Boulevard State Savings Bank (Chicago, IL)

Episode Information

Episode UID
2032271576
Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
savings
Bank ID
203227 routing
Routing Number
2-0322
Start Date
April 16, 1931
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
33f434f839d732d9

Response Measures

None

Description

Bank closed April 16, 1931 and a state-appointed receiver was placed in charge; later the receiver was charged with embezzlement.

Events (3)
1. April 16, 1931 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
He had been appointed to the post by Auditor Nelson shortly after the bank closed on April 16, 1931.
Source
newspapers
2. April 16, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Bank closed April 16, 1931 and a receiver was appointed by State Auditor Nelson following the closure.
Newspaper Excerpt
the bank closed on April 16, 1931.
Source
newspapers
3. December 29, 1932 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Accuse Emil Wentzlaff of $9,029 Embezzlement. ... Wentzlaff had embezzled $9,029 of the assets of the closed Boulevard State Savings bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (7)
1. August 16, 1931 Chicago Tribune Chicago, IL

Article Text

Bank Records Yield Clews to Big Rum Transactions Federal agents, it was disclosed yesterday, have been scrutinizing the records of north side banks for several weeks, seeking documentary evidence of the liquor traffic reputedly conducted by Ted Newberry, side lieutenant of Al Capone, Frank J, Parker, Montreal distiller. formerly lived in Chicago. He was known here as the flying In twelve banks far examined the agents have traced to Parker nearly and to Newberry of $300,000, according to reports in the federal building. The investigation is being conducted by Coan of the intelligence unit, bureau of internal revenue. Parker Offenses Outlawed. In Parker's case, according to the the only the from 1923 to 1927, the vol. being mainly cleared in Montreal. The purpose of the belated interest in Parker remains obscure, as he established Canadian residence four years ago and is now protected from prosecution for prior offenses by the statute of limitations. In case, however, observers profess to see an obvious reason for probing his financial affairs. The Capone lieutenant already is under indictment in Peoria. He is one of 23 individuals named there on May in federal grand jury as the operators of a distillery in Rock Island county. Clews in Closed Bank. The agents reported to have up the Parker at the Boulevard State Savings bank at Elston avenue and Irving Park boulevard, now closed. Although the bank Emil Wentzlaff, denied having ever heard of Parker or the agent, Coan, learned from other sources that Parker purchased cashchecks to the sum of $47,000 there January, 1923 and June, 1926. Among the first checks Parker drew on that one for $20,000, pay. one Smith, as yet unidentified. April 1925, was payable to the Dominion Distilleries, Ltd., Montreal, a company of which Parker became general and in the he was by the Canadian gov the excise tax. A third to was dated April 23, 1925, and made payable to M. and Mary Messlein. Records of the court show Maj. M. A. Messlein as president of the Major company, of which Attorney Crowe discovered Parker to be manager in the of the pardon mill operated by Will Colvin, chairman of the parole board under Gov. Len Small.

