Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-05-15
rnE srnnY or ruE nREAk.

TIE RUSH oS THE METROPOLITAN.
NEW York, May l4.-The Post
says: AT twenty minutes after IL, a
long line of men and boys stood in
front Of the paying teller's window at
the Metropolitan bank, on Broadway
and Pine streets, of which George l.
Seney Is president, with checks to be
certified, the alarming rumors as to
failures in every direction having
made uncertified checks of no value,
no matter by whom signed. Just at
that moment the paying-teller shut
his window with a bang, and an
nounced that the Metropolitan bank
had suspended payment rs a mat
ter of necessity and precaution.
A howl of dismay went up from
the line of men, and a
break was made for the door, where Il
number of depositors met hurry
ing in to ge. denial of the rumored
suspension. In less than five minutes
the iron doors were shut, and police
men arrived TO stand guard on the
steps. The first story told large depos-
itors, who arrived breathless and in
diguant, was that the suspension was
ORDERED BY sENEY
in order to prevent run for which
the hank might not be prepared. 1t
WAS said by Mr.. Seney that if matters
quieted down after noon, the bank
might open In time for some
business to be done to-day
This promise was accepted by
the group of depositors as of small
comfort, and after Il o'clock crowd
of nearly 100 people gathered in from
of the bank, and bewailed the prospec
tive loss of deposits. Two women wht
had drafts upon the bank We're in tear!
upon the bottom of the steps. Among
the depositors who appeared to know
anything about suspension, 1t was sale
the Immediate cause was demant
for
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION
by The clearing house. to make goot
its account of railroad speculations b,
President Seney. 1t ii generally sup
posed the real cause Of the suspension
Is that MIR. Seney is president of tn
East Tennessee d Virginia railway
the stock of which Is selling to-day d
5 for common and for preferred
Large blocks of this stock We're bough
less than q year ago. supposed for nc
count of Seney, at Ito II for common
and "a for preferred. The stock la
been falling ever since, notwithstand
ing constant support from what
known as the Seney syndicate. Obi
Central Is supposed to be another {
Seney'a favorite stocks, In which larG
sums were lost In sustaining the stool
The first rumors Of Seneys dilllcultit
came soon after the announcemer
Of the failure Of Nelson RobiI
son, as Robinson Is son-ii
law of Seney, and one of Seney's son
is a member Of the firm Of Nelson
Robinson lS Co. IT Is supposed Sene
would not have allowed the firm to 9
under, had he not been
BADLY CRIPPLED HIMSELF.
At the Office of Nelson, Robinson ,
Co, Nelson Robinson said the failur
WAS occasioned by call
for money from all quarters whic
could not be Immediately met, by tn
general shrinkage OF securities, lii
disturbed condition of the times an,
the circulation of disquietlng rumors
He was unable to furnish u statemen
Of liabilities and assets. Most Of thei
loans are well protected, and holder
did not lose their heads and want Il
get their money In a day.
Scion Humphreys, . director OF thu
Metropolitan, states that had th
president laid before the clearing-hot1s
full statement Of affhirs there wouft
have been no need of suspension, d
the associated banks undoubtedl,
wonld have come TO It's assistance Ant
helped tide over the crisis.
Hotchklss y Burnham said wv