Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1909-12-18
SO SAY WE.

After lying dormant for nearly a year, the newspapers in the
northern part OF the state have started e realize that there is
something out 81 the ordinary in the affairs Of The Ne ana Ormsby
County bank. A few days ago the Carson News published a brief
comment on the situation and yesterdays mail brought the Reno
ReyeIhe, which has the following to say regarding the situation:
The affairs OF the Nye and Orm2by County bank took another
hipaop during the week when Judge Lansan appointed Thomas
Lockhart manager Of the Florence at Golddeld and vice president
o te florehceGoIaneid Mlhmg eon4any' receiver OF the msutu-
ton, vice George s Hail, resigned, Lockhart, or his mining COM
pany, had $4,000 in the bank when it closed its doors, and his
anxiety 70 save as much 4 TINS as possible viii cause him TO ad-
minister the affairs OF the institution With as much economy as is
practicable. AS an earnest Of his intentions in this regard, it is
stated thar ne has onefed 20 serve as receiver without compensa-
ton. His attorney viii be Lawyer Van Dyke Of Goldheld.
The Lockhart appointment looks Ike a good one. He is re-
sponsible ana respected and has some standing in the state a well
as in Goldhed.
a troubled one. Under the banking act Of 1907 Judge Averil of
Tonopah appointed Gilbert c. Ross and ]. J, Murn, two highly re-
spected and capable residents OF his home town, receivers. The
appointment was perfectly legal and valid in every respect and
would have held, but a bill was Struggled through the legislature
in the closing days Of the session last March-smuggled through,
under a suspension Of the rules, in one day-that changed the
then existing law SO that Judge Langan of Virginia City became
the uncionary to make the appointment. Senator Boyd was the
author Of the bill and engineered the work of getting it through.
That its purpose was solely to vacate the appointments made by
Judge Averfl is manifested, by the fact that at the very time it was
introduced and passed there was pending in the legislature the
present banking law-the law which everybody expected to pass,
and which did pass two days after the Boyd bill.
It was thought by many that Judge Langan would take no
advantage Of the temporary makeshit, called by courtesy a law,
but would. out of judicial courtesy, If for no other reason, confirm
the appointments made by Judge Ayerfn. Judge Langan was well
aware that the appointments were good ones-he had known Mr.
Ross from the latters infancy-but in despite of that, and despite
the bitter criticism that had been leveled at him for the appoint
NINTN ~ - -" fH0NR ~ ~ E0AhtAEnl VI At DAdNE Jain AA
Trust company ian appointment which had been, and still is sin
gulary barren of results-to the depostors) he chose for the po-
sition of receiver George S. Hail. a man who at the time the Nye
and ormsby County bank closed it's doors was one of the employees
of that institution.
Whatever debt of gratitude was due to Boyd for his legBla-
tive performance was Immediately paid. lie was appointed attor-
ny for the receiver. After a few months Frank Golden, who had
been president of the bank and who was sincerely DESTROYS of say
ing what could be saved of what was left for the depositors, be
came alarmed at the attitude of Boyd with regard to fees. and be-
gan al agitation for a new receiver, which of course would imply
new attorneys. Hall and his lawyers were very anxious to let go
but it is noticeable that when it was time for them to toe the
scratch it required contempt of Court proceedings to get Mr.. Hall
might fall on the official neck. However, the jingle of the guinea
helps the hurt that honor feels" and Hall got away with an allow
ance of $500 a month for his services and Boyd and his partner
succeeded in grabbing FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND
FIFTY DOLLARS as their share of the loot. That was the sum
which Judge Langan allowed. There was the usual farcical num-
merry of lawyers appearing in court to testify as to how much a
lawyer ought to get-and when a lawyer can be found to tell the
truth about such a matter on the stand, white blackbirds will be
abundant.
It's all very funny-all very laughabe. Even the unfortunate
deposftors must feel the ghost of a smile fitting shadowlke over
their hungersTicken faces.
1t now appears that the many editorials of the Bonanza on the
bank business have commenced to bear fruit. We do not know If
the many state papers were afraid to express an opinion on the
Nye and ormsby, but appearances indicate that there was "a nigg
in the woodpie."