Fairburn Banking Company (Fairburn, GA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
2910066391438
Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
291006639 hash
Start Date
October 12, 1919
Location
Fairburn, Georgia (33.567, -84.581)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
6b02d96ca513d5bb

Response Measures

None

Description

No contemporaneous reports of depositor runs; bank was closed by the state examiner and placed in receivership after audit found large shortages.

Events (3)
1. October 12, 1919 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Two masked bandits ... bound and gagged him and set fire to the bank ... liberty bonds amounting to $32,500 have disappeared from the bank.
Source
newspapers
2. October 13, 1919 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Judge George L Bell, of the county supreme court, signed a petition for receivership of the bank. James H. Longino was appointed receiver.
Source
newspapers
3. October 13, 1919 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Closed by State Bank Examiner after alleged robbery, fire and audit revealing large shortages/embezzlement.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Fairburn Banking company was closed temporarily Monday morning by order of State Bank Examiner W. J. Speer and an audit of the bank's books was begun by state authorities.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (12)
1. October 14, 1919 The Washington Times Washington, DC
Article from The Washington Times, October 14, 1919

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Article Text

CHARGE GIRL AIDED LOOTING OF BANK Beautiful Young Wife, Husband, Chauffeur, and Banker Are Held. ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 14.-William B. Green, vice president of the Fairburn Banking Company, Fairburn, Ga., arrested early Sunday on a charge of embezzling large sums of money in the form of Liberty bonds and other securities. is at liberty today under a $15,000 bond. He denies the charge. Mrs. Clarence Bradstreet. is being held by the Atlanta police on a blanket charge of suspicion. Her husband, Clarence Bradstreet, as well as the couple's negro chauffeur, is also held on the same charge. Meanwhile the little bank. which Green on last Friday delard was burned to the ground by two masked bandits, after he had been bound and gagged, is in the hands of State bank examiners. Liberty bonds amounting to $32,500 have disappeared from the bank, according to detectives working on the case. Judge George L Bell, of the county supreme court, signed a petition for receivership of the bank. James H. Longino was appointed receiver. The receivership petition orders the surrender to Longino of all Mrs. Bradstreet's diamonds, gowns, furs, automobiles and other property. The petition also calls for the turning over of Green's property, including his magnificant home at Fairburn. Mrs. Green today stoutly asserted her faith in her husband's innocence. Mrs. Bradstreet, twenty-two, and beautiful, has been married three times, according to the police. Her first husband, named Pate, she married-four years ago, but after a brief period they agreed to separate and a divorce was obtained. George E. Shoemaker, now believed to be in Freeport, III,, was husband No. 2. She married Bradstreet about six months ago in Augusta, according to the police.

2. October 14, 1919 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal Atlanta, GA
Article from Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, October 14, 1919

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Robbery, According to Green, Occurred Thursday Night and Burglars Burned Bank Sensation upon sensation has followed the thrilling story told by Vice President Wm. B. Green, of the Fairburn bank, of how he was bound and gagged by robbers at midnight of last Thursday hile the burglars attempted to rob the bank and later set fire to it because of their chagrin in not being able to enter the safe. After an admission by Mrs. Catherine Bradstreet, a young attractive woman, residing at one of Atlanta's best known hotels, that she had received thousands of dolars (perhaps $40,000 or $50,000) during the past few months from Green. T. 3 banker, rMs. Bradstreet and her husband, Clarence Bradstreet, have been arrested. Green, who is the mayor-elect of Fairburn, and a man of heretofore irreproachable character, whose friends were slow to believe the story, has made bond in the amount of $15,000, and has returned to his home. The little town of Fairburn is fairly stunned with amazement at the developments in the story. When the story of the robbery became known on Friday, the town was excited to the highest pitch. Green said that at a late hour Thursday he was working on the books of the bank when an automobile drove up and stopped with the engine still running, while two men ran in, held him up at the point of a revolver, bound and gagged him and set about the robbery of the bank. Finding that they were unable to force an entry to the safe, he stated, they set. fire to the bank and left him bound and gagged therein, but that he managed to wriggle out and give the alarm. Before the fire could be checked, however, it gutted the bank and spread to surrounding buildings. On Saturday Mrs. Bradstreet was taken into custody following investigation by city and Pinkerton detectives, and her astounding statement that she had received from Green huge sums of money has set not only 1 town of Fairburn talking, but all of the city of Atlanta as well. Developments of the past twentyfour hours in the Fairburn bank sensation stood as follows early Monday afternoon: Judge George L. Bell signed a petition appointing James H. Longino, prominent Fairburn izen, to take possession of all of Mrs. Catherine Queen Bradstreet's jewels, gowns and other expensive purchases, and all of William B. Green's property and cash, including Green's handsome home at Fairburn. Judge Bell set October 25 as the date for a hearing for a permanent receiver. The petition was presented by Reuben R. Arnold and Troutman & Troutman, Atlanta attorneys representing the Fairburn Banking company, who swore out a warrant Sunday afternoon charging Green with embezzlement and who, it is understood, will follow this with a warrant charging arson. The petition made the direct charge that Green had "wrongfully and unlawfully" taken "large suma of money" belonging to the Fairburn Banking company, that these had "found their way" into Mrs. Bradstreet's hands, that she had invested them in costly purchases. and that she knew part of this money belonged to the Fairburn bank and not to Green. Green, released on $15,000 bond late Sunday afternoon, went to his wife and eight-year-old daughter in Fairburn, but returned to Atlanta Monday morning to confer with his attorneys, Dixon & Camp, of Fairburn, and H. A. Allen, of Atlanta. George Westmoreland and Claude Smith, Atlanta attorneys. Bank Closed Temporarily The Fairburn Banking company was closed temporarily Monday morning by order of State Bank Examiner W. J. Speer and an audit of the bank's books was begun by state authorities. W. T. Roberts, president of the bank, authorized the

