Fidelity Funding Company (New York, NY)

Episode Information

Episode UID
3685323691308
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
368532369 hash
Start Date
December 1, 1908*
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
c48569a60257c5dd

Response Measures

None

Description

State and federal receivers were appointed and the firm remained in receivership with contested jurisdiction; appears to be a permanent failure.

Events (3)

1. December 1, 1908* Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Company found to have liabilities exceeding assets by large amount and alleged missing surplus and removed books; key officers disappeared.
Newspaper Excerpt
the company's suspension has inconvenienced so many Roman Catholic convents, schools, colleges, churches and individual priests and nuns
Source
newspapers
2. December 9, 1908 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Thomas F. Gilroy, jr., receiver for the Fidelity Funding Company, whose suspension has inconvenienced so many ... said yesterday that he would like to find some trace of the $400,000 surplus which P. J. Keiran, the company's former head, says exists.
Source
newspapers
3. February 10, 1909 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Special Master Peter B. Olney ... finds that the Fidelity Funding company ... is not amenable to the bankruptcy act and cannot be adjudicated a bankrupt in an involuntary proceeding.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (11)

Article from New-York Tribune, December 9, 1908

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Article Text

WANTS TO SEE KEIRAN RECEIVER SEEKING HIM. Company's Liabilities $1,500,000 More than Assets, He Says. Thomas F. Gilroy, jr., receiver for the Fidelity Funding Company, whose suspension has inconvenienced so many Roman Catholic convents, schools, colleges, churches and individual priests and nuns, said yesterday that he would like to find some trace of the $400,000 surplus which P. J. Keiran, the company's former head, says exists. "From my present figures." said Mr. Gilroy. "the liabilities of the company are something like $1.500.000 more than the assets. Lieutenant Funston, in charge of the detective bureau at Police Headquarters, received last night from Police Chief McQuade of Pittsburg a request he that Keiran be arrested if found in this city, as is wanted there on a charge of grand larceny. Mr. Gilroy would also like to have Mr. Keiran return to this city and tell in court for the benefit of the company's creditors what he knows of the disposition made of the assets. Mr. Gilroy says he can prove that certain bocks of the company were removed from the offices just at the time of the receivership. although Mr. Keiran maintains that he never kept any books William Nelson Cromwell. it now develops, has been asked by certain prominent Catholic clergymen to take a hand in the company's affairs and try to rehabilitate and reorganize the business At the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell it was said yesterday that Mr. Cromwell had the matter under consideration, but had come to no decision as yet Mr. Keiran, it is reported. has been visiting the creditors of the company ever since the suspension and asking them to sign a sweeping power of attorney in favor of Mr. Cromweil. These powers of attorney give the right. it is understood not only to rehabilitate the finances of the Fidelity Funding Company but also to take over the affairs of the Federal Construction Company and the Columbia Construction Company, two subsidiary concerns in which Keiran was largely interested. Keiran's personal affairs are also to be overhauled and straightened out. It is understood that several of the creditors have signed the powers of attorney. Mr. Gilroy intimated yesterday that there would be some interesting disclosures when he filed his suits against several local banks and trust companies charging them with accepting large bonuses for making loans to the Fidelity Funding Company In one case the receiver said that the company had paid a bonus of $50,000 to obtain a loan of $135,000. He would not make public the names of the banking institutions which he intends to sue non would he say whether there were any national the list. He is confident he will be able to banks recover in close to $500,000 which has been paid out in bonuses The receiver is also anxious to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Lorena W. Davis. who was private secretary to Keiran. Mrs. Davis, accordinz to Mr. Gilroy, had an active account with one of the banks with which Keiran did a large part of his business Mr. Gilroy has a court order for the examination of Mrs. Davis, but she has not been seen since the company suspended H. H. Van Dusen assistant secretary of the Fidelity Funding Company, and Keiran's right C. L hand man. has also disappeared, as has Boyce another of Keiran's confidential men When asked whether he believed Keiran had profited personally by his operations, Mr. Gilroy said: 'There is a discrepancy of about $1,500,000 as shown on the books of the company which remained in the offices I believe that Keiran was no fool. but further I do not care to discuss that matter. "In insuring the lives of those with whom he did business Keiran secured commissions from the insurance companies. and these commissions and the commissions which he expected to collect for twenty years he put down as an asset. "Keiran did not confine himself to Catholic institutions alone There appears on the books of the company the information that the Fidelity Funding Company did business with the Loraine Street and Dennison Land Company of Cleveland This company is among the creditors. Keiran also operated through an account which was opened in one of the local banks in the name of W. B. Arundel, who was employed by him in a clerical capacity, This account was opened about the same time that the one in the name of Mrs Davis, his stenographer. was opened. Arundel was seen here some weeks ago. but since that time we have been unable to locate him. Philadelphia Dec 8 3-Former Secretary Leslie M. Shaw. who is president of the First Mortgage Guarantee and Trust Company of this city. admitted to-day that the Fidelity Funding Company of New York owes him $60,000 Said Mr. Shaw My loans are fully covered by bonds which are AS safe as the bonds of any government on earth, and margined with additional notes at nearly 100 per cent T think the same is true with most and very likely all the banks and insurance companies An effort was made a year ago to increase the capital of the company to something over two million and some subscriptions were made (I was one of the subscribers). on condition that the full Amount should be raised This ought to have beer done, as the proposition was all ,right, if properly handled


