1931

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Central Trust Bank of St. Charles May Soon Reopen Doors President Declares Depositors Will Not Lose Dollar from Closing. way may be found to Central Trust Company of Dr. Thus no direct steps Chapman, State Bank Excharge the bank, in which to said yesterday closed by its officials depositors. Dr. said chief factor closing was slow, quiet of last week. This the the additional by other assets considthan their value than this, course which would volved losses, Wentker said the Are Good. bonds, real and said Wentker liquitime loans without loss and this was the addition have pay off every dollar deposit offers of backing in opening the have made we But thus them. to think may be that deposits bank portion fund subscribed to open Charles. Wentker portion about $25,000. Charter Denied The fund for the new bank was whose for the bank denied by State partment another bank not needed in Charles, Huncker formerly headed bank St. notified money would returned full out promotion $2 share, at which time signed by Dr. and collateral Among the listed time demand deposits amountto Total assets and total liabilities were listed $1,072,326.

2. January 9, 1931 St. Charles County Business Record Wentzville, MO
Article from St. Charles County Business Record, January 9, 1931

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Another Bank Closed The Central Trust Company of St. Charles closed its doors Monday morning as a result of a slow, steady run on the bank. The last statement issued by the company showed deposits of more than $767,000. Dr. B. P. Wentker is Charles Buescher and family president and J. C. Willbrand, entertained the following guests secretary. The bank is said to be Sunday, Ernest Wefel, wife and solvent. son, Ernest Jr. and A. E. Buescher, wife and sons, A. E. Jr., Chas. D. R. Blanchfield and wife of Eugene and Robert Henry, a deliMartinsburg will enjoy reading the cious goose dinner was served at It twelve 5'clock. Union throughout 1931 as a Christ- Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Meglasson and daughter, Miss Laura Ethel, were guests at the Reid-Gotorth home Tuesday evening of last week. The time was spent in playing euchre.

3. January 9, 1931 Warrenton Banner Warrenton, MO
Article from Warrenton Banner, January 9, 1931

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County Claude Keele 31, formerly of Montgomery City, was killed cember at the brick plant Mexico, where he was employed, when his clothing was caught the of giant dry pan, used cogs for crushing clay. He leaves his wife, son, his mother, brother and two sisters. When attempting to cross the Wabash tracks at New Florence Monday evening of last week, Murray Rickhoff killed the engine of his just train No. came in sight. He jumped from the car the train hit and broken rib and general shakeup. The was carried about three blocks and completely demolished. Krueger of High underwent serious operation at John's Hospital, St. Louis, Decem19. She getting along well. Mrs. Bosley of Montgomery City suffered scalp wound, her Thomas, broken and her little daughter, Virginia, wounds about the head, when their automobile, parked beside the gravel road between Montgomery City and Wellsville, struck by another driven by negroes. Theo. Struttman and family family have moved to Jefferson City make their home. Bonnel's shop Liege fire on New Year's was destroyed Day. Deaths: Francis Marion Cochran, 68, of Miss Margaret of Montgomery City: Mrs. Miss Hobbs, 53, Theresa 58 High Mrs. Sarah Reighley, 80, Wellsville. Married: Roy and Fran Parker, both of Oscar Kleinsorge of and Miss Elizabeth French of Middletown: John Ross and Miss Ruth Harrison both of near Shamrock. St. Charles County The Central Trust Company of Charles closed Monday by Board of Directors on account of The bank had slow steady run. capital stock of $100,000. deposits and loans of $838,267. Dr. Wentker president and secretary of the company. Dr. Wentker will depositors not lose dollar. Frank Cullom's store in St. les was broken into one last week, and $500 worth was stolen. Bloebaum was appointed Deputy Finance Commissioner and placed charge of the liquidation the Citizens Bank at Wentzville. Caleb Conley Dula, chairman of the board of directors of the Liggett Myers Tobacco Company, died December 25 at his home New York City at the of 66 years. Born in North Carolina, Mr. Dula came to Missouri young man and with his brother opened bacco factory at Wentzville. the of he was made manager of in St. Charles and his rise factory to prominence was rapid. At the of he married Miss Julia Womack Wentzville. They had no children, but Mr. Dula helped number of men and women young through college and was deeply terested in education. His estate estimated to be worth more than Married: Lloyd Hanne of Weldon and Miss Martha Hayes of Springs Charles. Deaths: Sister Annunciata of St. Institute, O'Fallon; Mrs. Mary's Amelia Huncker, Marion Needham, Mrs. Jenkins, Otto Pundmann, all of St. Charles: Robt. Moseley, 76, Louis, formerly of Wentzville. Franklin County Henry Diestelhorst of Washington sailed the Bremen January for Buende, Westphalia, Germany, visit father. The Missouri Pacific depot New Haven was burglarized Christmas night, and $22.50, belonging to the Western Union Telegraph Co., was taken. Mr. and Mrs. James Hale of New observed their anniversary December wedding There now more sandbars the Missouri River around WashSouth Point, the ington says Washington Citizen, than there have ever been. The river very and many bars made their during the last appearance weeks. The new patches of sand from inches foot only the water. There is at the above present time only narrow chute which the opposite shore through of the river can be reached from this side and this chute being used the ferry boat. No changes by the river will occur until there in raise of several feet; however, no can come until the marked changes stream reaches stage of ten or feet above the present stage. more The dikes will then become new effective in diverting the Should week of very the stream. cold weather set the river at its would block with present stage short time. very Leo Schuerkamp of Married: Fork and Miss Ella Pigeon dar Gerald. Rohlfing, of WashDeaths: Mrs. Helen Bentmann of ington; Louis, formerly Bernhardt, of Gerald; Charles

