The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-22
CUT OF THE CONFUSION A COMMIT
TEE is NAMED TO GET IN
FORMATION
ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONS SHAPE.
Names of the Trustees of the RanIr
With the Suretfcs and
Date, Etc.

sion might break up In a row. J. M
H&Wthorne, who acted as sponsor for
the meeting, was chairman of the pre-
EIn1nar1es, however, and proved him.
sell equal to the occasion. Matters
were finally Strengthened out and a.
committee Of seven arranged for to
make an examination Of the affairs az
the bank and to submit report at an
adjourned meeting Of the depositors, to
be held as soon as the examining COM
m1ttee concluded their work
There was such a crowd gathered
az Mr. HaWthorne's office that the offer
OF otto Sflbermann to adjourn to his
store at 13 East Third street was ac.
cepted The audience of 25O Including
number Of women, nearly filled tha
SlIbermann store, and Mr.. Haw-
thorne, mounting a table. announced
that the first business would be tha
selection Of temporary chairman and
secretary. Nearly every man present
hau name to suggest, and each ono
hoWled as loud as he could the name
OF MS choice. Among those mentioned
were George G. Lambert, j. NJ. Pott-
gleser, Charles Chapel, T. F. Conroy.
w. II. Mcdonald and j. M. Hawthorne
The affair grew interesting. and con.
siderable feeling was shown. Men
shouted to each other, and, for a few
minutes, the room looked like q foot
oaH game at an interesting stage. Mr.
7aWthorne, by an effort, succeeded
III canning the audience long enough
70 declare himself elected as temporary
chairman and Otto Silbermann as tenn
porary secretary. The question was
then raised as to how those present
were to be recognized as depositors
L. +. ConrOy said he was a large de-
pos'tor and he did not intend to be
driven about like lot of sheen.
w. II. Mcdonald insisted that Mr.
FiaWthorne had no right to declare
hiInsel1 chairman of the meeting when
other names had been suggested.
Mr. Hawthorne declared that he had
called the meeting in the interests
or number Of depositors and he did
not propose that the meeting ein:ll,I
be broken I'D by those who had not tha
the pest interests of the dapositors al
heart. This had the effect o. quietinr
me auo1ence- somewhat ana Mr.. IIaw-
thorns'- SAID he would on1w act until
permanent chairman could be select
ed' The crowd then took about half an
hour TO get their names enrolled. oaly
those having deposits or representing
depositors being given the privilege of
taxing part in the meeting
George Lambert was then unani-
mously chosen chairman. Mr.. Lambert
sald on taking the table that the first
thlng 10 do was to get as much light
as possible regarding the affairs and
condition Of the bank. From what he
mad observed it appeared that there
were three factions present: those
n FOL 10 n Iia91
who wanted to take radical action
on the other side than the interests of
the depositOrs and a majority who
seemed GeSirOus of thinking before taxi
ing any action, and then going at the
matter in legal way Otto Silbermann
was selected as secretary, M. J. Cos
tello and ]. NJ. Hawthorne, who were
nominated for the position, having de-
clined to serve.
Mr.. Hawthorne made a statement to
the meeting, saying that he had been
called on the Saturday before the clos
ing Of the bank by two persons who
had open accounts, not savings deposits,
in the bank. These gentlemen wanted
him to go with them to the bank and,
If possible, get their money. He went
saw William F. Bickel and said that
the depositors he represented wanted
their money. Mr.. Bickel said the bank
was collecting and paying to business
in. He told Mr. Bickel if it was a case
Of first come first served application
would be made to the court for an as
signee. Mr.. Bickel said there was no
need of any such action, and promised
to pay the clients of Mr.. Hawthorne
the first thing Monday morning On
Monday morning the bank made an as
signment to William Bickel, one Of the
trustees Of the bank and father to the
president Of the institution Mr. Haw-
thorne said he represented a number Of
the depOsitOrs and had nothing person.
al against either the assignee or his
son. He intended to cast no reflection
on either, as they were probably suffer-
ing as much as the depOsitOrs. He was
interrupted by cries Of
mo they ain'tr'
Don't you believe it!''
Mr.. Hawthorne read from the laws
of the state the act under which the
bank was established. The act pro-
vided that the president, trustees or
servants of the bank could not borrow
funds or deposits; that bonds of $1,000
should be given by each trustee to the
state auditor and reports made on Dec.
l each year. showing the condition Of
the bank and the amount on deposit.
The district court could, ON the APP
plication of the trustees or depositors,
appoint an assignee.
Mr.. hawthorne said it was no dis
grace for a man in these times to have
judgments docketed against him, but
he was surprised to find in the court
records that there were judgments
against William Bickel, the assignee,
amounting to $6,9 and against Will
liam F. Bickel to the amount of $13,-
0O0. Under these circums tanceS, he
thought, 1T was for the best interests
Of the depositors that there should
not be so much of a family affair IN
winding up the institution. Mr. Bickel,
he had been informed, was under some
obligation to the bank, and would, OF
course, pay up. If he wanted to sue
in his position as assignee it would
be awkward to bring suit against him
self, and he probably would not like
to bring suit against his son. Mr..
Hawthorne suggested that under oil
the circumstances it would have been
much better If the officers of the bank
had called a meeting Of the depositors
instead of allowing the depositors to
take the first step in the matter. Mr..
.Clapp had stated that 1t was his de-
sire to allow any committee, appointed
by the depOSitors, to examine the books
and if any attempt was made to pre-
vent this he would resign as attorney
,.fer the assignee.
So Anthony Yoerg wanted the names or
the trustees and their bondsmen read.
, MI. Costello said, representing
large number of depoSitors, he was op-