Grant County Bank (Ephrata, WA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
98020471474
Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
9802047 routing
Routing Number
98-0204
Start Date
October 7, 1922
Location
Ephrata, Washington (47.318, -119.554)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
9301f98876421601

Response Measures

None

Description

Closed by state banking department after a run; subsequent prosecutions for bank officers indicate insolvency/scandal.

Events (2)
1. October 7, 1922 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals (run) that appears connected to the bank's insolvency and later criminal charges against officers.
Measures
None reported other than subsequent closure by state banking department.
Newspaper Excerpt
A dispatch from Ephrata says that the Grant County Bank has been closed by the state banking department, due to a run last Saturday.
Source
newspapers
2. October 10, 1922 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Closed/suspended by the state banking department following the run and concerns about the bank's condition.
Newspaper Excerpt
former president of the Grant county bank, which suspended on October 10, 1922.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)
1. October 13, 1922 The Leavenworth Echo Leavenworth, WA
Article from The Leavenworth Echo, October 13, 1922

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Article Text

for Misses and Children at Sampson's. tf Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Wheeler and children drove to Wenatchee Tuesday afternoon. J. H. Holloway is around again after being crippled by a wagon wheel falling on his foot. Agent Gorrell is provided with a watchdog at the depot. One look at him and-well take a look. Jas. Ange returned Wednesday from a visit to Vancouver, B. C., to see King George. He also visited Seattle. A marriage license was recently issued to Fred Wilmer Emard of Seattle and Mrs. Marion Cannon of Leavenworth. Mrs. Viola Brooks, of Okanogan, is at the Community hospital where she was operated on early this week for abdominal trouble. It is reported that the Frank Erickson home was broken into Tuesday night and ransacked by burglars who carried away much of value. The Citizens State Bank has a couple samples of fine corn on exhibition in its window. One sample was grown by S. H. McNett. A dispatch from Ephrata says that the Grant County Bank has been closed by the state banking department, due to a run last Saturday. R. A. Trainor went to Wenatchee Tuesday afternoon on business for the Great Northern Lumber Co., who were experiencing a car shortage. Messrs. A. T. Sutton and S. P. Freeman drove to Lake Chelan last Friday evening and enjoyed Saturday fishing. They returned with nice strings. At Wenatchee someone connected the water and gas mains in an unoccupied house and the gas mains were flooded, putting the whole system out of business. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Maston have taken a couple rooms at Wenatchee and will occupy them temporarily, not having decided whether to settle down there permanently. Mrs. R. L. Leslie left Tuesday afternoon on No. 4 to visit her sister in Spokane and brothers in both Pullman and Moscow, expecting to be away a couple weeks. Style favorites of long ago again come into prominence as part of latest models. The semi-tailored blouse is increasing in popularity and you will find them at Sampson's. tf Wm. Brender took a load of household goods to Tacoma this week for W. W. Durham, who was moving to that city. The Warren Reed family have also recently moved to Tacoma. Come to the last dance of the season at Cougar Inn. Lake Wenatchee, Saturday evening, Oct. 14-tomorrow night. The roads are fine and a large crowd is expected. Good music and a jolly time. Mrs. T. J. Logan and daughter Mary returned Tuesday from a short visit to Everett. They are moving this week to Wenatchee where Mr. Logan is employed as a yardmaster at the new terminal. The Grand Matron of the Eastern Stars, Mrs. Minnie Miller of Wenatchee, will be at the meeting of the Leavenworth Stars, Oct. 19, and all members of the order in the city are invited to be present. Miss Edith Sinclair arrived home last Saturday morning from her visit with relatives in Alberta. Her grandmother. Mrs. Church, who went there last summer to live with her son and family, is doing very nicely. Alec McLellan returned Saturday from a few weeks stay at Omak, where he was helping with the fruit on his ranch. He says that the hail damaged his crop about 7 per cent. and that it will pay fairly well. Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Davies and baby have moved to Hillyard and Mr. ano Mrs. C. F. Johnson are moving. Mrs. Davies and the baby and Mr. Johnson

2. June 15, 1923 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WA
Article from The Spokesman-Review, June 15, 1923