3. October 14, 1919 Americus Times-Recorder Americus, GA
Article from Americus Times-Recorder, October 14, 1919

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Article Text

Green were obtained illegally. Green denies any shortage at the bank, but says that two robbers, who he alleges bound and gagged him Thursday night while he was working on the books of the bank, made off with $32,000 worth of Liberty bonds before firing the bank building. His wife declares she will stick to him through the trial, insisting that her husband is innocent. The police declare that Green gave Mrs. Bradstreet costly jeweis, clothes and automobiles to the amount of $35,000 or $40,000. A / legal battle over the thousands of dollars worth of diamonds, jewelry, automobiles and clothing of Mrs. Bradstreet has been started. The fight over the possession of the jewelry of the "diamond woman", as Mrs. Bradstreet has been called, promises to reveal many of the inside facts concerning her finanical deals. For instance, it was said by her lawyer that the $1,000 diamond and pearl pin worn by her husband, which was a gift from his wife, was obtained purely on credit. Not a cent had been paid on it, and it will be surrendered. A diamond brooch. valued at $3,000, had been obtained on a $700 payment. Only an equity in this bauble will be claimed. It was the same with the motor cars. The appointment has been announced of J. H. Logino, former president of the Fairburn Banking company, as receiver for the bank.

4. October 28, 1919 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal Atlanta, GA
Article from Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, October 28, 1919

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Article Text

LEGAL ACTION IN FAIRRUBN CASE WAITS ON AUDIT All further legal action in the Fairburn bank case has been held up temporarily until the audit of the books of the burned bank is completed by W. O. Martin & company, and the auditors make their report to State Bank Examiner W J. Speer. The hearing on a permanent petition for a receiver for property of Mrs. Catherine Queen Bradstreet and William B. Green, was postponed Saturday until the books are audited. The commitment hearings of Green, Mrs. Bradstreet. Clarence Bradstreet and the chauffeur, Robert Ellison, are scheduled for Monday before Justice of the Peace Homer McDaniel, in Fairburn. However, attorneys for both sides already have agreed to postpone the hearing and it is understood that Justice McDaniel will merely go through the formality of calling the case Monday morning, and then postponing it. The date now set is next Thursday, but unless the books are audited by that time it will be postponed again. In the meantime, Mrs. Bradstreet and Green are the only ones of the four out on bond. Bradstreet is in the tower, where he is visited almost daily by Mrs. Bradstreet, who is staying with her people at Panthersville. Green, staying at his home in Fairburn, makes frequent trips to Atlanta to consult with his attorneys. Ellison is in jail at Fairburn. The auditors are having a difficult time reconstructing the books and tracing and checking all funds, because so much valuable data was burned. It is understood, however, that by next Thursday the audit may be finished.

5. October 28, 1919 The Dawson News Dawson, GA
Article from The Dawson News, October 28, 1919

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# BUT SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS # SELDOM SAUCE FOR THE GANDER From the Coffee County Progress. The same rule that caused the receiver of the Fairburn bank to take from nineteen year old Mrs. Bradstreet everything in the world she possessed except one pair of silk pajamas should make him take from the 37 year old Mr. Greeh all his worldly goods with the exception of one night shirt. The woman in the case always gets more than her share of the condemnation.

