Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-02-19
RAID ON TURF FIRMS.
Police Visit Several Investment
Companies In Chicago
INVESTORS CLANoRIIG FOR MONEY.
More Raids VIII Probably BE Made To- Day
"A search Being Made In IT, Louis
for the Head Of the Firm OF r.
J. Arnold q Go.

Chicago, Feb. 14.--Three turf in
vestment company Offices were raided
here yesterday afternoon by detect
iyes and number of attaches were
arrested. The head of fourth con-
Germ, warned Of the proposed move
ment, made his escape before the de-
tectives arrived. The firms visited
by the police were the II. Brolash
company, $3.50 Dearborn street; Bene-
dict e. Co., No.. 1926 Dearborn street;
the MIDI Continent Investment com
pany. 1855 Dearborn street, and A. j..
Demorest & Co., on the eighth floor
of the Temple Court building, Dear
born and Quincy streets. When the
detectives reached the Denorest
place the president of the company,
A. J. Demorest, could not be found.
A number of patrons were in front
Of the locked doors, clanoring for
payment.
The raids followed general po-
lice order to close all fraudulent
turf exchanges in Chicago. Three
squads OF detectives started out 81
multaneously to round up the alleged
offenders. The first place visited was
the Offices Of Brolaskl & Co., where
BroIaski and five other persons were
taken in charge. Brolash declared
that ne had been doing nothing
wrong and that he was carrying on
business for the benefit OF his invest
ors. 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. Vim
cent, of Davenport, Ia, also appeared
at Brolaslsi's Office while the raid was
in progress and declared that he had
lost $1,1OO. He said that he had in
vested his money on the promise OF
big gains, but that he had not re-
ceived a cent in dividends. During
the raid at Benedict G. Co.'s offices q
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 invested
with the company, but was unable 70
get it out. A collector for the coilec-
ton department of the American tx
press company and one for the 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. Curtis as manager
All persons at work in the office SAID
thew had never seen Benedict, but
that he was probably at the main
Office at South Bend, Ind.
At the Office of the Mid-Continent
Investment company the stenograph-
er. woman. was taken in custody,
but the manager could not be found.
The desks in the place were broken
open and certificates of stock pro-
prietorship and lists of investors
were taken in charge.
Just how much money Demorest
took away with him when he left his
office yesterday is not known, put
ne place was besleged all the AFTER
noon by dozens of patrons who
claimed they were heavy investors.
The heads of the Benedict and Bro
lash concerns were booked at the po-
lice station on state charges Of con-
Quoting a book-malSing business and
on city charges of running gambling
enterprises. rr.
There are numerous other surf in
vestment" establishments in Chicago,
and further raids by the police prob
ably win be made to-day.
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.
The Arnold Turf Investment Company.
ST. Louis, Feb. 14.-A search is be-
ing nuuc III bt 1uulb AoH Il. " AAhOiei,
the head of the turf investment firm
of e. j. Arnold & Co., who is wanted
by the grand jury as witness. Ar
mold left Hot Springs, Ark, Thurs
day night and 1t is asserted that he
arrived in ST. Louis early yesterday,
but instead of running into the union
station he left the train at Tower
Grove station, where he was met by
his local manager, L. A. Gill, and the
two drove away in a carriage and up
to midnight they had not been found.
Early yesterday evening deputy
sheriffs, under direction Of Circuit
Attorney Folk, secured all the pri-
vate correspondence and kilograms
in the Arnold Offices and they will be
investigated by the grand jury. Aft
er the desks had been examined the
women employees were required to
give their names and addresses and
the character Of their employment.
Several were subpoenaed as wit
nesses-
40. - ~ a.u.-. nu..sae ~.