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Article Text

DAVIS ACQUITTED BY COURT ORDER Freed of Falsifying Bank Records Charge—Larceny Count Dismissed. EPHRATA, Wash., June 14.—A directed verdict of not guilty was returned in superior court today in the case of E. C. Davis, former president of the Grant county bank, which suspended on October 10, 1922. Davis was charged with falsifying bank reports. Motion for a directed verdict was made by Davis' counsel on grounds that the state had not established the charges. After arguments, in which Prosecuting Attorney N. W. Washington said that H. C. Erickson, former cashier of the bank, who was the state's chief witness, had testified differently at the trial than when before the grand jury, Judge John Davidson granted the motion. Prosecutor Washington then moved for dismissal of the other charge against Davis, larceny because of removal of notes from the bank, on grounds that evidence in that case would be virtually the same as in the case at bar. The dismissal was granted. The trial of Erickson, charged with giving preference to a depositor of the bank, knowing the institution to be insolvent, will begin tomorrow. A special venire for 40 talesmen, to report tomorrow, was issued late today.

3. June 16, 1923 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WA
Article from The Spokesman-Review, June 16, 1923

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Article Text

HOLDS ERICKSON INDICTMENT VOID Judge Davidson Sustains Demurrer to Charge of Favoring Depositor. RULING IS APPEALED Prosecuting Attorney N. W. Washington Will Carry Question to Supreme Court. EPHRATA, Wash., June 15.—At the opening today in superior court of the trial of H. C. Erickson, cashier of the Grant county bank when it suspended on October 10, 1922, his counsel, Richard Nuzum and Judge George Turner, Spokane, asked leave to withdraw a plea of guilty, which was granted by Judge John Davidson. Erickson's counsel then filed a demurrer to the indictment, which charged giving preference to a depositor of the bank, John Erickson, a brother of the cashier. They argued that paying a certificate of deposit for $5000 to John Erickson two days before the bank suspended did not constitute a crime, in that it was not a transfer of assets of the bank, but liquidation of a debt of the institution. Prosecuting Attorney N. W. Washington vigorously opposed this contention, alleging that the defense was endeavoring to muddle the issue, but Judge Davidson sustained the demurrer. Mr. Washington then filed notice of appeal to the supreme court. As the case rests Erickson will stand charged under the indictment if the ruling on the demurrer is upset by the supreme court, but if it is affirmed, the indictment is automatically quashed.

4. June 19, 1923 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WA
Article from The Spokesman-Review, June 19, 1923

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Article Text

DAVIS ACQUITTED BY COURT ORDER Freed of Falsifying Bank Records Charge—Larceny Count Dismissed. EPHRATA, Wash., June 14.—A directed verdict of not guilty was returned in superior court today in the case of E. C. Davis, former president of the Grant county bank, which suspended on October 10, 1922. Davis was charged with falsifying bank reports. Motion for a directed verdict was made by Davis' counsel on grounds that the state had not established the charges. After arguments, in which Prosecuting Attorney N. W. Washington said that H. C. Erickson, former cashier of the bank, who was the state's chief witness, had testified differently at the trial than when before the grand jury, Judge John Davidson granted the motion. Prosecutor Washington then moved for dismissal of the other charge against Davis, larceny because of removal of notes from the bank, on grounds that evidence in that case would be virtually the same as in the case at bar. The dismissal was granted. The trial of Erickson, charged with giving preference to a depositor of the bank, knowing the institution to be insolvent, will begin tomorrow. A special venire for 40 talesmen, to report tomorrow, was issued late today. EPHRATA, Wash., June 15.—At the opening today in superior court of the trial of H. C. Erickson, cashier of the Grant county bank when it suspended on October 10, 1922, his counsel, Richard Nuzum and Judge George Turner, Spokane, asked leave to withdraw a plea of guilty, which was granted by Judge John Davidson. Erickson's counsel then filed a demurrer to the indictment, which charged giving preference to a depositor of the bank, John Erickson, a brother of the cashier. They argued that paying a certificate of deposit for $5000 to John Erickson two days before the bank suspended did not constitute a crime, in that it was not a transfer of assets of the bank, but liquidation of a debt of the institution. Prosecuting Attorney N. W. Washington vigorously opposed this contention, alleging that the defense was endeavoring to muddle the issue, but Judge Davidson sustained the demurrer. Mr. Washington then filed notice of appeal to the supreme court. As the case rests Erickson will stand charged under the indictment if the ruling on the demurrer is upset by the supreme court, but if it is affirmed, the indictment is automatically quashed. Stowaways in Atlantic liners are said to be often helped by members of the crew in return for a cash payment of $25 a head.