Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-21
REALTY BOARD
AFTER JONES
HAD INVESTIGATED CHARGES
MADE AGAINST HIM
ACCUSED BROKER STILL FAILS
TO MAKE APPEARANCE
Prosecution, Not Anxious That Bonds
men Should Suffer, Consents to
Case Being Postponed
One Week

L. E. Jones, the missing real estate
operator, did not appear in Justice
Summerfleld's court yesterday morning
when the case charging him with en-
bezzlement was called. His attorney,
Jud Rush, was present and asked that
the case go over for a week.
Mr.. Rush said he felt convinced that
Jones would return and settle his af-
fairs, but said he did not know just
when he would be back. Deputy dis
trict attorneys said they did not wish
to do any harm to the bondSmen who
had deposited the $500 for Jones' ap-
pearance in court, and were willing to
let the case go over until next Sat-
urday. This was done.
1t developed yesterday that persons
who complained that they were unable
to get a settlement with Jones found
Ro recourse until complaint was made
to the Los Angeles realty board. Her
bert Burdett, secretary of the board,
made a thorough investigation of the
allegations, Sitting them down to af
fidavits and evidence which the board
felt justified in placing before the dis
trict attorney. In doing so the board
notified Jones last December that COM
plants had been made and asked him
for evidence refuting them. Although
Jones himself, or the Jones & Ryder
Land company. was not a member of
the realty board its officers say every
opportunity was offered him to make
a defense.
To Protect City's Name
"We have initiated several cases of
this Sort, said Mr.. Burdett yesterday,
for it is a matter which affects in
directly every reputable real estate
man in the city and has a bearing on
the good name of Los Angeles. 1t is
not really a work for which the realty
board was organized, still it does con-
cert every member of the exchange,
although we would not allow man
who would engage in such practices to
become member in the first place.
This matter is of interest to every
business man, particularly because Of
the fact that so many persons who
are looking for investment come to Los
Angeles. They cannot tell by outward
appearances whether a real estate Of
flee is reliable or not; in fact, some cf
the worst offenders have had preten-
tious offices. The only course open at
present is to secure a list of members
of the realty board or the California
Realty federation, but that is not al
ways done, and complaints that avail
are not made until after the money is
invested and altogether or in great part
lost"
The California Realty Bulletin, which
is published monthly by the estate
realty federation, maintains a depart
ment headed "On the Trail,'' which
gives details of real estate schemes
apparently lacking solid foundation. In
the last number a concern is named
which is operating extensively in east
ern states, advertising land in the
Antelope valley in a manner the fed
GRAFTON thinks dubious. Another con-
cern which is said to have taken the
exact name of a highly rated eucalyp-
tus company is referred to in caustic
terms. 1t is said to have paid an ex-
orbitant price for raw land without
water in a valley south of Los An
geles and to be attempting to market
it among eastern people as a most
alluring eucalyptus proposition, to the
evident detriment of bona fide COM
panies now endeavoring to build up
the eucalyptus industry in California.