Show SPREADING FALSE RUMORS ON A BANK new york feb 4 for the last week reports have reached one or two large banks to the effect that some one was calling up expository expositors exposi tors on the telephone and telling them that the bank in which they had deposits was about to close the attacks seemed to be directed mainly toward one of tho large banks although several others were also mentioned the american bankers association has now taken tip the matter and private detectives tec tives as well as a portion of the city detective force have been put to work on the case tho the banks in question are entirely solvent and the telephone mess messages ageg havo have been sent with the evident intention of starting runs it is the general opinion in banking circles that the rumors are being spread for the purpose of affecting the stock marl market ot it is of course next to impossible to trace the sender sander of the messages but if he or t they can be found criminal prosecutions will follow spreading false reports regarding a financial institutions is a felony under the new york law and Is punishable by a aln fine e not to exceed and imprisonment for a period not to exceed three years |