Article from Los Angeles Herald, December 10, 1908

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Article Text

CARNEGIE COMPANY SAYS NOTES ARE WELL SECURED NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-In connection with suits brought today against makers of notes to P. J. Kieran, former president of the Fidelity Funding company, it was said by the Carnegie Trust company of this city that it holds $410,000 of the notes of various Catholic societies which were discounted by the Fidelity Funding company. These notes, the statement issued by the Carnegie Trust company says, are secured by $600,000 worth of collateral, and the trust company is awaiting the action of the receiver before attempting to recover. Thomas F. Gilroy, the receiver, has requested the Carnegie company to surrender some of its collateral on the ground that the value of the collateral exceeds the notes it holds by about $200,000, but the company declined.


Article from Palestine Daily Herald, December 10, 1908

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Article Text

Looking For Keiran. Special to the Herald. New York, Dec. 10.-Investigation into the affairs of the Fidelity Funding company is at a standstill pending the capture of former President Keiran. Receiver Gilroy refuses to talk further until Keiran is located. It is reported that local banks are considering the advisability of sueing on the notes from the Fidelity, but the question is raised as to whether or not mortgages on church property can be realized on.


Article from The Birmingham Age-Herald, December 11, 1908

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Article Text

KIERAN IS STILL MUCH WANTED New York, December 10.-Thomas F. Gilroy, Jr., receiver for the Fidelity Funding company, received no word today of the whereabouts of the former president of the company, P. J. Kieran, and Bainbridge Colby, counsel for Kieran, had nothing to say about his client's movements . Eight local banks and trust companies are involved in the wreck of the Fidelity Funding company, and in the financial difficulties of Kieran to the extent of a total of more than $1,250,000, according to a statement made today by a banker. who is thoroughly familiar with the company's business. All are amply secured and no eventual losses are looked for.


Article from The Morning Journal-Courier, December 15, 1908

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Article Text

FIDELITY FUNDING'S FUTURE. To be or Not to be Declared Bankrupt Is Now the Question. New York, Dec. 14.-Peter B. Olney, referee in the argument as to whether Patrick J. Keiran's Fidelity Funding company be declared bankrupt or go Into the hands of a state receiver, has adjourned the hearing until December 21. At present Robert C. Morris is the Federal receiver of the failed company, while Thomas F. Gilroy has been named as the state receiver. Settlement of the question hinges on whether the firm may or may not be adjudicated hankrupt. If in the opinion of Mr. Olney the firm should be so declared, a Federal receivership will prevall.


