Merchants National Bank (Peoria, IL)

Episode Information

Episode UID
325401037
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Reopening
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
32540 national
Charter Number
3254
Start Date
May 31, 1886
Location
Peoria, Illinois (40.694, -89.589)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
0323fcc2a2260f52

Response Measures

None

Events (3)

1. September 29, 1884 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. May 31, 1886 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Large embezzlement/defalcation by bookkeeper J. Finley (J. F.) Hoke discovered, impairing capital (estimates $180,000โ€“$200,000).
Newspaper Excerpt
owing to the serious impairment of its capital, caused by embezzlement of the funds by J. F. Hoke, the bookkeeper, the bank would be obliged to suspend payment, pending an examination by the bank examiner.
Source
newspapers
3. June 30, 1886 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
The statement is now made that the Merchants' National Bank, of Peoria, Ill. will resume business, the Hoke defalcation having been made good by an assessment of 50 per cent. on the stock.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (14)

Article from The Portland Daily Press, June 1, 1886

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Article Text

PEORIA, III., May 31.-The directors of the Merchants' National Bank of this city announced this evening that, owing to the serious impairment of its capital, caused by embezzlement of the funds by J. F. Hoke, the bookkeeper, the bank would be obliged to suspend payment, pending an examination by the bank examiner.


Article from The Indianapolis Journal, June 1, 1886

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A Peoria Bank in Difficulty. PEORIA, May 31.-The directors of the Merchants' National Bank, of this city, announced this evening that, owing to the serious impairment of its capital, caused by embezzlement of funds by J. F. Hoke, book-keeper, the bank will be obliged to suspend payment pending an examination by the bank examiner. They say that sufficient examination has been made to warrant the assurance that all depositors will be paid in full without much delay. Hoke. the defaulting book-keeper, fled to Canada last week, but no discrepancy in his accounts was discovered until Saturday night. It has since been learned that his defalcations have been going on for years, and thas he has systematically robbed the bank of over $100,000 by falsifying the interest account. Hoke was a reckless speculator and gambler, and dabbled in all sorts of projects.


Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, June 2, 1886

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OTHER PEOPLE'S GREENBACKS A Fugitive From Peoria, Ill., is in Canada With $200,000, While a Nebraska Rascal Secures Only $13.000. Stole $180,000. Special to the Globe. PEORIA, Ill., June 1.-So far as examined the books of the suspended Merchants National bank show that J. Finley Hoke, late bookkeeper, and now sojourning in Canada, has succeeded in stealing $180,000 of the bank's money, and it is believed that when the examination is concluded the amount will be found to be $200,000.


Article from Telegram-Herald, June 2, 1886

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A Plain Theft of $180,000. PEORIA, III., June 1.-80 far as examined, the books of the suspended Merchant's National bank show that J. Finley Hoke, late bookkeeper, who is now sojourning in Canada, has succeeded in stealing $180,000 of the bank's money, and it is believed that when the examination is concluded the amount will be found to be $200,000. The bank officials say Hoke must simply have stolen the money from the counter and draws, and fixed his books accordingly.


Article from The Indianapolis Journal, June 2, 1886

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THE directors of the Merchants' National Bank, of Peoria, have announced that that Institution is obliged to suspend, awaiting the action of the bank examiner. The explana- made is that the systematic peculations


Article from The Kenosha Telegraph, June 4, 1886

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Bank Suspension Caused by a Rascally Employe. PEORIA, Ill., June 1.-The directors of the Merchants' National Bank announced last evening that owing to the serious im. pairment of its capital, caused by the embezzlemement of funds by its late book. keeper, J. Finley Hoke, which has just been discovered, the bank would be obliged to suspend payment pending examination by the bank examiner. The directors believe that all depositors will be paid in full and without much delay. Hoke's defalcations have been going on for years, and will exceed $100,000. He covered up his crimes by falsifying the interest account. Hoke is now in Canada, and until yesterday TO was supposed that he was suffering from mental derangement.


