State Bank - Gibbon, MN

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: state
Start Date: July 1, 1917*
Location: Gibbon, Minnesota (44.534, -94.526)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 846d7912

Response Measures

None

Description

Article (Oct 5, 1917) reports that after an anti-draft meeting and speeches by Albert Pfaender customers withdrew funds from the State Bank in Gibbon. No suspension, closure, or reopening is mentioned. The withdrawals appear politically motivated (customers upset with the cashier's perceived stance), so classified as bank-specific adverse information rather than mere rumor/misinformation. Date of the run not explicitly given; likely in late July 1917 shortly after the July 25 meeting, so a best-effort date is provided.

Events (1)

1. July 1, 1917* Run

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Customers withdrew deposits in response to the cashier's perceived anti-German position and speeches at a local anti-draft meeting; threats to withdraw preceded the actual withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt: ...a German farmer waited on him and told him that he was 'too much against the Germans;' that he and others would withdraw their money from the bank ... and many customers withdrew their money.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. October 5, 1917 The Mankato Free Press Mankato, MN

Article from The Mankato Free Press, October 5, 1917

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Suspended New Ulm Mayor Before Inquiry Board TRIES TO SHIFT BLAME Puts Holding of Anti-Draft Affair Up to H. C. Hess of His City St. Paul, October 3.-Dr. L. A. Fritsche, suspended mayor of New Ulm, under : close cross examination today at the state capitol before Special Commissioner James H. Hall, admitted that he had given tacit approval to speeches at the draft protest meeting at New . July 25, made by Albert Steinhaus F. H. Retzlaff, Dr. A. Ackerman and others. Dr. Fritsche, however, insisted that it was a "patriotic meeting," and thought the posters advertising it as a "draft protest meeting" had been misworded. "But we are not going to accept your bald statement that this was a patriotic meeting," said P. J. Ryan, prosecuting counsel. "Do you remember a statement made at the meeting that the boys were being sent away to fight, but nobody knew what for?" "I suppose, having approved of Albert Steinhauser's speech, I'll have to approve also of Professor A. A. Ackerman's speech in a general way," said Dr. Fritsche. Had No Advanc 'r Speeches. The witness said he Lad anticipated no improper remarks, but he had no advance ideas of what the speeches would be except that by Albert Pfaender. He saw posters advertising a "draft protest meeting," he said, and thought then that they were misworded. He insisted that it was a petition and not a protest meeting and that the purpose of these petitions was embodied in the Mason bill then pending in congress, but admitted that no reference was made in the petition to that measure. His own speech opening the meeting, Dr. Fritsche said, was outlined by him in collaboration with Albert Pfaender, also under suspension as city attorney, was dictated to a stenographer by Pfaender and then memorized by Dr. Fritsche. Dr. Fritsche said that he wished to avoid any language derogatory to the government. Pressed further, he said he might have worded it himself if he had time. Asked if the purpose of the consultation was to avoid the letter of the law, he answered: "Mr. Pfaender said we were to explain the draft law and that it must be obeyed. But it was agreed a petition would be circulated asking congress to amend the laws SO that drafted men would not be sent abroad to fight." Peaceful Meeting Planned. Protesting against being led away from the purpose of the meeting, Dr. Fritsche reiterated that it was planned as a peaceful and orderly gathering. He insisted that the meeting would not have been held if Professor C. H. Hess, county director for the Public Safety commission, had not given his consent to it. Albert Pfaender was expected to testify late today in his own behalf. A. W. Mueller, attorney for County Auditor Louis G. Vogel of Brown county, also suspended on like disloyalty charges for alleged participation in the New Ulm meeting, said he planned today to ask Governor J. A. A. Burnquist at once to reinstate Vogel on the ground that the investigation of his case, now completed, failed to disclose any evidence to sustain the charge. City Clerk William Backer of New Ulm is acting county auditor during Vogel's suspension. Money Withdrawn From Bank. Representative John W. Boock of Gibbon, who is cashier of a state bank at that place, testified late yesterday about the antidraft meeting held at Gibbon shortly after the New Ulm meeting, addressed by Albert Pfaender and F. H. Retzlaff of New Ulm. He said that before the meeting was held a German farmer waited on him and told him that he was "too much against the Germans;" that he and others would withdraw their money from the bank if he did not change his attitude. Mr. Boock told how he had sought to prevent the meeting and how afterward the threat was carried out and many customers withdrew their money. He told of Albert Pfaender's speech at Gibbon, in which he said: "I am going to do my bit toward keeping the boys from going to France to fight." Still Against Sending Troops to France Dr. L. A. Fritsche, testifying late yesterday, declared his absolute loyalty to the United States, but said he still favored amending the draft law