Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-14
RAID s1O,OOO,0O0
FIRM As FRAUD
SIeuths Seek Head of Company
Which Claims IndOrse-
ment of BaIIinger
tAssociated Pressl

BOSTON, Oct. 13.-Federal authori-
ties visited the office of the Redeem
able Investment company, at IS Dew
onshire street today, and came away
with Manager Charles H. Brook, the
books of the company, and several
thousand dollars in cash, all taken un-
der a warrant charging the company
with the use of the mails In q scheme
to defraud.
Officers tonight were hunting for
Rev. Norman Plass, president of the
company, who has the alleged indorse-
ment 2as an individual of Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger, the late AS
sociate Justice Brewer Of the United
States supreme court; Senator Curtis
Of Kansas and several local Congre-
gational ministers.
The Redeemable Investment COM
pany was organized three years ago
as holding company, with a capital
Of $10,000,000 The company controls
the Santo Domingo Mining company,
which is said to own S5 per cent of
the mines of Jalisso, San Domingo,
and a ranch of 10000 acres in the
same country; the Norman Plass Lum-
Der company, which claims to own
356,00000O feet of timber in British
Columbia; the Boston & Canada
Wheat Land company, having 10000
acres of land in Canada, and the
Okonogan Development company of
Washington.
Rev. Mr.. Plass. president of the
company, is a graduate of Williams
college, and the Yale Divinity school.
He became president of the Washburn
college, Topeka, in 1902, and resigned
two years ago.
BALLINGER'S ENDORSEMENT
The literature Of the company con-
tains the following alleged copy of a
letter from Secretary Ballinger:
81 have known Mr.. Norman Plass
for many years as a gentleman of high
character and integrity. He possesses
a high degree of energy and ability
in anything he undertakes. He is
worthy of confidence and respect, and
has had experience in the west in the
investigation OF timber lands. L am
sure he would not knowingly present
any matter untruthfully or unfairly in
business connection. (Signed) Rich
ard A. Ballinger, secretary of the in
terror"
The manager, Charles H. Brooks, ac-
cording to the federal officials, was ar
rested in st. Louis six years ago,
tried and convicted in connection with
the land frauds Of the Rialto Invest
ment company of st. Louis, and sent
enced to eighteen months in Jail, but
was pardoned by President Roosevelt,
on the ground he had furnished valu-
able evidence for the government in
the trial of Senator Burton.
The officers of the Redeemable In
vestment company are: President,
Norman Plass, Boston; vice presidents,
]. Austin Parasch, Worcester; George
A. Vleauvult New York; William A.
Bryan, New York; secretary, George B.
Graft, Boston; treasurer, j. L. Trap
hagen, Boston.
The directors include the above, with
Charles H. Brooks of Boston, manager:
Harry w. Davis, Wilmington, Del; w.
%. Hathaway New Bedford, Mass,
and A. H. Hazeltone, Montclair. N. j.
Manager Brooks was arraigned late
today before United States Commis-
sioner Hayes and later released on CIV
ing $4,000 bond.
Rev. Norman Plass left Boston two
weeks ago to go to Vancouver island
to investigate timber lands in which
he is interested, according to a state
ment made by Mrs. Flass tonight