five trust companies, and four insurance companies. Across the corridor from Heinze were his brothers Otto and Arthur P Heinze who had a brokerage firm. It was Otto who formulated the ill-fated financial ploy in October 1907 that dramatically failed and was a major catalyst to a massive American financial collapse, called "The Panic of 1907". Otto's plan was to aggressively purchase the stock of United Copper so that the price would soar. Then, with prices high, and Otto controlling most of the stock, he would force the short-sellers to repay the borrowed stock. The short-sellers would have no option but to settle with Otto for high prices. But Otto overestimated how much of the company the family controlled. When he forced the borrowers to buy back stock, they were able to get it from other sources. When the market realized his 'corner' had failed, the stock price of United Copper collapsed. From there panic spread, as people pulled money out of banks associated with Heinze, and then from trust companies associated with those banks. Heinze had eventually supported his brother's ploy and due to his heavy involvement in the financial system suffered great financial and personal losses. He was barred from any further involvement in financial institutions. The Panic of 1907 was one of the most significant financial crises in American history. There had been several contributing factors, such as the huge cost of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but it was the actions of the Heinze brothers that had caused much of the panic. The 1907 crash eventually lead to the formation of the US Federal Reserve System in 1913. Charges against Heinze In 1908, Heinze was indicted for his role in the corner, and there were a string of court cases that lasted for years in the New York courts. However, a series of fortunate incidents in the courts led to his full exoneration. When Heinze returned to Butte after his exoneration "His arrival was a monumental event. Reception committees met his train ... A lively band and an automobile procession of his followers paraded into town ... A large rope was attached to the wagon tongue so more men could assist in pulling their hero." One of the more exciting stories is that of the missing financial records for United Copper. In June 1909, Heinze, his brother Arthur P Heinze, and Carlos Warfield (President of