4. January 9, 1931 Warrenton Banner Warrenton, MO
Article from Warrenton Banner, January 9, 1931

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County Claude formerly Montgomery City, was killed December 26 at the brick plant Mexico, where he was employed, when his clothing was caught giant dry pan, used for crushing clay. He leaves his wife, son, his mother, one brother and two sisters. When attempting to cross the Wabash tracks at New Florence Monday evening of last week, Murray Rickhoff killed the engine of his car just as train No. 12 came in sight. He jumped from the car the train hit and sustained broken rib and general shakeup. The car was carried about three blocks and was completely demolished. Mrs. Krueger of High Hill underwent serious operation at John's Hospital, St. Louis, Decem19. She is getting along well. Mrs. Bosley of Montgomery City suffered scalp wound, her Thomas, broken leg and her little daughter, Virginia, wounds about the head, when their automobile, parked beside the gravel road between Montgomery City and Wellsville, struck by another driven by negroes. Theo. Struttman and family family have mfoved to Jefferson City to make their home. Bonnel's shop at Liege was by fire on New Day. Deaths: Francis Marion of Gamma; Miss Margaret of Montgomery City; Mrs. Hobbs, 53, of Middletown: Miss Theresa Habermann, of High Hill; Mrs. Sarah Reighley, 80, Wellsville. Married: Roy Belts and Mrs. FranParker, Oscar Kleinsorge of Wellsville and Miss Elizabeth French of Middletown; John Ross and Miss Ruth Harrison both of near Shamrock. St. Charles County The Central Trust Company of Charles was closed Monday by its Board of Directors on account of slow The bank had steady run. capital stock of $100,000, deposits and loans of $838,267. Dr. Wentker is president and Willbrand secretary of the company. Wentker depositors will Dr. says lose dollar. Frank Cullom's store in St. Charles broken into early one last week, and $500 worth ing was stolen. Bloebaum was appointed Finance Commissioner and Deputy placed in charge of the liquidation of the Citizens Bank at Wentzville. Caleb Conley Dula, the board of directors of the Liggett Myers Tobacco Company, died December 25 at his home New York at the of 66 years. City age Born in North Carolina, Mr. Dula came to Missouri as young man and with brother opened to Wentzville. At the bacco factory at of he was made manager St. Charles and his rise factory in rapid. At the to was of married Miss Julia age Womack They had no children, but Mr. Dula helped number of men and women young through college and was deeply terested in education. His estate estimated to be worth more than Hanne of Weldon Married: Lloyd Springs and Miss Martha Hayes St. Charles. Sister Annunciata of Deaths: Institute, O'Fallon; Mrs. Mary's Huncker, 91, Marion Amelia Needham, Jenkins, 46, all of St. Otto Pundmann, Charles: Robt. Moseley, of Louis, formerly of Wentzville. Franklin County Diestelhorst of Washington Henry sailed the Bremen January for Buende, Westphalia, Germany, visit his father. Pacific depot at New The Missouri burglarized Christmas Haven was $22.50, belonging to the night, and Western Union Telegraph Co., taken. James Hale of New Mr. and Mrs. Haven observed their December wedding anniversary There now more sandbars are River around Washthe Missouri South Point, the ington and says Citizen, than there Washington been. The river is have ever bars made their and many new during the last two appearance The patches of sand weeks. new from few inches to foot There is the above the water. time narrow chute present only which the opposite shore through of the river can be reached from side and this chute is being this the ferry boat. No changes used by will occur until there in the river of several feet; however, no raise come until the marked changes can stream reaches stage of ten feet above present stage. more dikes will then become The new effective in diverting the course Should week of very the stream. weather set the river at its cold would block with present stage short time. very Leo Schuerkamp of Married: Fork and Miss Ella Pigeon dar Gerald. Deaths: Leo Rohlfing, of Mrs. Helen Bentmann of ington; Louis, formerly Charles Bernhardt, of Gerald; New Haven. Lincoln County From Thanksgiving to Christmas Kuhne Bros. Produce Co. in Troy between and 8,000 dressed Part of these were shipped East, part to Swift Company., and large number were sold at the plant Troy and the Kuhne store Louis. The geese were bought alive and fed at the Troy plant hominy alone which was made buying shelled corn by the car load and steaming Only one or two geese were lost during the whole season. and Mrs. John M. Crenshaw Winfield celebrated their golden wedding December Judge Wm. Hughes of gomery City holding circuit court Troy this week for Judge Woolfolk, who His condition reported improving. Miss Emmeline Wells has been e-appointed deputy county clerk Matthews. Married: Earl Raney and Miss Ruby both of Troy; Walker and Miss Mary Hutt, both Harold Hunn and Miss lian Smith, both of near Troy. Deaths: Ishmael Ray, 66, berry; Wiley Davis, of Hannibal, formerly of Lincoln county; Howard Suddarth, 18, of Els Albertis Dameron; Dr. Solomon McKay, of Gasconade County Dietzel erecting modern building adjoining the Nasse in Hermann. HenKimmel is erecting larger and modern building to join his store building in place of small building that he has torn down. Married: Emil Meyer and Ruby Loeb, both of Rosebud. Deaths: Charles Sell, of Hermann; Mrs. Edmund Nolte, 72, of Morrison: Walter Stork of St. Louis, formerly of Hermann.

