Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-18

The foregoing motto, richly en-
blazoned In large type on glass and
lastly framed, appears on the desk
| formerly used by Harry ID. Brown, the
1900 per cent" broker, who surrepti-
tiously left Los Angeles Monday after
noon for parts unknown and whom the
police are trying to locate on a charge
OF passing worthless checks.
That "Hurry-Up Harry" was not
guided by this motto was proved by
| the further revelations made as re-
suit of the investigation yesterday into
| the brokerage business which he had
been conducting at his office in room
| GLIB of the Union Trust building.
From client after client who filed
| into the office yesterday and related
the story Of money lost in Browns
get-rich-quick scheme, and from In
designations made by the police and
representatives of The Herald. it can
be conservatively stated that Brown
duped his victims to an amount aggre-
eating $250.000.
These Investigations show that
Brown was one of the cleverest opera
tors that ever worked a confidence
game and shrewd enough to ply his
black trade among the unwise and UNI
suspecting, although numbered among
his victims who sustained heavy losses
are persons well known in the business
world, who, even after The Herald
expose printed March 4, continued to
entrust their money to Browns hands,
No Clew to Whereabouts
Although the police and a force of
detectives were at work on the case all
day yesterday, not the slightest clew
to Browns whereabouts was discov-
cred, and it is thought that he is
either hiding in close proximity or has
succeeded in crossing the line into
old Mexico
All persons connected with the miss
ing broker were closely questioned, but
no information of value was elected,
and the fact has been established that
Brown did not make confidant or
any one in his last grand COUP" but
raked together every possible cent he
could lay his hands on and disap-
peared.
All day yesterday angry clients gath
cred at his Office eager for information
and anxious to see If there was any
POSSIBLE chance of recovering the
money they had entrusted to Brown.
There were many in the gathering
who, on the advice of friends. had let
go of their all in desperate chance
to make easy money and who as a re-
suit of Browns defalcation have been
left without even the necessaries or
life.
Those who feel their loss the keen
est are the Japanese, large number
of whom had placed their money with
Brown, allured by glaring advertise
ments in the Los Angeles Japanese pa
pers which promised them dividend
OF Sc a week on an investment of $50.
w. II. Ramsey, senior member OF the
firm of Ramsey & Pollard, who operate
the Arizona bar on South Spring street,
was one of the men who played into
Browns confidence and who, according
to his statement made to Herald re-
porter, lost $500 on his speculation.
Puts Up $500 as Starter
Ramsey stated that when he first met
the broker Brown showed him how he
could make easy money on small in
vestment, and Ramsey put up 5000 as
starter. or "feeler" as he called 1t.
Ten days after Brown informed Ram
sey that he had made $50 on the $500,
and Ramsey asked for the $50, but
Brown told him to let it lie and that in
a short time ne would make $500 for
him. a..
Ramsey stated that he told Brown 1t
was not so much a question of the
money but that his wife had heard of
his specializing, and that 1t would
pacify her IL he could show the 500
which he made on the first investment.
Accordingly Brown gave him check
for the $50 bonus.
From that time Ramsey stated. he
kept investing until he had placed $410c
in Browns hands, but shortly before
the crash came he retrieved $1,000 in
bonuses, so that his net loss was $500. |
Ramsey still is loath to believe that
Brown is crook, and said: IF 1 could
see Mrs. Brown | believe that she
would do her best to clear her hus-
bands Indebtedness. l think she is an
honest person and would be willing to
raDaV IIs If she could"
Another development, but one that
the police have taken with several
large sprinklings of salt, is the state !
ment made to Herald reporter by IL.
r. thinner, the trusted clerk and con.
fidential secretary of 1900 per cent
Brown, who says he lost approximately
$40, 1000 by placing his trust in Browns
ability to trim the magnates of Wall
street.
According to thinner. who, by the
way, still maintains his faith in
Browns determination to do the right
thing, he was left practically penniless
when Brown decamped Monday noon.
To be exact, he stated that 45 cents was
all the material wealth he had left at
that time, and he said that, in order to
provide for himself and wife tenn
porarly. his wife pawned her jewelry. |
on which she realized $50.
Burglar Adds to Trouble
To exemplify the old story that
troubles never come singly, the home
of thinner at 1872 Flower street was
entered by burglars Tuesday night and
the trunk in which the sS5 was placed
was opened and the money, together
with a diamond ring, stolen.
thinner stated that his faith In
Brown was so implicit that he lent
him money Monday morning just pre-
vious to his disappearance,
Despite the fact that the office of the
departed Brown is in the hands OF q
constable, thinner fingered about the
place. 1t was suggested by sorrowful
creditor that perhaps thinner enter
tanned a faint hope that his employer
would return and slip him the 100000
he claims to have lost. thinner was
very bitter in his remarks regarding
the newspapers which have printed |
stories exposing the fraudulent game |
operated by his friend and employer.
In the course of his conversation a
few days ago thinner claimed to have
$500 in bank which. he said, he was
willing to wager that Browns game
was hnnaef Az that time fha aehipr i