The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-14
CHICAGO Turf
CONCERNS RAIDED
Windy City Police Round Up
Heads of Investment
Companies.

CHICAGO, Feb 13.-Three turf in
vestment companies offices were raid
ed here this afternoon by detectives
and a number of attaches arrested.
The head of a fourth concern, warn
ed of the proposed movement, made
his escape before the detectives ar
rived.
The different firms visited by the POI
lice were the H. Brolaski company, 356
Dearborn street; Benedict company,
room T03, No. 225 Dearborn street; The
MIDI Continental Investment company,
1S5 Dearborn street, and A. J. Demo-
rest & Co., on the eighth floor in the
Temple Court building, Dearborn and
Quincy streets.
When the detectives reached the
Demorest place the president of the
company, A. J. Demorest, could not
be found and there were a number Of
patrons in front of the locked doors
clamoring for payment
The raids followed a general police
order to close all fraudulent turf ex-
changes in Chicago. Three squads Of
detectives started out simultaneously
to round up the alleged offenders.
The first place visited was the Of
fees Of Brolaski & Co. Brolaski and
five persons were taken in charge.
Brolaski declared that he had been do
ing nothing wrong and that he was
carrying on a business for the benefit
of his investors. In the office at the
time were two women, however, who
said they had made investments, but
had been unable to get their money
back when they called for it. George
II. Vincent, of Davenport, Iowa, also
appeared at Brolaski's Office while the
raid was In progress and declared that
he had lost $1100. He said that he
had invested his money on the prom
Use of big gains, but that he had not
received a cent in dividends.
During the raid at Benedict & Co.'s
office a number of men called to ask
that the money they had intrusted
with the company be returned to them.
One man said that he had $1,000 with
the company, but was unable to get
it out. A collector for the collection
department of the American Express
company and one of the other same de-
partment of the Continental National
bank also called. Each had claims
aggregating several thousands of dol
lars, most Of which had been made
by out of town patrons
The letter heads of the company
gave the name of John w. Benedict
as secretary and treasurer and w. Cur
tbs as manager. All persons at work
in the office said that they had never
seen Benedict, but that he was prob
ably at the main office at South BEND
Ind.
At the Mid Continental Investment
company the stenographer, a woman,
was taken in custody, but the mana
ger could not be found. The desks
in the lace were broken open and
certificates OF stock proprietorship and
lists or investors were taken in charge.
Just how much money Demorest took
away with him when he left his office
today is not known, but the place was
beseiged by dozens of patrons all af-
ternoon who claimed that they were
heavy investors.
The heads of the Benedict and Bro.
lasEki concerns were booked at the po-
lice station on state charges of con-
Quoting bOok-making business, and on
city charges of running gambling en-
terprfses. Harry Brolaski and Henry
Thompson, Of the Brolaski company,
and M. ]. Brent, w. J. Mason and Mat
ty Woodsin, the latter woman, were
released on bonds of $500 in each case,
of which $500 was for the state charge
! and 5000 for the city charge.
There are numerous other turf in
vestment" establishments in Chicago
and further raids by the police prob
ably will be made tomorrow.
The circulars seized in the offices
| raided today reveal, it is said, several
| ingenious new schemes. Letters from
| men, women and boys in nearly ev-
| cry town throughout the Middle West
! were found, with hundreds of commun-
Although no definite estimate of the
amount lost to investors can be made
| at present, it is said the total will
run into hundreds of thousands.
Deputy Sheriffs After Arnold.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. 13.-The grand
| jury today resumed it's investigation
| into the methods of the turf invest
| ment companies.
| E. j. Arnold, head of the company
| which bears his name, left Hot Springs,
Ark, last night. He cannot be found.
! Deputy sheriffS are out looking for
him to serve a grand jury summCtas
crowds of anxious people still be-
| siege the offices of the various invest
vestment companies, though none is
paying out money today.
| A police guard was placed at Arnold
& Cos offices today to prevent the re-
| moval Of any of the books or papers
that might be of value in the lives
| dgatiOn. subpoena was issued for
E. ]. Arnold, with papers and books
bearing his methods of doing business,
| but he cannot be found.
John J. Ryan and the books of his
concern will also be brought before
the grand jury today.
Speaking of the present state of
| affairs, Circuit Court Attorney Folk
said:
'aThe laws of Missouri and the fed
| eraI laws are deficient in this line of
| cases. The federal authorities attempt
| ed to reach these people some time
| ago, but could not. l ordered this in
vestigation two weeks ago. L was not
| expecting the collapse so soon.
| Just what charges we will make
will depend upon this investigation.
| One thing is certain, the get-ricb-
| quick concerns must be driven from
| Missouri"
An employee who for obvious rea-
sons refused to make her name pub