Evening star., 1928-02-21
{. J. BELL RET|RES
AS president
Corcoran Thorn Assumes
Post as Head of American
Security & Trust Co.

Charles j. Bell, one of the founders
and for the past IS years president of
the American Security g. Trust Co, re-
signed this afternoon and was elected
chairman of the board Of directors. Vice
President Ccrcoran Thorn stepped into
the presidency. Mr.. Bell retired at his
own request in order. that he might be
freed from details that devolve upon the
office of president. His successor mas
been with the bank for 10 years as O
vice president.
The last three and a half decades of
Mr.. Bells life hav been years Of amaz-
ing business and civic activity. He was
born in Ireland. his father being Scotch
and his mother OF Irish descent. He
vas educated In Wesleyan College, Dub
lin. where his father. who afterward
came TO Georgetown 70 live, was pro-
fessor OF English literature. When only
l6 years Of age he became interested In
banking.
Came to U. S. in 1875.
Mr.. Bell came TO America in 1878,
and began his banking career through
connections with the Imperial Bank Of
Canada. Through his cousin, the late
DR.. Alexander Graham Bell, the in
ventor. he was actively engaged In the
telephone business in Canada for some
years. In the latter part Of 1881. when
he was still In his twenties, he came to
Washington and launched the invest
ment banking firm OF Bell g. Co, the
venture meeting with such marked sue
cess that Mr.. Bell soon convinced his
associates that there was q fine field
for another bank In Washington. The
American Security &, Trust Co was the
result Of his and other financiers' am
bitions, the institution throwing its
doors open in 1889, with Mr.. Bell as
vice president.
In 1893 Mr.. Bell was advanced TO
the presidency when he was but IS
years old. The office of the company
was then located at l405 q street.
now occupied at Fifteenth and Penn
was exercised In the selection OF this
location is shown by the fact that 80
years later the site Is still one OF the
leading financial corners Of Washing
ton. The kind of financial judgment
and executive ability which the retiring
president possesses are best shown by
the fact that the banks deposits on
December 81. 1927, we're more than
$2S.000.000 and resources were around
s39.000.000.
Holds Many Posts.
Because OF his loyalty to Washing
ton, his enthusiasm and sound business
principles. Mr.. Bell has been sought as
director or trustee In many enterprises
outside the banking field. He is chair
Potomac Electric Power Co, Washing
ton Railway a. Electric Co, Terminal
Refrigerating & Warehousing Co. and
the Washington Market Co.. az we'll
as a member OF the board OF the Sc
curity Storage Co. Columbia Title In
surance Co, Columbia Sand a. Gravel
Co. Chesapeake a. Potomac Telephone
Co, Real Estate Title Insurance Co.
National Geographic Society. American
University and the chapter Of Wash
ingion Cathedral,
Furthermore Mr.. Bell is one OF the
incorpOrat0rs OF the American Red
Cross. trustee OF the George Washing
ton Memorial Association, chairman OF
the finance committee and member OF
the board of the Carnegie Public LII
brary. and treasurer OF the Washing
ton Sanitary Housing Co. And 10 take
up his idle time the veteran banker be-
longs u the Columbia Historical 30
ciety, American Bankers Association,
Board OF Trade. Chamber OF Commerce
and the Telephone Pioneers of Ameri-
ca. incidentally he is a member of the
Metropolitan. Cosmos and City Clubs,
and treasurer Of the Chevy Chase Club.
Along with all these associations Mr..
Bell also has found time to be prOmi-
nent In the Masonic fraternity
He Is deeply Interested In hospitals
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