Article from The Salt Lake Herald, December 29, 1908

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Article Text

CREDITORS DEMAND FEDERAL RECEIVER New York, Dec. 28.-Thomas F. Gilroy, receiver under the state law for the Fidelity Funding company, was subjected to a searching examination by Frank Crocker, attorney for William H. Dorothy, the Hodge & Home company and the Burke Furnace company, all of Chicago, who are seeking the appointment of a federal receiver in Mr. Gilroy's place. Mr. Gilroy was unable to state the unsecured indebtedness of the concern, and said that he would be unable to estimate even the secured indebtedness of the company. He gave assets at $37,000 in personal accounts of Kieran, and $400,000 to $500,000 in claims on the company against various banks which he alleged had permitted Kieran to use the company's funds. He estimated the total deficit at $800,000; the cash assets being $24,000.


Article from The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, February 4, 1909

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Article Text

THE HOWLAND DRY GOODS CO. REORGANIZE THE FIDELITY FUNDING CO. (Special from United Press.) New York, Feb. 4.-Steps were taken to-day by Receiver Morris and Patrick J. Kieran, head of the Fidelity Funding Company which recently failed, for about $5.000.000. to evolve a plan whereby the concern can be put upon its feet again. The success of a reorganization rests with the banks and financial concerns which hold the collateral and paper of the Fidelity Funding Company.


Article from The Birmingham Age-Herald, February 4, 1909

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Article Text

Examining Kieran's Books. New York, February 3.-In order to give Federal Receiver Morris of the bankrupt Fidelity Funding company time to examine the personal account books of P. J. Kieran, the company's former president, before proceeding with his inquiry into the company's affairs, the hearing in the matter before Federal Commissioner Alexander, when called today was immediately adjourned until Friday, February 5


Article from Los Angeles Herald, February 5, 1909

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Says He Loaned Money to Company NEW YORK, Feb. 4.-Denial he had ever in any way. used the funds of the Fidelity Funding company to further his personal interests was made by Patrick J. Kiernan, former president of the bankrupt concern, before Receiver Gilcey today. Mr. Kiernan said instead of borrowing, he was continually lending the company stock, money and credit to further the company's interests.


Article from The Daily Gate City, February 10, 1909

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NO BANKRUPTCY IN KIERAN CASE Fidelity Funding Company Not Amenable to the Act-Decision Ends Jurisdiction. NEW YORK. Feb. 10.-Special Master Peter B. Olney. in the report filed in the United States district court today, finds that the Fidelity Funding company, of which Patrick J. Kieran was the head, is not amenable to the bankruptcy act and cannot be adjudi-* cated a bankrupt by involuntary proceedings. The report, which is expected to be confirmed by Judge Holt, will put an end to rival claims for Jurisdiction made by Thomas F. Gilroy, a receiver appointed by the United States district court. At the time of the filing of the involuntary petition agains he Fideliy Funding company, the liabilities of the corporation were stated to be $3,041,037, and the nominal assets $3,579,315.


Article from Iowa County Democrat, February 11, 1909

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KIERAN CASE DETERMINED. Company, of Which He Was Head, Subject of Special Report. New York, Feb. 10.-Special Master Peter B. Olney, in a report filed in the United States district court yesterday, finds that the Fidelity Funding company, of which Patrick H. Kieran was the head, is not amenable to the bankruptcy act, and cannot be ad. judicated bankrupt in an involuntary proceeding. The report, which is expected to be confirmed by Judge Holt, will put an end to the rival claims for juri diction made by Thomas F. Gilroy, the receiver appointed by the state court, and Robert C. Morris, the receiver appointed by the United States district court. At the time of the filing of the involuntary petition against the Fidelity Funding company. the liabilities of the corporation were stated to be $3,941,037 and the nominal assets $3,579,315.