The Fall of a Puyallup Banker
Sam B. Duelnberre, a pillar of the local banking community, is charged with embezzling $41,000 from his shuttered bank.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Sam B. Duelnberre, secretary of the State Bankers' Association and cashier of the suspended Bank of Puyallup, has been arrested on a warrant sworn out by Director A. Gardella, charging him with embezzling $41,000 of the bank's money. His attorney, B. W. Coiner, states that Mr. Duelnberre borrowed some of the bank's money, as did others connected with it, but that he has covered the amounts with notes in the usual manner. While those causing his arrest were no doubt sincere, Mr. Coiner maintains they were mistaken and that the cashier is not guilty of embezzlement. Some of the bad debts of the bank have been charged up to Mr. Duelnberre, and he is held responsible when the responsibility does not rest with him. Mr. Duelnberre is a prominent and popular business and society man. He was formerly assistant cashier of the Pacific National bank in Tacoma. He was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000 and will be given a hearing next week before Justice Hill, of Puyallup.
“Some of the bad debts of the bank have been charged up to Mr. Duelnberre, it is said, and he is held responsible when the responsibility does not rest with him.”
Bank failures were a terrifyingly common feature of the 1893 economic collapse. Today, while deposit insurance protects the average saver, the drama of a 'prominent' local figure suddenly accused of looting the vault remains a staple of civic scandal.
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