The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-19
MR.. HARRISON'S BIG BLUFF.
His clearinghouse Suspends Opera
tons and Asks for a Receiver.
Nobody Found to Accept the Trust--Details Of
the Banks Affairs Proposed ReOrgani-
cation of Fletcher & Shapes.

Harrison on Thursday, that his bank would not
suspend. and that depositors would be paid yes
terday. proved to be, in gamblers parlanee, "a
areat big bluH as was suspected at the time
If he had confidence in his ability to make pay
ments yesterday, in the expectation of re-
ceiving financial aid from the East he
must have been grievously disappointed, and if
he knew, which is more probable, that
he could not fulfill his promises, his conduct was
not in strict accordance with some peoples idea
of honesty and veraeity. The present opinion
prevails that he succeeded in standing off for a
single day that disaster thar he must have
known was inevitable.
At the beginning of business hours, yesterday
morning, there was crowd of depositors around
Harrisons' bank, anxiously awaiting the opening
of the doors If, on that eventful day, they
await as vainly the opening Of the golden gates,
theirs will be an unhappy fate, indeed The
bank was not opened at all during the DAY, and
no intination of the intentions of the
partners was given to the creditors in
the form of notice on the door, as is usually
the case. Those who had relied upon Mr. Har
risons promises were particularly indignantthat
he should have deceived them, and threats of
vengeance were numerous and vehement. That
gentleman was fortunate, perhaps, in having
business that called him to another part of the
city at that time, for he certainly could not be
found down town. Very soon it became known
that an application for receiver for the bank
had been made and granted by the court
THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Before Judge Walker, sitting in special SEES
sion, Messrs Harrison Miller & Elan and Clay
pool & Keteham attorneys for the Harrisons,
appeared at 8 o'clock in the morning and filed
the following complaint:
Alfred Harrison VS.. John G. S. Harrison.
The plaintiff complains of the defendant and says
that the parties are partners doing business as
bankers at Indianapolis, under the firm of
A. & ], g. s. Harrison, and have been, such part
nership, doing such business for twenty years last
past The plaintiff further AYERS that run has been
going by their depestors against their said bank
for several days last past wherebyher eashresouFces
have been much reduced that they unable
longer to continue said banking business, and said
firm IS therefore insolvent That IN order to prevent
pense in litigation and in order to said estate for
the creditors, it important that receiver of the
said firm be appointed for said firm to take possession
and control of the assets of the firm and administer
the under the order of the court. That a dis
solution of said partnership be had and an accounting
between the parties wherefore plaintiff prays the
court that receiver be appointed To take possession
and control and management of the assets of said
firm and wind up its affairs that said firm be Dissolved
accounting be had between the parties and for all
other proper relief.
M,
CL.AYPOoIl s. KETeHAM,
Attorneys for Plaintiff.
To this an answer was filed by the defendant
admitting the facts set forth In the complaint
Mr.. John Claypool, son of the senior member
of the law firm of Claypool & Ketcham was
suggested for the position, but declined it, and
by mutual consent Mr. John s. Spann was ap-
pointed, his bond being fixed at $780, 600, and the
court took recess for him to secure the neces-
sary securieties Mr.. Spann, however, did not
want the position, for personal reasons, as it is
stated, and when this became known, late in the 4
afternoon, when it was too late to select another
gentleman, the following order was issued by the
court:
Alfred Harrison VS.. John G. S. Harrison.
Comes now the plaintiff and files his complaint,
asking the appointment of receiver, which com
plant is in these words Here follows the complaint
given aboye and said defendant files his answer, adj
Knitting the allegations of said complaint. And
Hon. Lewis Walker one Of the judges of the Superior
Courts of Marion county being satisfied that such re-
eeiver ought to be appointed, does, with view TO
such appointment te the custody and control of all
the property and assets Of said partnership firm of A.
q ]. G. s. Harrison plaintiff and defendant and does
now preceding the selection and qualification of such
receiver order and direct that the sheriff Of Marion
county do take possession and control Of said prop
erty including the banking house Of said irtn with
safes vaults and al books papers money and assets
safely to keep the until the further order Of said
judge LEWIS @. WALKER
Judge Superior Court.
The bank and all the property was there
fore turned over to the charge Of Sheriff Hess,
who at once took possession In all probability
some selfsacrifcing gentleman viii be found
this morning who is willing to be the receiver
and is able ito give the required bond
THE CONDITION OF THE BANK
1t is next to impossible to obtain any accurate
information regarding the real condition Of the
bank. Both Of the partners declined to make
any statements for publication yesterday. In
fact, they even refused to see the reporters who
called at their houses An enterprising News
reporter did get to see Mr.. Alfred Harrison yes
terdaY morning, and his account Of the interview
IS as follows
He was in erusty hufdor, and when the re
porter requested statement concerning the
banks condition and an approximate of its as
sets and liabilities, he turned white with rage
and burst forth vehenlently, Young man, had
rather have you to come here to burglarize my
house than to catechise me about my business
1t is an insult for you to enter my door on that
kind Of mission. Put that in your paper if
you want to- The young man mildly suggefted
that the denositors considered it their business
hs well as his, and were anxious to hear some
thing authentic touching the suspension where
upon he again exploded with still greater fury
saying; won't tell YOU anything. You can't
catechise me about my business. II is insulting
for you to come here now. Put that in your
paper; every word Of it, say The old gen
heinan could scarcely retain himself IN his arm
chair, on account Of his indignation, and the re-
porter unable to make himself heard, peremp-
torilY retired"
Mr.. John G. S. Harrison could not be found
BY the reporters and at his house they were told
Mat he would see nobody. Mr. Watson, the
cashier Of the bank, said that he thought its de-
posits would not amount to more than 100000
and that there had been continued heavy
drain upon 1t since Tuesday AS was published
yesterday the tax statement made in April
III dnl,n lcaeh har,d md u