5. December 17, 1931 St. Charles Weekly Banner-News St. Charles, MO
Article from St. Charles Weekly Banner-News, December 17, 1931

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Friday's daily: St. Louis-St. Charles Bridge displayed a fine spirit of sity when the thirteen former lectors assembled to secure wages from the bridge hy. Each toll collcetor's last wage was doubled. Each as given a Christmas present and an extra generous bonus erage monthly wage received toll collector in the past was 150. In other words, each toll was presented with better 100 by the bridge company hey received their final wage. ugh the lifting of toll from Ige added thirteen men to the byment list, many more wage will be benefitted by the freethe bridge. Laborers and employed in St. Louis will now ve several dollars more every hich they can spend on their extra pay received by the toll collectors will come in while they are seeking new nent. Good Will Committee, g with the Community doing all that is possible the needy children Christeer No money from the hity Chest is used in this ommittee will deliver Christxes to each boy and girl The committee will make / mpt to reach every boy in St. Charies, only the fortunate. ifts are being donated by ol children and organiza- is need for candy. nuts, to place in the boxes. ader is invited to remember tle boy or giri by leaving chage of candy, nuts or headquarters, court house, Dry Goods Store. A hing Dry Goods store, store and George WalGrocery store. oxe3 will be delivered the of December 24, by women and young girls know any child or group you want this Christmas reach? Kindly send their age and address at once use, St. Charles, Mo. go elm tree in the yard of Sixth and Clark vas felled yesterday thru of the Good Will ComIt is learned that Mr. in consequence. made $25 to the expense fund ommittee. As previously his committee is working ony with the community louarters, but is covering ich the community service nnot reach The two ons are not to be con- incouraging to learn that Will Committee has been it down trees and thereby secure about forty-five loads of stove wood to date. This fuel will save the community fund what would otherwise have been quite an outlay in bills for coal At the Hagemeier farm, near Elm Point. the woodcutters which form the active arm of the committee just named, have in reserve sixteen loads of wood Calls for cutting trees have come from the Gaus residence, Trinity Episcopal Church and other parties. -Emmaus Asyhum has mated a number of trees which will be worked up into Stove wood by the use of a gasoline motor and saw. At the chreiber place yesterday there was gerat deal of coopera tion City Engineer Henry SmelSCT was present, also Street Supervisor George Burton The latter had hold of the rone to assist In guiding the tree in the right direcwhen fell. The checks from the Central Trust Co. to depositors will be mailed out sometime Lext week 12 pessible. The law prescribes the routine of procedure, and this must he carried out thru a lengthy decree which enumerates the various claims. Attorney Waye has prepared this decree. and will submit it to Judge Woolfolk for approval, after which notices will be published in the local newspapers giving judicia notice of the coming payment About fourteen hundred checks must be written, all of them taken from a single book, which means that one person only must write the entire number of checks. Anybody that believes that this will be swift procedure his had little experience in secretaral work The delay, up to the present time, was due to the uncertainty of whether it would be possible to make the payments fifteen per cent instead of en per cent. Attorney Wave has been attempting to make collections from those who owe the bank money, and has had fair success. but 'here are a number of large accounts that are still presenting difficulties. Promises of payment in several instances have been made. but virtual default has resulted. all of which requires the enforcement of legal measures which take time. patience and discretion In some instances the progress has been slow. but it is certain that the interests of the depositors have been protected. There will he no after results of a detrimental nature, as the legal phases are being covered thoroughly The outlook at the present time is good for another payment of five or ten par cent within a month or so. sometime about February. or even previous. The ability of the bank to make these payments is conditioned on the outcome of certain cases in court and the good or bad fortune in making certain collections on