The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-04-30
From the Ohio Press.

From the Ohio Press
SUSPENSION OF THE STATE BANK
OF OHIO--REFUSAL OF ONE OF
IT'S BRANCHES TO PAY IT'S NOTES!
On the last day of my stay in Cincinnati
gentleman of that city showed TO me the
remains of picture, which had been issued
for one dollar by the Mechanics and
Traders' Branch Bank. But some one,
Qaken by the beauty ~ Of the engrayines,J
had cut them of, and nothing remained OF
this specimen ofcurrency but the simple pro-
missory note. To describe the ridiculous
appearance OF this" shaved note" is beyond
my powers. The imagination cannot con-
celve how mean paper money does look,
when dlvcstcd OF the pictures. The cunning
manufacturers ofcurrency endeavor to please
the eye and the fancy of the note-holders
while they are trying to palm upon him their
fraudulent promises. But let any one cut
off the flimsy outside, and see the naked
bank note, and it instantly strikes the mind
as being the most unutterably mean and lu-
dicrous thing that can be imagined. The
sight of it is enough TO provoke the laughter
of banker even, as the result proved.
Wishing to know how this child of rag
shop would be received at home, | gave a
dollar for it; and in the course of the morn
ing found the place and presented myself
at the counter And here was treated
with degree Of impoiteuess which | never
before witnessed in shop, store, or office
of any kind. There was clerk at the desk
writing, and boy just dismissing customer.
When he had finished he turned his back
upon me, and lazily looked over the shoulder
of the clerk. He had seen the note in nv
hand, and had evidently been taught TO treat
in this manner, the lovers Of a good currency,
thus literally" fadding insult 10 injury" But
had determined 10 be in good humor with
this bank, and so said quite mildly, that"I
would like TO have money for this note"
After had spoken two or three times, the
boy condescended to look at me, and then
10 look at the document which laid upon
the counter The sight of it was so laugh
able that its effect was instantaneous, and he
laughed heartily as he turned it around, and
upside down, with his fnger-Moreover, the
appearance of the thing was so changed by
the loss of the pictures, (for there was no
other alteration that he did not recognize
it at all, ard was forced to ask me how much
| wanted for it, told him one dollar. He
then showed il TO the clerk and, after consul
tation, the cashier was called in. He had
many questions 10 ask and remarks TO make
about the rest of the note. He admitted
that there was the entire legal obligation,
but still he laltered and wavered and talked
and at last directly refused to pay the money.
This man, who enjoys The special privilege
of supplying soft currency to the people of
Cincinnati, REFUSED TO REDEEM HIS PROMISE,
which he admitted at the same time TO be
full and complete. This was more than
suspension; it was direct refusal to pay
the note at all.
He said it looked as though there was
some fraud about it, and told him thought
it did myself, for indeed have never seen
bank note yet that looked otherwise-My
only regret was, that my business required
that should leave Cincinnati the next morn-
ing, and thus prevent me from Immediately
bringing the subject before the courts. Blu.
I am assured that this has been done unless
the cashier recovered his senses by the next
day.
Stcubcnvillc, April 4, 1916.