Article from Macon Beacon, June 5, 1886

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He Busted the Bank PEORIA, ILL., May 31.-The - Merchants' National Bank, of this city, has suspended payment. The defalcations of J. F. Hoke, book-keeper, are said to be over โ‚ฌ 00,000.


Article from Dodge City Times, June 10, 1886

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Article Text

So far as examined the books of the suspended Merchants' National Bank, of Peoria, Ill., show that J. Finlay Hoke, late book-keeper, and now sojoursing in Canada, has succeeded in stealing $180,000 of the bank's money, and it is believed when the exammation is concluded it will be found to be $200,000. The bank officials say that Hoke must have simply stolen money from the counter and drawers and fixed his books accordingly.


Article from The Abilene Reflector, June 10, 1886

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Article Text

So far as examined the books of the suspended Merchants' National Bank, of Peoria, Ill., show that J. Finlay Hoke, late book-keeper, and now sojoursing in Canada, has succeeded in stealing $180,000 of the bank's money, and it is believed when the exammation is concluded it will be found to be $200,000. The bank officials say that Hok! must have simply stolen money from the counter and drawers and fixed his books accordingly.


Article from Custer Chronicle, June 12, 1886

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$1,326 of the stolen money. He confessed the guilt of his accomplices soon after being caught. CITY OF MEXICO, June 1.-The destructive forest fires raging in the Omacameca forest, near the capital, have destroyed many ranches, and & large number of people were fatally burned while fighting the fires. MILWAUKEE. Wis., June 1.-A special from Waukesha says that the annual meeting of the grand lodge of Wisconsin of the Independent Order of Oddfellows opened at that place this morning under the presidency of Grand Master J. M. Craig, of Manitowoc. The most important matter which has been schedule for consideration 18 the report of Grand Representative John G. ( larke on the proceedings of the Sovereign Grand lodge in reference to the legisirtion against members of the order who are members of the Patriarchial Circle. Milwaukee is the birth place of the circle, and the mandate requiring lodges to +xpel such members under p nalty of a forfeiture of charter has been entirely abortive. The reason for this is explained to be that it is impossible to prove that a man is a member of the circle except through a brother member of that order and such evidence 1s, of course, next door to impossible to secure. Several Minnesota lodges have adopted the plan of disbanding and then reorganiz ing, leaving out in this process all who are suspected of being affiliated with the circle, and the fficacy et this modus operandi will be considered by the present convention. ELKTON, Ind., June 2.-The annual convention of the Episcopal church of the diocese of Easton opened here this morning. A report from a special committee appointed at a convocation held in December last stated that Rev. Chauncey C. Williams, of Augusta, Ga., who had been elected to the Bishoprie left vacant by the death in September last of Bishop Lay, had declined the honor, and that Rev. George Wiliiamson Smith. of Trinity College, Conn., who had also been tendered the position by the special committee, had also declined. It was, the committee added, a case of a bis hopric literally going a begging. It was decided to make the matter a special order for this evening. MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa, June 3.-The soldiers' home trustees adjourned at 1 c'clock this morning, after a two days' session. No plans for the building were agreed upon, but the board unanimously decided in favor of a single building in contradistinction to the cottage plan. The board will reconvene June 17. PEORIA, June 3.-The failure of the Merchants National bank here continues to be the absorbing topic of conversation, and how J. Finley Hooke could have succeeded in getting away with 80 much money in a short space of time, is a growing wonder. He was but hookDeper, and conse quently should have had no access to the funds. So far as the books of the bank have been run over they show that he has succeeded in taking $180,000 and the end is not yet. As the books of the bank were examined about fifteen months ago by the bank xaminer and everything was declared straight, the sum must have been absorbed since that time, which seems almost increditable, as the only way in which he could get the m oney was by deliberately stealing and then falsifying the books 80 they and the cash would tally. Hooke was generally regarded as a fast man and that WaS the only reason that he was removed from the position of book-keeper some months ago. He took his dismissal so hard that the board of directors reconsidered their action and allowed him to remain two months longer, which probably cost the board several thousand dollars. Hooke was in almost every enterprise that originated in Peoria in the last decade. He was & heavy "bull" in the wheat pit and it is a-serted gambled heavy in private houses. The statement of the bank's affairs has not yet been issued, but here 18 no doubt that everything will be paid in full. The capital was $200,000, consequently the stockholders are responsible for $400,000. NORFOLK, Va., June 3.-Confederate memorial day is being celebrated with great enthustasm. The city is filled with visiting military companies, including several Grand Army posts. DEER PARK, Md., June 3.-The President and Mrs. Cleveland arrived at 4 o'clock this