notes. Cash money is very difficult to obtain and this adds to the problem From Tuesday's daily:Two brakemen, a conductor and railroad detective were injured in a head-on collision of No. 12. an castbound passenger train, and No 2417. a westbound special freight in the Wabash yards 100 yards west of the St. Charles depot last night at 3:42 o'clock Those injured were A F. Robin son. brakeman on No. 2417. frae tured ribs: Hugh Woods, brakeman on No. 2117, injured leg: J. J Tadlock, conductor on No. 2417. three ribs fractured: Al Niemeth. railroad detective, whose injuries have not been determined. reside at Moberly. Mo. Engineer Nells Johnson and his fireman, Louis Keen had just pulled their special train on to the siding in the St Charles yards. It said that the headlights of the "Special" were shining down the main line in such a way that En gineer A1 Carter. on No 12. judged that the treight was on the main line Accordingly. the engineer. it is said. had the switch thrown and the train pulied onto the sid ing Both trains met head-on the engines locked together Traffic on the main lines WS. blocked until about 11 o'clock Special entines arrived from St. Louis earlier in the evening and disconnected the coaches of passenger train from the engine One of the engines then was given orders to proceed to St. Louis No. Fortunately. no passengers in No. 12 were injured. The train crew who were injured, were taken to the Moberty Hospital at Moberly Mo., and the Wabash special gent was taken to the St. Joseph Hospital. Local physicians this morning stated that Neimueth's condition was not regarded From Friday's daily: The annual birthday party of the Rotary Club was happy affair. On the very edge of the announcement of the free bridge, the club was fortunate in having Judge Sam Hodgdon as its guest, along with our well known highway executive Sam Rudder The two Sammies gave peppy talks marked by spontaneous wit and good sense. That was the extemporaneous part of the program. The formal program consisted of music and readings as follows: reading, Miss Lucille Cracraft; vioiin selections, Miss Gertrude Isidore: vocal and mandolin, Mrs. M. J. Gauss. Miss Eva Englehart was the companist at the piano. The meeting was presided over by the Rev Frederick Niedne: who, in his own original way, kept the guests alert and keyed up to a fine point of appreciation for everything that was said. The high mark of the occasion was reached in the after-dinner talk of Willard Goshn, superintedent of the schools of Webster Groves. His talk was a plea for the next generation. "What are they to be like?." he asked, "How are they to earn their living, and what will be their attitude to wards other nations?' Briefly it depended on their education. He counseled the abolishment of war and the solving of the question of bread and butter through right education and right attitude. The Rotary Anns were present From Tuesday's daily:The Junior Walther League en joyed a duck dinner at their annual Christmas banquet at the Luthcran hall last night. There was a novel Idea carried out in the speaking Each speaker used some problem of a bank as his subject. One of them used counterfeit money. and compared that to church members who apparently were 100 per cent religious, but who, in reality, were good for nothing. Another speaker used the bank examiner as his topic, and compared that to the pastor of the church. Among those giving talks were the pastor himself. Eugene Hafer and several others Mr Hafer is the author of "Climbing Roses", the play recently staged by the Junior Walther League. learned that the car was OWD by Randolph Rohmann of 4434 Forest Avenue, S: Louis. Nine Massachusetts banking institutions, with aggregate deposits, according to the Intest statements of 700,000. were closed today The list included four National Banks and rive state banks. The central figure in the closings was the Federal National Bank of 50% ton which has branches and with which all the other institutions were affiliated. Gov. Joseph B. Ely. in a statement from his home in Westfield said that with proper measures, plan for DE speedy re-opening the institutions could be accomplished and further said he had instructed Bank Commissioner Arthur Guy to with that end view The Fede National Bank, whose directors voted to ask the comp troller of urrency to take charge after runs at the bank and had $28,235,238 Dr. R. S. Calder of Chantler. Ariz.. formerly occupying the Chair of Bible, at Lindenwood College has lately accepted a position with the University of Arizona. He is connected with the extension work of that