2. December 29, 1932 Chicago Tribune Chicago, IL

Article Text

BANK RECEIVER'S ARREST ORDERED; SHORTAGE FOUND Accuse Emil Wentzlaff of $9,029 Embezzlement. (Picture on back page.) Municipal Judge Frank M. Padden issued a warrant yesterday in the Felony court charging Emil Wentzlaff politician and former city hall pay roller, with embezzlement after he been told that Wentzlaff had embez. zled $9,029 of the assets of the closed Boulevard State Savings bank, of which was formerly Wentzlaff was by $300,000 surety bond and the depositors in the bank will thus suffer no loss. The warrant yesterday was obtained by the Continental Casualty company. which bonded him. Robert J. Murphy. an auditor employed by State Auditor Nelson. testified that he made an audit of Wentzlaff's books in October and discovered the shortage. Audit Brings Removal. Wentzlaff was removed as receiver of the bank on Oct. 25, the day that the audit completed. He had been appointed to the post by Auditor Nelson shortly after the bank closed on April 16, 1931. Murphy was sent to examine the after Wentzlaff reported that he had about 000 in cash on hand. Auditor Nelson's office It was explained that receivers are instructed to keep only few hundred dollars in closed banks as petty cash fund and to place the collections they make in downtown bank where they will draw interest Wentzlaff's report of cash on hand thus caused the authorities to act. Wentzlaff, whose home is at 3817 North Lawndale avenue, has been active in polities for several decades. He was for long time assistant secretary of the county Republican committee. Later he was in charge of the head quarters of former Republican mayor at the Hotel Sherman at the same time that he on the pay roll of the board of local improvements. Depositors Demand Removal. His as receiver of the Boule- Monday. vard State Savings bank, which is at 3621 Irving Park boulevard, was denearly months ago by an association of depositors in the bank The charged that Wentzlaff was an interested person because his wife was depositor, and that he was extravagant in administer ing the bank affairs, having a dozen employés in his office when Auditor Nelson had told depositors four persons could do the work. At Auditor Nelson office it was sald yesterday that an investigation at that time showed the extra employés complained of were law students who had asked and received permission from Wentzlaff to familiarize themselves with the procedure in liquidating bank, and who were receiving no pay. One reason why the complaint against Wentlaff was Audi tor Nelson's employes said, was that the charges were made by a depositors' which made a practice of collecting fees from Nelson has to have any dealings with such The of the bank was consolidated with that of the Lincoln Trust and Savings bank after Wentzlaff's The warrant for his arrest was sent to the detective bureau last night for service.

3. December 30, 1932 St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, MO

Article Text

FORMER BANK RECEIVER HELD Chicago Man Charged With Embezzlement of $9000. By the Associated Press Dec. Wentzlaff, 56 years old, charged $9029 of funds from the Boulevard State Savings Bank receiver for the tion, arrested yesterday in the lobby of loop hotel. He was released $1000 bond. warrant for Wentzlaff's arrest issued behalf of Robert Murphy, State Bank and of the Casualty Co., which had been Wentzlaff's bond. Becomes Father Time MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Dec. 30. Parrish, County Deputy Sheriff, has announced the birth of his twenty-third child, daughter. Parrish has been married twice. Ten children born his first Nineteen of the 23 children living.

4. December 30, 1932 Jacksonville Journal Courier Jacksonville, IL

Article Text

RELEASED ON BOND Chicago, Dec. Wentzlaff, 56, charged with embezzlement of funds from Boulevard State Savings Bank while receiver institution. seized today in the lobby of loop hotel. He released $1,000 bond. warrant for issued yesterday on behalf Robert Murphy, bank and representative the Continental Casualty company which had been on Wentzlaff's bond.

5. December 30, 1932 The Daily Illini Urbana, IL

Article Text

WENTZLAFF SEIZED CHICAGO, Dec. Wentzlaff, 56, charged bezzlement of $9,029 funds from the boulevard State Savings bank while receiver for the institution, was seized today in the lobby of loop hotel. He was released on $1,000 bond.

6. January 5, 1933 Mid-West Progressive Muscatine, IA

Article Text

BANK RECEIVER NAMED IN THEFT CHICAGO Emil Wentzlaff, politician and former receiver for the Boulevard State Savings Bank, was named in a warrant charging embezzlement of $9,029. He had been made receiver on April 16, 1931. Three months later 4,000 depositors petitioned to replace him. Wentzlaff has been identified with former Mayor Thompson's political organization. He was a bank examiner when Andrew Russel was state auditor and served as assistant secretary of the Thompson-Crowe faction.

7. November 16, 1933 Mid-West Progressive Muscatine, IA

Article Text

BANK RECEIVER SENT TO JAIL CHICAGO Emil J. Wentzlaff, former secretary to ex-Mayor William Hale Thompson, last week was sentenced to serve from one to ten years in the penitentiary on a plea of guilty to embezzling $9,029 from the Boulevard State Savings Bank while acting as its receiver. Wentzlaff was sentenced after his attorney pleaded that he be placed on probation, saying that Wentzlaff would turn over everything he possessed in restitution. After the sentence he announced that no appeal would be made and Wentzlaff would begin serving his sentence at once.