Officer Sent To Protect Cashier
Bank of Gentry Fails, and Depositors Threaten to Lynch C. A. Catron.
Special to the Daily Arkansas Gazette - November 11, 1911
Bank of Gentry Fails, and Depositors Threaten to Lynch C. A. Catron.
Special to the Daily Arkansas Gazette - November 11, 1911
Special to the Gazette:
Fort Smith, Nov. 10 -- An appeal was sent to Sheriff J. A. Russell of Bentonville, the county seat of Benton county, this evening, asking him to immediately send a force of officers to Gentry, a town of about 700 inhabitants located on the Kansas City Southern railway, about 15 miles southwest of Bentonville, where angry depositors of the Bank of Gentry, which failed Wednesday, threatened to lynch C. A. Catron, cashier of the bank.
It was stated to the sheriff that a mob last night, armed with guns and a rope, was persuaded not to harm the cashier, whom the depositors blame for the failure of the bank. Sheriff Russell dispatched a deputy sheriff to Gentry about 6 o'clock. He carried with him a warrant for the arrest of the cashier. The warrant was issued by Deputy Prosecutor John W. Nance of Rogers, but what charge has been placed against the cashier is not known.
Fort Smith, Nov. 10 -- An appeal was sent to Sheriff J. A. Russell of Bentonville, the county seat of Benton county, this evening, asking him to immediately send a force of officers to Gentry, a town of about 700 inhabitants located on the Kansas City Southern railway, about 15 miles southwest of Bentonville, where angry depositors of the Bank of Gentry, which failed Wednesday, threatened to lynch C. A. Catron, cashier of the bank.
It was stated to the sheriff that a mob last night, armed with guns and a rope, was persuaded not to harm the cashier, whom the depositors blame for the failure of the bank. Sheriff Russell dispatched a deputy sheriff to Gentry about 6 o'clock. He carried with him a warrant for the arrest of the cashier. The warrant was issued by Deputy Prosecutor John W. Nance of Rogers, but what charge has been placed against the cashier is not known.
This image would have been taken right around the time of this article. This is a view of downtown Gentry at this time.
Refused to Surrender Cashier
A dispatch from Bentonville says that the deputy sheriff upon arriving at Gentry was informed by the city authorities that they would refuse to surrender the cashier. The dispatch adds that the town is greatly excited and that it is feared that there will be troble before morning. the whereabouts of the cashier are not know except that he is somewhere in town. It is reported that he is concealed in the bank building. Another report says he is guarded at the home of a friend.
The action of the vinage authorities in refusing to surrebder the cashier to the county authorities is said to have been taken because it is feared the angry depositors will attack Catron should his whereabouts become known.
According to depositors of the bank, the failure was caused by the insurance of $30,000 in loans four years ago. These loans are said to be worthless. Owing to the excitement at Gentry it is hard to secure real facts of the affair, but one report says that the bank directors issued a statement that the loans were not authorized. They say according to a dispatch that they were ignorant of the loans until the bank was closed.
The action of the vinage authorities in refusing to surrebder the cashier to the county authorities is said to have been taken because it is feared the angry depositors will attack Catron should his whereabouts become known.
According to depositors of the bank, the failure was caused by the insurance of $30,000 in loans four years ago. These loans are said to be worthless. Owing to the excitement at Gentry it is hard to secure real facts of the affair, but one report says that the bank directors issued a statement that the loans were not authorized. They say according to a dispatch that they were ignorant of the loans until the bank was closed.
News Just Leaked Out
News of the failure of the bank did not become known out of the city until word was sent to Bentonville today asking for protection for the cashier. The bank had a cash capital of $10,000. Its liabilities are estimated at $160,000 and its assets at $125,000.
A dispatch tonight from Gravette confirms the reports that violence has been threatened to Cashier Catron. The dispatch also adds that it is reported at Gravette that a shortage of $1,100 has been discovered, but no one as yet is blamed for the alleged defalcation. Catron's father is said to be now in Kansas City to secure funds for his son's aid.
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Special to the Gazette.
Fort Smith, Nov. 10 -- Late tonight Cashier Catron was arrested and furnished bond, according to a long-distance telephone message from Bentonville tonight. He was arrested by the county authorities. Bentonville reports that everything is quiet in the town tonight and that no further trouble is feared.
A dispatch tonight from Gravette confirms the reports that violence has been threatened to Cashier Catron. The dispatch also adds that it is reported at Gravette that a shortage of $1,100 has been discovered, but no one as yet is blamed for the alleged defalcation. Catron's father is said to be now in Kansas City to secure funds for his son's aid.
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Special to the Gazette.
Fort Smith, Nov. 10 -- Late tonight Cashier Catron was arrested and furnished bond, according to a long-distance telephone message from Bentonville tonight. He was arrested by the county authorities. Bentonville reports that everything is quiet in the town tonight and that no further trouble is feared.