German State Bank - Douglas, MN

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: state
Start Date: March 6, 1916
Location: Douglas, Minnesota (44.108, -92.574)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 615b3327

Response Measures

None

Other: Impersonation / false credentials used to obtain damaging information that precipitated withdrawals.

Description

Newspaper reports an impersonation scheme by M. A. Dittberner who posed as a federal agent and provided information that led to the run on the German State Bank. No suspension or closure mentioned in the article.

Events (1)

1. March 6, 1916 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: An individual (M. A. Dittberner) posed as a federal agent and, using a fabricated card, obtained and provided information to stockholders which led to the run.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: Posed as federal agent; false information provided that led to run.
Newspaper Excerpt: The information led to the run, he says.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. March 9, 1916 The Miller Press Miller, SD

Article from The Miller Press, March 9, 1916

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Article Text

Posed 20 Federal Officer; Arrested Chicago, March 6. - Charged with Impersonating a government officer, M. A. Dittberner was arrested here by federal agents in connection with the run on the German State bank of Douglas, Minn. Dittberner said that by means of a card which read, "National Bureau of Commercial and Industrial Statistics, M. A. Dittberner, Special Agent, Washington, D. C.," he was enabled to gain information about the bank desired by stockholdera by whom be was employed. The information led to the run, he says.