6. February 10, 1933 The Marthasville Record Marthasville, MO
Article from The Marthasville Record, February 10, 1933

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St. Charles Banker Receives Sentence Of Two Years Two years in the penitentiary was the punishment for Julius C. Willbrand, St. Charles banker, fixed by a jury which yesterday, found him guilty at St. Charles of accepting deposits in a failing bank, a charge no longer on the Missouri statutes. Willbrand was the secretarytreasurer and active head of the Central Trust Co. of St. Charles, closed by its directors on Jan. 5, 1931. Four other charges, including one for embezzlement, are pending against the 59-yearold banker and former civic leader. His attorneys announced they would appeal from the conviction, the first step being to present a motion for new trial. The State charged that Willbrand accepted a $700 deposit from Mrs. Mary. Plackemeier, 83-year-old widow, 5311 Northland avenue, St. Louis, a week before the bank closed. Under the law, repealed by the last Legislature but in effect at the time of the transaction, the failure of a bank was construed as prima facie evidence of knowledge by its officers and directors that it was insolvent. Borrowed From Bank Evidence showed that Willbrand and other officers had borrowed from the bank and had permitted their relatives and firms in which they were interested to do likewise to a total of $208,898. Examiners' reports listing $373,000 of the bank's loans as doubtful were introduced. Total loans amounted to $850,000, approximately $200000 in excess of capital stock and reserves, the evidence showed. Willbrand testified the bank was solvent when Mrs. Plackemeier deposited her $700. Reports reaching depositors that County Collector George Karrenbrock had attempted to close out the $103,000 account of his office caused a run on the bank, and the resultant closing, the banker told the jury. Karrenbrock issued checks payable to the County Treasurer and the School Board for the total of the deposit, but withdrew them when the bank posted a $100000 surety bond conveying the account, Willbrand stated. The damage had been done, however, and the directors decided to close the bank, the witness testified. Crowds Attend Trial The trial opened Jan. 23 and was one of the longest in the history of St. Charles courts. Testimony and arguments of counsel occupied eight days during which the court room was packed to overflowing with spectators many of whom were depositors in the Central Trust Co. The prosecution was conducted by former Prosecuting Attorney Theodore C. Bruere Jr., who was appointed by the court when Prosecuting Attorney J. C. Wentker disqualified himself because his father, Dr. B. P. Wentker, was president of the bank the time of its failure. The case went to the jury at 2:30 p. m. Friday and the verdict was returned at 9 a. m. yesterday. On the first ballot, the jury stood six to six. Twenty ballots were taken before the agreement was reached. Willbrand is a former president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and has long been Agricultural Department Is Ready For 1933 Seed Loans The federal Department of Agriculture began its plans this week for distributing the sum of $90,000,000 which was recently made available to finance farmers in producing this year's crops. President Hoover signed the crop bill Saturday and Secretary Hyde and his assistants have undertaken the drafting of regulations that will cover the issuance of loans thru the six regional offices. Large numbers of applications from farmers are already on hand. The regulations for the crop loan will-include the fixing of a maximum for individual borrowing. Last year it was $600. During the year more than $64,000000 was distributed to 507,632 borrowers. That was an average of $126 to each borrower. The limit for this year may be less than it was last year because a larger number of applications is expected. The plan will give the federal department authority to require reductions in the number of acres planted up to 30 per cent. The loans form a first lien on the crop which the government aids in financing.