Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-23
SOME SAD SCENES.
Aged Women Weeping on the DOOrsteDs of
the Bank-Dr. Clark Denies he Drew
Out $780, 900 at One Time.

Gloom reigned supreme in Lswrenceville
Yesterday. The day was dark and an in
cessant dovnpour of rain intensified the
universal dullness of the neighborhood.
Every one met on the streets had troubled
look. In the vicinity of the Lawrence
Bank large numbers of people congregated
talking over their affairs, and their personal
interest in the institution. Many pathetic
incidents occurred before the bank build
ing, women who had scraped together few
hundred dollars beseiged the doors to learn
the latest about the failure. The doors were
like adamantine, however, and the only
CLEAN of comfort they could get was a notice
nailed on the boards which read as follows:
Owing to the continued withdrawal of de-
positors we are compelled to suspend payment,
feeling assured that with time and patien ce all
Will be reimbursed.
BY order of the President.
This notice, however, did not relieve the
general fears of the people. Every one
seemed to think that their money was lost.
The people, owing TO the suddenness of the
collapse, considerably msgnifed their loss,
and naturally took an exaggerated view of
the matter. A canvass was made in the
Fifteenth and Sixteenth wards to ascertain
the extent of deposits. The majority of the
residents of these wards belong to the work
ing classes, and any little savings they had
were put into the bank,
THEIR SAD STORIES.
It was sorrowful to hear the people tell
how they had saved their money and then
lost it. Among the depositors were Velte
& Mcdonald, boiler makers, who had
81, 800 in the bank. Mr.. Velte said:
1T is my opinion that the bank will not
meet its liabilities. I believe, however,
that they will pay good percentage on the
dollar. As far as can learn the assets OF
the bank are good, yet they>cannot realize
on them at once. The disappearance of Mr..
many of his friends while the crisis is on.
1t is my opinion that his relations with the
bank and depositors is strictly honest.
Mr.. Hoerr was very popular in the
ward, and depositors often used to hand
him their money on the street instead of
going around to the bank. Taking his pop
ularity and the confidence reposed in the
cashier by the people, it is very natural that
he should flee from such distressing scenes"
Dame Rumor was talking freely about
DR.. Clark forcing the bank to pay him S55,-
900 ten days ago. Indeed, many people say
that he is mainly the cause of the banks
suspension.
PRESIDENT YOUNG PLEADED.
1t is said that when the doctor made sp-
plication at the bank for payment President
Young pleaded for ten days notice. The
doctor, however, wanted his money, and he
placed two checks with prominent banker,
one for $25 900 and another for $50, 900. The
bank was then forced to honor the checks,
which embarrassed it very much. The
doctor was seen subsequently relative to the
rumor, when he said:
81 was heavy depositor at the bank for
the past year and a half Between that
period and the closing of the doors I have
been checking out, but notin large amounts.
The report that 1 checked out $50, 900 is un-
true. For the past six months have been
buying traction railroad stock, and when
ever 1 bought any, naturally drew the
money from the bank. The largest amount
drew out was prior to the rumor of its
financial embarrassment. After the rumor
was started deposited right along, the last
deposit made was the day previous to its
failure. My account there at present is
81. 500. 1 believe the bank is solvent, and
will meet every demand made upon it. 1t
has been doing a tremendous business, and
without some very bad management could
not have gone under. If 1t turns out to
then it will be a calamity to the neighbor-
hood. Most of the depositors were work
ingmen and if they lose, it will fall
heavily upon them.
HE GAVE THEM NOTICE.
The doctor said that he always gave the
bank notice before making any large de-
mand for money. The rumor about the
checks was false
hos1 RoI ho
tween Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth street, de-
posted in the Lawrence Bank three days ago
$1S 600, to be ready for payday. tThe stop
page of payment will considerably en-
barrass them. 1t is believed that they will
not have enough ready money to pay their
hands to-day.
Yesterday morning poor blind woman,
Mrs Hines who lives in Bloomfield, was
led to the bank by young granddaughter,
a beautiful girl II years of age. When the
old woman was led up the steps and tried to
enter, and found the door tightly closed, she
burst into tears and exclaimed: "My God, 1
am ruined P' The sight was pitiful. The
young girl, also crying, tried to console her
aged grandmother. She clasped her arms
about ner and said: "Don't cry don't
cry." Mrs. Hines related her story. About
a month ago she received 50, 500 from the
United States Pension Bureau. Previous to
this she had been very poor. When she got
it she DIVIDED $500 among her children, tell
ing them that 1000 would see her through
until she died. After giving the $500 away
she put the balance in the bank The news
of its failure almost broke her heart.
HER SAD LAMENT.
Another sad sight was a Mrs. Deipner.
from Bloomfield She is 80 years of age,
and she has been putting money in the bank
for the last 20 years. Her savings amounted
to 81, 800. Between her broken sobs she said:
"All gone all gone poor old woman
left penniless.. I haven't enough money in
the house to buy meal. Ali gone, all
gone"
The woman walked up and down the
avenue for three hours crying over her loss.
No sadder spectacle was seen than Mrs
Deipner. She wore q sunbonnet. and her
hair was dishevelled. After pacing before
the bank till midday she fell down from ex-
haustion and had to be carried home.
Other losers are Alderman Doughty,
5000; Upperman Bros, 1000. Mr.. Upper
man said he bought the Hainsworth Man
sion and drew out nearly all his money to
pay for it. Wainwrights had $40, 900 de- |
posted, and their employees put their
money in the bank. Frauenheim & Vilsack
had 81, 900; Alderman Porter, $4,000; Sam
Bowden, constable Sixteenth Ward, So, 900;
Robert Plender, 500; Major Wallace, $500;