6. November 4, 1919 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal Atlanta, GA
Article from Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, November 4, 1919

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FAIRBURN BANK $90,000 SHORT AUDITORS REPORT Shortage Probably Will Be Larger Still, Says Report, Which Holds W. B, Green Responsible The audit of the Fairburn Banking company, announced for the first time Saturday afternoon, places the minimum loss of the bank at $90,000 and charges that the shortage is due to "the wrongful acts" of W. B. Green, its vice-president. It states that investigations not yet completed will apparently make the shortage larger, and that there i3 an additional loss, the responsibility of which has not yet been fixed, which will add another $15,000 to the shortage, making the total loss $105,000 at the least. Since the bank's capital, $50,000, and the bank's surplus, $30,000, together make but $80,000, the loss over and above them is $25,000, an amount which, it is stated, will either have to be made up by the stockholders or result in the bank's going into the hands of a receiver. Which action will take place cannot be told until the final report on the audit is made. This is expected early this week, when State Bank Examiner W. J. Speer either will give the stockholders a chance to make up the shortage or will ask for a receiver. The final report will also bring about the immediate commitment hearing of Green on charges of embezzlement, and of Mrs. Catherine Queen Bradstreet and her husband, Clarence Bradstreet, who are also charged with embezzlement. It was stated Saturday night by Attorney Reuben R. Arnold that as soon as Green's attorney, George Westmoreland, returns to the city, the date of the hearings will be fixed and that they are almost certain to be held this week before Justice of the Peace Homer McDaniel, in Fairburn. Announcement of the bank's shortage was made Saturday afternoon in the form of a preliminary report by W. O. Martin & Company, the auditors, to Mr. Speer. The report in full follows: "Hon. W. J. Speer, "State Bank Examiner, "State Capitol, "Dear Sir: We have been working very diligently upon this audit since Monday, October the 13th. We were very much hampered by the fact that most of the bank records were burned. This accounts very much for the delay in announcing the result. We wil give the general figures reserving the exact amounts, dates and other details for our full report, believing that the best interest of all concerned will be thereby conserved. "We beg to state that the result of our investigation shows that the bank has suffered as the result of the wrongful acts of Mr. W. B. Green, its vice president, a direct loss of more than ninety thousand (90,000.00) dollars, ascertained and proved by the examination SO far made. There are additional items yet to be determined as soon as all pass books, certificates of deposit. now outstanding, and other similar matters are turned in, for record and verification. It is apparent that the shortage will be larger when all these items come in. "There is an additional loss, the responsibility for which has not yet been definitely placed which will have the effect of further adding to the shortage about fifteen thousand (15,000.00) dollars. "Therefore, it is seen that the entire capital and surplus of the bank has been entirely wiped out, and

7. November 4, 1919 The Dawson News Dawson, GA
Article from The Dawson News, November 4, 1919

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THE FAIRBURN BANK IS SHORT $105,000 W. B. GREEN IS BLAMED IN THE AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR DISSIPATION OF ITS FUNDS. FAIRBURN, Ga.-The audit of the Fairburn Banking Company, announced for the first time Saturday afternoon, places the minimum loss of the bank at $90,000, and charges that the shortage is due to "the wrongful acts" of W. B. Green, its vice president. It states that investigations not yet completed will apparently make the shortage larger and that there is an additional loss, the responsibility of which has not yet been fixed, which will add another $15,000 to the shortage, making the total loss of $105,000 at the least. Since the bank's capital, $50,000 and the bank's surplus, $30,000, together make but $80,000, the loss over and above them is $25,000, an amount which, it is stated, will either have to be made up by the stockholders or result in the bank's going into the hands of a receiver.

8. November 21, 1919 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal Atlanta, GA
Article from Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, November 21, 1919

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# MRS. BRADSTREET'S # FIGHT LAUNCHED TO # RECOVER # PROPERTY Denies Receiving Funds of Fairburn Banking Com- pany—Claims Purchases Made With Own Funds Denying that she ever received any of the funds of the Fairburn Banking company and asserting that he diamonds, automobiles, wearing apparel and real estate she purchased vere bought with her own money, Mrs. Catherine Queen Bradstreet, one of the principal figures in the Fairburn bank case, on Thursday began her legal fight to recover the thousands of dollars' worth of property seized by the authorities after her arrest on the night of October 12. Her first step was the filing in the Fulton superior court of a formal answer to the civil proceedings instituted by the directors of the Fairburn Banking company. This was done through her attorneys, B. H. and Harvey Hill and Fred B. Harrison. Formal answers and interventions were filed by her husband, Clarence F. Bradstreet, and her father, A. P. Queen, of DeKalb county. They also were involved in the property seizure proceedings, Bradstreet's jewelry and sundry articles of clothing being taken by the authorities, while the grocery store on East Lake drive sai dot have been purchased by Mrs. Bradstreet for her father, was also seized and turned over to Receiver John H. Longino. An order was taken before Judge John T. Pendleton fixing November 29 as the date of the hearing at which the prosecution and the three defendants are required to appear and present their contentions. In her answer, Mrs. Bradstreet denies having received any of the funds or property of the Fairburn Banking company. It has been charged by the prosecution that William B. Green, former vice president of the bank, and now under charges of embezzlement, misappropriated funds of the bank to the amount of $80,000, and used them to purchase costly presents for Mrs. Bradstreet. It is also charged that Mrs. Bradstreet had knowledge of the source of the funds.