Article from Watertown Republican, June 30, 1886

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ing damage done by a recent storm. Geo. Martin was fatally injured. Father Steinman's injuries are severe, but Marshall escaped with but slight hurt. A dispatch of the 24th reported that twenty 0 the victims of the recent picnic poisoning at Pottersville, N. J., will die. The liabilities of the suspended firm of Riegel, Scott & Co., Philadelphia, are stated to be in the neighborhood of $750,000. The assets are unknown. The statement is now made that the Merchants' National Bank. of Peoria, Ill. will resume business, the Hoke defalcation having been made good by an assessment of 50 per cent. on the stock. At East St. Louis in a gambling case, on the 23d, Mayor Joyce was fined $5 for contempt 0 icourt. The Delaware state temperance convention met at Dover on the 22d. James R. Hoffecker, of Middletown, was nominated for governor, and Richard M. Cooper, of Moorton, for Congress.


Article from The Superior Times, July 3, 1886

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the 24th, Frank Wenland, one of the inmates, was shot, probably fatally. George Martin was fatally injured by the fall of a scaffold in a church at Forest, O. on the 24th. Two other men were injured. The warehouse of the consolidated tank line, at Peoria, Ill., containing 40.000 on the house 25th, together gallons with Pekin of oil, the burned freight and of the Peoria & Railway its contents. The total loss will reach $200,000. It is now stated that the recent ice cream poisoningat Pottersville, N.J., will result in the death of twenty people. Ex-President Arthur left New York on the 24th for New London, Conn., where he will spend the hot season. He is very weak and is unable to bear any amount of fatigue. At Muskegon, Mich., on the night of the 23d, Fritz Harm, an employer of the Muskegon Brewing Company, was It run down by an engine and killed. is supposed to have been a case of suicide. He leaves a wife and two children. The boiler in the saw mill of T.R. Adams, near Atkins, Ark. exploded, on the 24th, wrecking including the building, the killing three men, proprietor, and seriously injuring two others. The statement of the liabilities of the goods firm Scott the suspended of Reigel, Philadelphia & Co., dry shows debts of theconcern to be in the neighborhood of $750,000. The assets are not known. The Merchants' National Bank, of Peoria, Ill., is preparing to resume business. The Hope defalcation has been made good by an assessment on the stock. The works of the American Forcite Powder Company, at Lake Hopatcong, N. J., were destroyed by fire and explosion. The loss will reach $100, COO. No one was hurt. A dispatch from Prague, Bohemia, states that a ferry-boat capsized while crossing the Sazawa River, throwing fifty persons into the water. The exact number of those drowned has not been ascertained, but twenty-five bodies have been recovered. Mayor Joyce, of East St. Louis, was fined for contempt of court in that city, his offense being a failure to pear as a witness in a gamblingcase. An entire family of colored people, at Paris, Mo., were seriously poisoned by drinking water in which some poisonous substance had been placed by some unknown parties. The father and mother are in a precarious condition. At Latrobe, Pa., on the night of the 22d, an old quarrel was reopened between Frank Keewan and Mac Dixon, two well-known citizens of Greenburg, in which the latter was shot dead. While resisting arrest at Detroit, Minn., on the 23d, William Kellaher, alias "Reddy," shot and killed Officer Convey. The same night he was taken from jail by a mob, banged to a tree and his body riddled with bullets. About 160 persons at Pottersville, N.J., weremade ill by eating ice cream at a church festival, some of whom will die. The doctors think that arsenic, vitriol or sulphate of zinc was in the cream, but where the poison came from has not been discovered. The large naval store of Wilson, Patterson & Co., Montreal, burned on the 22d, including a large amount of oil and tar stored in two factories. The total loss is estimated at $100,000; insurance, $40,000. At Springfield M on the 22d, the Molloy, for two complicity against in the Mrs. the Graham Emma murder, were quashed by court, but the prisoner was held to answer any new indictments which may be brought against her by the next grand jury. Some excitement was created at Albany, N.Y., on the 22d, by the announcement made by a county court judge that he had received an offer from the superintendent of the Albany penitentiary of $50 for every long term prisoner sent to that institution by him. Dispatches of the 22d report destructive floods in Silesia, Bohemia and Hungary. A number of deaths have resulted and the damage to property has been enormous. The sugar and cotton warehouse of Paul Jacobs, Hamburg, has been destroyed by fire. The loss is $250,000. the evening of the 21st, the old one N. was marks Taylor On of brewery, Albany, Y., of the burned. landIt had a capacity of about 250,000 barrels per year Loss, about $150,000; insurance, $125,000.


