Merchants Bank (Lake City, MN)

Episode Information

Episode UID
560957791142
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
trust
Bank ID
56095779 hash
Start Date
February 25, 1895
Location
Lake City, Minnesota (44.449, -92.267)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
51851efa50d92a6c

Response Measures

None

Description

Failure followed discovery of large improper loans by the president and later conviction for embezzlement.

Events (5)

1. February 25, 1895 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
R. H. Moore has been appointed receiver for the Merchants' bank of this city; the bank is closed and in the hands of the public examiner.
Source
newspapers
2. February 25, 1895 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
President W. F. Holmes had improperly loaned himself between $30,000 and $40,000 against capital/surplus (legal limit ~$9,000), prompting examiner action and charter annulment proceedings.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Merchants' bank of this city is closed and in charge of the public examiner. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter. R. H. Moore... has been appointed receiver.
Source
newspapers
3. July 3, 1895 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
R. H. Moore, receiver of the Merchants bank of this city, has obtained an order... for a first payment of 25 per cent to depositors, which will amount to about $40,000.
Source
newspapers
4. November 27, 1895 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
W. F. Holmes was the president of the defunct bank and has been convicted of embezzlement, sentence not yet having been passed.
Source
newspapers
5. April 25, 1896 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
R. H. Moore, receiver for the defunct Merchants' bank... paid a dividend of 10 per cent to the creditors of that bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (15)

Article from The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Bank in Receiver's Hands. Lake City, Minn., Feb. 25.-The Merchants' bank of this city is closed and in charge of the public examiner. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter, and a receiver has been appointed. No statement has yet been given out as to the assets and liabilities or as to the cause of the failure,


Article from The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Bank Closed. Sr. PAUL, MINN., Feb. 25.-A Lake City, Minn., special to the Dispatch says: The Merchant's Bank is closed and in the hands of the public examiner. Proceedings have been taken to annul charter. R. ii. Moore has been appointed receiver. No statement has yet been given to the public. No information is obtainable as to the cause of the failure, the stockholders being ignorant un to the last moment of the state of affairs. The bank examiner has found that Prisident Holmes had loaned himself between $30,000 and $40.000, while the capital stock was but $50,000 and the surplus but $40,000. Legally he could/have loaned but $9,000. The bank will be dissolvod.


Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Lake City Crash. LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb. 25. - -The Merchants' bank, of this city, is closed and in charge of the public exeaminer. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter. R. H. Moore, of this city, has been appointed receiver, and is likely to qualify within a few days. No statement has as yet been given to the public as to the assets or liabilities, and no information is obtainable as to the cause of the failure. The stockholders were ignorant up to the last moment of the state of affairs. Bank Examiner Lonegren had examined into the bank's condition, and it is doubtless on his report that this action is taken.


Article from The Indianapolis Journal, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Minnesota Bank Closed. LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb. 25.-The Merchants' Bank is closed and in the hands of the public examiner. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter. R. H. Moore has been appointed receiver. No information is obtainable as to the cause of the failure, the stockholders being ignorant up to the last moment of the state of affairs. The bank examiner has found that President Holmes had loaned himself between $30,000 and $40,000, while the capital stock was but $50,000 and the surplus but $40,000. Legally he could have loaned but $9,000. The bank will be dissolved.


Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Lake City Crash. LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb. 25.-The Merchants' bank, of this city, is closed and in charge of the public exeaminer. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter. R. H. Moore, of this city, has been appointed receiver, and is likely to qualify within a few days. No statement has as yet been given to the public as to the assets or liabilities, and no information is obtainable as to the cause of the failure. The stockholders were ignorant up to the last moment of the state of affairs. Bank Examiner Lonegren had examined into the bank's condition, and it is doubtless on his report that this action is taken.


Article from Rock Island Argus, February 26, 1895

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Article Text

Bank President Violates the Law. LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb. 26.-The Merchants' bank is closed and in the hands of the public examiner. Proceedings have been taken to annul its charter. R. H. Moore has been appointed receiver. The bank examiner has found that President Holmes had loaned himself between $30,000 and $40,000, while the capital stock was but $50,000 and the surplus but $40,000. Legally he could have loaned but $9,000.


Article from The Madison Daily Leader, February 27, 1895

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Article Text

Lake City Bank Closed. LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb. 27.-The Merchant's bank of this city did not open for business Monday, being in charge of Public Examiner Kenyon, the attorney general kaving taken steps to annul its charter. R. H. Moors . has been appointed receiver and will shortly qualify. Assets and liabilities have not yet been made public.


Article from Grant County Herald, February 28, 1895

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Article Text

Another Bank in Trouble. : LAKE CITY, Minn., Feb 26.-A receiver has been appointed for the Merchants bank of this place whose president had borrowed $40,000 of its funds.


Article from The Madison Daily Leader, March 28, 1895

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Article Text

Granted More Time. LAKE CITY. Minn., March 28.-Another extension of time has been granted the Merchants bank corporat on of this city in which to recover its standing without go ng into the hands of a receiver. A settlement of dfficulties is yet probable.


Article from Bismarck Weekly Tribune, March 29, 1895

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Article Text

Granted More Time. LAKE CITY, Minn., March 28.-Another extension of time has been granted the Merchants bank corporation of this city in which to recover its standing without going into the hands of a receiver. A settlement of dfficulties is yet probable.


Article from The Madison Daily Leader, July 3, 1895

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Article Text

LAKE CITY, Minn., July 3.-R. H. Moore, receiver of the Merchants bank of this city, has obtained an order from Judge Gould for a first payment of 25 per cent to depositors, which will amount to about $40,000.


Article from The Sauk Centre Herald, July 4, 1895

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Article Text

Depositors but a Dividend. LAKE CITY, M.n., July 3.-D H. Moore, receiver of the Merchants bank of to : city. has obtained an or ier from Judge Gould for is items I syment of 25 per cent to depositors, which will amount to about $40.000.


Article from Bismarck Weekly Tribune, July 5, 1895

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Article Text

Depositors Get a Dividend. LAKE CITY, Minn., July 3.-R. H. Moore, receiver of the Merchants bank of this city, has obtained an order from Judge Gould for a first payment of 25 per cent to depositors, which will amount to about $40,000.


Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, November 28, 1895

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Article Text

Sentence Not Yet Passed. Special to the Globe. LAKE CITY, Minn., Nov. 27.-The absurd statement published in an evening paper to the effect that R. H. Moore had been convicted of embezzling funds from the Merchants' bank last January, caused considerable amusement among readers here. W. F. Holmes was the president of the defunct bank and has been convicted of embezzlement, sentence not yet having been passed. At the time of the bank's failure Attorney R. H. Moore was appointed receiver, thus the misconception.


Article from St. Paul Daily Globe, April 26, 1896

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Article Text

Second Dividend to Creditors, Special to the Globe. LAKE CITY, Minn., April 25.-R. H. Moore, receiver for the defunct Merchants' bank, of this city, today paid a dividend of 10 per cent to the creditors of that bank. This is the second dividend which has been declared within the past year.