The San Francisco call., 1897-01-22
AN INVENTOR MISSING.
An Interest Taken in the Where
abouts of Fre6recks c.
de Prengal.
He Sold Gas Range Stock, and the
Investors Wish They Had
Their Money Back.

There are quite mum Der of people In
this City who would like to know the
whereabouts of Fredrecks G. de Prengai,
inventor, corporation president. promoter
and restaurant-keeper. This very ousy
person made his appearance in this City a
little before Christmas and rented
restaurant on Powell street, near OFar-
rell. For this he paid Mr.. Davis, the
money in advance, and that was all.
This bad beginning caused Davis to
close the place.
But De Prengal had not been idle during 6
the time he was in the restaurant, for he
told many persons that he was the in
yentor of patent gas range that possessed
the rights to the patent for Germany, and
that he received a goodly sum OF money
regularly from that country.
The plans; models, ETC., of his range
showed unmistakable merits, and COM
mended them selves to those who exam
lned the same. Among these were L.
Peterson, plumber on Powell street, and
J. ID. Dissmeyer, who owns machine
shop on Twenty sixth and Noe streets.
These men were particularly interested in
the gas range, especially when De Prengal
told them that they had a chance to get
rich out of it, as he had not fully disposed
OF the United States rights to the patent.
He told them further that a man named
Fisher In New York City had the rights
for several Eastern States, and that a
company, OF which he (De PrengaO was
the president, had been incorporated in
the State OF Virginia. In proof of this the
inventor showed a paper purporting to
give him full power of attorney to transact
business for the Virginia corporation.
This power of attorney was signed
by De PrengaI as president. This
Recorders office. All of this talk made an
impression upon his friends. and in
short time he had several anxious to buy
shares of the gas-Tange stock. One was
milkman, who furnished milk for paper
purporting to be stock. Another built a
range complete and was provided with an
interest in stock. Peterson, the plum Der,
also took up stock, and even Dissmeyer,
the machinist, knew good thing when he
saw it.
The machinist now wishes that he had
not known so much. He and Prengal en-
tered into written agreement by which
in exchange for half interest in the Pa
ciic Coast rights he was to pay $1,000.
Even his little shop and tools went into
the agreement. Dissmeyer was to be made
agent for the Pacific Coast, and eventually
become the general manager.
Ihls looked so nice on paper that the
machin1st gave De Prengal $412. The
promoter had other men on the string and
was making hay while the sun was out.
In the course of affairs some of these men
wanted to learn the legal aspect OF the situ-
alton, and in company with De Prengal
they called upon Attorney H. q. Jones in
the Parrott building. The stock certiti.
Gates were produced and showed on the
face. "PrengaPs Economizing Fuel Gas
Range Man ufacturing Company. Incor-
porated in Virginin in February, 1893"
These were signed by De Prengal, as
president, and Peterson, the plum ber, as
secretary. Here was the first STUN bling
block and the attorney informed his
visitors that the stock was not worth the
paper it was printed upon. Such stock
could only be issued at the home Office of
the company. The promoters power of
attorney was of no use under such cir
cumstances. Mr.. Jones refused a gift of
fifty shares from De Prengal. AS may be
expected this started trouble and one
man who was about to put $4,000 into the
affair suddenly changed his mind. A few
days later the investors called at De Prem
gals room, but he had disappeared, leaY-
Ing part of his wardrobe.
A short time ago an unopened letter ad-
dressed to De Prengal was picked up in
Aptos, Santa Cruz County. AS it was in
care of Dlssmeyer, the machlnist, the
letter was forwarded and proved to be a
bill from Bert & Meyerdirks, printers, on
California street, for the stock certificates
of the Virginia company. The printers
said that De Prengal mad the certificates
printed and that he owes bill for $50 90.
Ali of these facts have caused more
general desire on the part of those who
parted with their good money for Califor-
MIA printed corporation stock to meet the
inventor of the gas range.
Attorney Jones sent East and learned
that such patent as described had been
taken out by Frederick C. de Prengal in
1894 and that William Fisher holds the
Ea stern riphts