Article from New-York Tribune, November 5, 1886

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DEFAULTER HOKE ARRESTED. MONTREAL, Nov. 4 (Special). -John Fialey Hoke, late bookkeeper of the Merchants' National Bank of Peoria, UI., who ruu away last May and caused the suspension of the bank through his defalcations, was arrested here last night. Hoke was in the habit when the cashier was out of falsifying the books. neglecting to enter deposit slips in the ledger. and pocketing the proceeds. With this he speculated heavily in wheat and went on the wrong side of the market.


Article from The True Northerner, June 8, 1887

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THE WESTERN STATES. THE trial of Finley J. Hoke, the embezzling bank official of Peoria, Ill., ended Wednesday in a verdict of guilty, the punishment being fixed at five years' imprisonment An appeal will, of course, be taken. Hoke was for years the trusted book-keeper of the Merchants' National Bank in Peoria. In May, 1886, he fled The Directors discovered that by forgery of drafts and false entries in the books he had robbed the bank of nearly $180,000, within $20,000 of the capital stock of the institution. The bank suspendea, but the deficiency was made up and business was resumed. In October Hoke was found in Montreal. The necessary papers were procured and Hoke was arrested. He opposed extradition by every legal means and tried to bribe the officers to allow him to escape. After the case had gone through all the Canadian courts an extradition warrant was issued and Hoke was started for Peoria February 1 last. LATER reports from Eckhert, Ind., where the Davis boys were lynched for abducting and brutally assaulting Miss Flannigan, say that William Kellam, father-in-law of one of the Davis boys, was lynched at the same time. It is also reported that the mob went to the house of Mrs. Emlow, the mother of the Davis boys, and dragged away Andrew Emlow, a younger son of the old woman. His body has not been found, and the lynchers will not tell what was done with him. Miss Flannigan is recovering. A DISPATCH from Corydon, Ind., states that a woman named Lynch and her daughter Mary were taken from their house by twentyfive masked men, stripped, and whipped until they fainted. Mrs. Lynch, who, it is explained, "bears a very bad reputation," was about to become a mother, and the whipping will probably cause her death. A SEVERE earthquake rocked portions of Northern California and Western Nevada early Friday morning. Fissures formed in the earth, and in some instances plaster fell from walls. The disturbance was heavy at Sacramento and Carson City, and reports are current that the hot springs are dried up.