Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-17

advised to invest were my best friends
and customers of mine, who l thought
ought to have a chance to make some
money. Then Mr.. Brown used my
name as a reference in doing business,
which l was perfectly willing to allow
him to do, and told him that he might.
1T is for these people that 1 feel
sorry and l wish that it could be I'M
done, and hope that they may be able
to recover their money"
DIR. Hammond was asked when she
last saw or spoke with Mr.. Brown and
If she knew that he intended to leave
Los Angeles.
Il talked with Mr.. Brown Monday
morning about o'clock, and l knew
then he was in financial straits, but did
not think it anything serious, and he
said he could quickly raise the money.
1 called him by telephone at 10 o'clock
and asked him how affairs stood, and
he told me that things were coming
his way and that everything would be
Strengthened out all right. That is the
last l heard of him, and 1t was not
until Monday afternoon that I became
aware that he had left. l do not know
where he went to, but I am afraid he
has gone and does not intend to re-
turn. OF course We have taken steps
to have him captured. Oh, this is all
over it, and 1 dislike to face the many
people whom I induced to invest their
money with Brown.
ITO make me feel worse than 1 did,
one woman, whom I told to invest,
came to me today and asked me what
commission 1 got for my work. Why,
the very idea! Such thing had never
occurred to me before and it just made
my blood boil. 1 never received a cent
commission. no more than you did, but
1 suppose they will say horrible things
now"
DIR. Hammond referred the reporter
to G. H. thinner Mr.. Browns confiden-
tial clerk. who has been holding the
fort in Browns offices since Monday
and who slept there all Monday night.
H. r. thinner, cashier, private sec
rotary, confidential clerk and staller-
off-in- general for Brown, when seen
by a Herald reporter late yesterday af-
fernoon wore that same optimistic
smile that won't come off, but was not
as willing to go into the business de-
tails as when previously seen.
Says Brown Has Gone
thinner admitted that Brown had
gone, "but," he said in a low tone of
voice, 1--WE have all agreed to keep very
quiet about it, so that Brown won't
get wise, for If he should 1t would spoil
our chances of captring him. Yes,
he went away Monday noon, but we
don't know where. When we get him
I will give out the story to all the pa
pers, for you Sc it would not do to make
it public now. Don't you think that is
fair?"
thinner did not make the statement
he made to The Herald reporter on
his other visit, when he offered to
draw $500 out of the bank and put up
against $500 of the reporters money.
At that time he spoke of Browns
transactions as like finding easy money.
but today the subject of conversation
was the finding of Brown.
IF we keep quiet about it and work
together it will be better than if the
public knew all, and the papers will all
have a good story them"
thinner remained in the office of
Brown, which is No. 13 in the Union
Trust building, all Monday night, but
just why is not known, but it is pre-
sumed that he wanted to have the Of
flee open at all times In case Brown
should come back unannounced.
The office was thronged all day by
Browns former clients, who had been
told he had fled, but to all inquiries
Clerk thinner gave the same answer:
"All would be known when Brown
came back and not to worry in the
meantime"
Thursday morning, March 4. The
Herald had an exposure of the 1900 per
cent" broker, and in that expose
showed that many Japanese and other
toilers in lower occupations had depos-
tied their hard earned savings with
Brown without securing but promise
to pay and Sc week for dividends.
At that time The Herald printed a
picture of the building where Mr.
Brown transacted his business for his
Clients" and also showed the hope
lessness of any one trying to make any
great money on an investment where
a dividend was promised of Sc a week
on an investment of 800.