Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-03-05

The KRKTOL COMPANY. -Rolla w
Browne. the secretary of the Kreto
Chemical Company, for which receiv
or bss been asked. has for some time
been prominent in financial circles
1t is said that during the past foul
years, since be went to Washington
from OHIO, he has organized numerou:
corporations, nearly all thu stock OF
which be he has fOstsd. The list 10.
cIudes iu addition TO the Kretol Com
psny, bank, q shoe company, laun'
dry oompsny, truss company aod one
or two Ctler concerns. Oaly one OF
these, the Kretol Company, is involved
10 the preset litigation, however, Mr..
Browne weUt t. Washington about
four years ago from TifiO, Ohio, and
began by orgsnizing the Kretol Cheml
cal Company 10 Alexandria, originally
on capital of 1000, for the purpose
OF manufacturing disiofectants and q
number u 81 ticles, which were called
''speoi6cs," made from the kretol. Mr..
Browne devoted his efforts to selling
stock, aud continued to increase the
capital OF the company from time to
time, until the amount named 10 his
advertisement was 81 100000. The
bulk OF the stock is held 10 Washing
ton, most of 1t by women. The invest
ments range from few hundred dol
lars to as high ss $65, 900. 10 the mean
time, Mr.. Browne organized a mum Ter
OF other companies. Among them is
the Rorick Air Cushion Truss Company
with a capital stock OF $500 600. He
then organized the Alexandra Shoe
Company and the Alexandria Laundry
Company. About one year ago be or
eapized the Federal Banking and Trust
Company, located at 1922 j. street
northwest, Washington. The assistant
cashier is Mr.. George B. Kennedy, OF
this city. The bank, however, is said
TO have done bit little business. Dur
ing the pat four years it is claimed
that Mr.. Browne has sold kretol IT ,ck
10 approximately 1000 people. Olly
about SO, 900 of the product Of the com
pany, it 10 estimated, has been sold to
consumers, yet the company has paid
out over $4,000 In dividends. Mr..
Browne, could net be located yester.
day. 1t was stated at lste hour
last night that he was not In Washing
ton. The date Of his prospective re-
turn, 1t was said, was unknown.
Attorneys Rslston aud SlddoDs, act.
log for Maj George 4. Arms and 9th
ers, stockholders 10 the Krtt0l Chemi'
cal Company, filed q petition 10 the
District Supreme Court 10 Washington
Yesterday for an Injunction restraining
the company from in any way dis.
posing of the property belonging to the
corporation or from tampering with
the books. The petitioners also ask
the appointment OF q receiver for the
compaDy's offices 10 Washington, to &C
10 CONJUNCTION with the receiver prayed
for 10 the petition filed 10 the Corpora.
ton Court of this city. The restraining
order was issued, together with rule |
requiring the company to show cause
within ten days why receiver should |
not be appointed. Yesterday the office |
and visible property, such as fixtures,
iuroiture, &C., of the Kretol Company,
at 1922 F stree +. we're attached By the |
Baltimore Lithographiug Company, |
creditors 10 the sum of 81 ,030. 10 over
hauling the property in the office 1t |
was discovered that Mr.. r. w. Browne,
tbe....secretsry OF the company, bad on |
file thousands OF sheets containing data |
az to persons In Ohio and Pennsy lvania |
who loan money or buy stocks. These
sheets contain information as to the
persons age, sex, whether IN srried or
single, disposition, habits, SO. The
stock holders OF the company are filed
With apprehension. One of them, Mrs.
l.. A. Craudsll, is said to have $50 600
invested. A meeting Of the stockhold-
ers of the company has been called for
this evening, at which it lie expected
plan for reorganziDg the concern will
be adopted.