9. December 24, 1919 The Cordele Dispatch Cordele, GA
Article from The Cordele Dispatch, December 24, 1919

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VALUABLE JEWELRY IS RETURNED TO DEALERS Atlanta Dec 23.-A brooch containing 156 diamonds, valued at $3,000; a diamona and pear stick-pin. valued at $1,000; and a diamond and stinum ring valued at more than $1,600; all formerly worn by Mrs. Bradstreet and her husband, Clar ence Bradstreet, were turned over Tuesday through formal court orders to their original owners, Nat Kaiser & Co., Inc., and Maier. and Berkele. The gems were surrendered to the Fairburn banking company by Mrs. Bradstreet at the time of her arrest in October. The brooch and the stick pine were confiscated on October 12 by Marshel J. M. George of the Municipal court, and have been in his possession since that time, until the order on Tuesday directing him to turn them over to the Kaiser company. The diamond end platinum ring is set out in the petition to the court as havng been bought by William B. Green, former vice-president of the Fairburn bank and given by him to Mrs. Bradstreat. The ring was turned over to Maier and Berkele upon the order of the court. The bank through Receiver J. H Longino, who had the ring in charge surrendered it to the jewelers, because of a balance to be paid upon it of $1,238,75. In exchange the jewel ers are to give to the bank the sum of $393,25, the amount that Green is said to have paid on his purchase. As in this case, there were heavy balances due on the other gems returned by the bank.

10. June 18, 1920 The Leader Enterprise and Press Fitzgerald, GA
Article from The Leader Enterprise and Press, June 18, 1920

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ALLEGED EMBEZZLER MUST GIVE UP HOME Atlanta, Ga.-J. H. Longino, receiver for W. B. Green, former cashier of the aFirburn Banking Company, has filed a petition in the superior court to compel Green and his wife to turn over to him the Green home in Fairburn and asked that Green be adjudged in contempt of court because of his refusal. Judge Pendleton set the hearing for June 26. The petition was filed by Attorney Reuben R. Arnold. special counsel for the aFirburn Banking Company. The new angle is an outgrowth of the alleged robbery of the bank and the bruning of the building last year. Green. the former cashier, had been nidicted and sentenced to five years for robbing the bank. His appeal to the higher courts is pending. Mrs. Catherine Bradstreet. his alleged accomplice and jointly indicted with embezzlement, probably will be tried in August.

11. August 3, 1920 Americus Times-Recorder Americus, GA
Article from Americus Times-Recorder, August 3, 1920

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Cashier Green is Stripped of Property ATLANTA, Aug. 3.-William B. Green, former vice-president of the Fairburn Banking Company, has been stripped of all his possessions, except his home by a court order just issued, which sought to cover embezzlements from the bank, for which he was convicted two months ago. The order carried also a judgment of $47,500 against Green. The order was established by Judge George L. Bell in Fulton superior court, by consent between attorneys for the bank and for Green. The order takes the latter from the hands of the special auditor to hear the case, and turns it over to receiver for the bank, the following property: All interest in property of the Fairburn Banking Company, two bales of cotton held by receiver, all share in the Fairburn-Atlanta Railway Electric Company, in the Fairburn Supply Company, in Bateman's Pharmacy, in the Bank of College Park, and Green's interest in a promissory note for $1,100 given by R. H. McLain. The bank, however, does not relinquish its claim on the hôme of Green in Fairburn. It was indicated by council that suit will be brought in Campbell county to obtain the home in an effort to cover as complete as possible Green's alleged shortage.

12. December 11, 1920 Atlanta Tri-Weekly Journal Atlanta, GA
Article from Atlanta Tri-Weekly Journal, December 11, 1920

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$2,500 Fee for Longino In Bradstreet Case Judge George H. Bell, Thursda morning issued an order awardin the sum of $2,500 to J. H. Longin as a fee for acting as receiver 0 the property, both real and persona in the hands of Mrs. Katherin Bradstreet and W. B. Green, th former vice president of the Fair burn Banking company, at Fairburr Ga. Mr. Longino was appointed re ceiver on October 13, 1919. He sai 1 that he had collected and turned to the bank the sum of $25,000. H was allowed a fee of te nper cen on the amount collected.