The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-08
THE FRANKLIN BANK A LOSER.
II. Webster Gro wi Cverdraws
TO the Amount o. 100000
Without tho Knowledge OF the Presidents
or Directors OF the I,ml,k--The Cashier
Discharscd--Cro,vl in h.onno,1c 1, Few
Days AG" Ossousibly to- nsa;.o in tho
Zeal Estate Business.

stockholders OF the Franklin Iiank met
Monday, and when they had adjourned
reporters were informed that the busi~
ness of the session was 10 change the
Franklin from State TO a NATIONAL.
bank.
Publication is now made that whilo
such change was ono purpose OF the
meeting, the principal subject to con-
slider was the ovcrd travail of his acc punt
by III. Webster Crowl to the amount of
100000. President Baker. in ma.ling
his report to the stockholders, said that
the bank had met with rovorses on
account of tho incapacity or untrust- ,
worthincss OF its cashier to tho cxtcnt
OF Sli0, 900.
III. Webster Crowl had been allowed
to over draw his account without his tho
(president's) knowledge and entirely
unknown to tho board OF direc. tors. Tho
banks surplus of somc $4,000 was rono
AMI the so, pa charged in tho bank re-
port or January 3, 1891, TO profit and
loss account is all loss, tho clpital
stock, which was S13O,0 O0 being, impaired
10 VIC cNtruV OF one third.
Crowl is in Roanoke. Va. Clshior
Gardner, who permitted Crowl TO over
dra,! his account, has been retired, but
Boolkccpcr 'r,chudil, brother-ia.law OF
Gardner is still rcsain ii in tho ssryico
of the bank.
President Baker will not talk, and
cX-CAshier Gardner is tonrueticd. Gard
ncr was one 81 tho most pnpulArclsh-
icrs in town. PtcsidcuJ Bll1er wls on
his bond for S!0,Oll, which he hAsplid
Mr.. Crowl camc to Roanoke several
weeks ago oStcnsibly 10 operate in real
estate, and was taking on several lines
of property, largely suburban, with /.
view OF dong an extensive business.
lie stated tn those with whom he
talked about his business that his chief
purpose in locating in Roanoke WAS to
| induces Baltimore capital to invest in
Roanoke, realizing that Baisin lpa had
never been fully represented here
reporter was put upon the clso im-
| ne lately upon rec Nipt OF tho news and
succerdcd in learning the tollow;n:.
about MIR. Crowl.
For some years he had been engaged
in tho wholesale grocery business in
Baltimore, aud had dabbled more or less
in roa estate.
The latter part OF September he failed
with liabilities OF 500, O03 and 1.>sets OF
about -, Oon Ono OF tho most completes
s,umps on record.
Tho worst feature OF il all was tho
fac that his closest frienls wore tAAen
in the worst. Mr.. Crowl had oven
allowed his wife To 80 To his friends and
principal creditors, All, VITA .,ars in
ner eyes, inducc them to extend his
paper aud otherwise assist him.
Mr.. CrOW( had nldn - verll INCEST
mcnts IN RoanoSo and Southwest Vir-
! ginia, ali OF which had proved profit
ahlc. Whcn his failure cana he
promptly turned these properties over
L, his creditors, who therlby were en-
abled u recover something on their
heavy losses
IL seems evident, however, that his
| come ctiun with the FRANKLIN Bank AMI
the ovcrdrawal OF his account an.edatss
his failure in September.
lie cimc 70 Roanoke on tho 2G,h of
November and registered as Hot Eoa-
nokc, where he WAS shorsly Joined by
Mrs. Crowl. lie remained Ut tho hos5i
until about u week ago rs Il regular bar
der, when he and Mrs. Cruwl lett and arc
! supposed to he in Baltimore. They loft.
hcir baggage behind them and ars
chcduled To return Saturday. Whether
| hey will return or not is now problsm-
tic.
lie was associated in business here with
William IL. Wishart. also OF BAltnicr.,
under the namo OF tho III. Webster
| Crowl Real Estate Company. Their
oiiic, was in The roar of Skaters iaweiry
store on Sa .cm avenue near Jefferson
! street.
| MIR. Wishart lives with his vito at
| the WOitz House, hut when rnE Tones
, reporter called A. . O'Clock this morning
| brief consab with Mrs. Wishart
! through the window merely revealed
! the fact that MIR. Wisharc had gone IL
baltimore last week, presumably ut the
! time Mr.. Crowl left.
! There il nothing to show that any
Roanoke bank or firm has been caurnt
| III MIR. Crowfs net, nSr is there. muca
! Likelihood. rs Dun's commercial areucy
had him ON its lists" Ills op.rAtions
in itoLnoko have been, - stated, ost m
slbly listing real estate preparatory -
! cniistlng baltimore capital IN this st C.
| ton.
lie was popular with those who ,aet
! him, and hId many friends in RILIA,ko
who rec ,gnlzcd his real ability (ufwAiul
thcrc IL NJ donbt and wished him b.t-
ter luck.
Cue limo OF his cnterprisc, which
Jailed To materiaiizc into results. VAS
IKE disc ,unt,ng OF .pec. Heappaoacae,l
several well-known real estate opera
,ors and bu'iness men AMI solicited
:rom them lines Of paper, alleging hiA
ability to mako direct disc ou ASs and POS
discounts in Baltimore To tnA'uXs.ns OF
SlOO, 900 or more.
H.. never disc ,mntcd any that can w
discovered, and tue par.iea o)us ,rnSt,s
dlsliiking u have thor pLDor htWitosf