The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-14
Federal Officials Want Former
Head of Washburn College.
Offices of Redeemable Invest
ment Company Are Raided.
HE is THE PRESIDENT.
Warrant Charges Conspiracy to
Defraud by Use Of Mails.
He Claimed to Have the Endorse
ment OF Ballinger.
HE is THE PRESIDENT.

Boston, Oct. 14.-Federal authorities
have visited the extensive offices of the
Redeemable Investment company at 50
DeVonshire street and came away with
Manager Charles H. Brooks, the books
of the company and several thousands
of dollars in cash, all taken under n
warrant charging the company with
the use of the mails in a scheme
Officers are hunting for Rev. Nor
man Plass, president of the company,
who had the alleged endorsement Of
Secretary of the Interior Richard A
Ballinger, the late Associated Justice
David J. Brewer, of the United States
supreme court: Senator Charles Curtis,
of Kansas, and several local Congrega-
tionaI ministers.
Rev. Mr.. Plass was for seven years
president of Washburn college at To-
peka, Kan.
The Redeema BILE Inves tment company
was organized three years ago as Il
holding company, with a capital of $40
100000. Circulars found in the office
say the company promotes only those
properties of which it is the owner, Of
which it has control, and that the stock
is not listed IS the cOmpany'S redemp-
ton fund furnished a market for the
stock on demand. at a price in no case
less than the price paid the company
together with at least per cent for the
time it has been issued
The circulars also say that the COM
DdnN controls the SanCO domingo
Mining company which. is said to own
s. per cent of the mines of Jalisso. San
Domingo, and ranch of 10000 acres
in the same county; the Norman Plass
Lumber company, which claims to own
$50. 900, 900 feet of timber in British Co
lumbia; the Boston & Canada Wheat
Land company, having 10000 acres of
land in Canada. and the Okenogan De-
velopment company of Washington.
John p. Feeny. counsel for the COM
pany, said that the officers welcomed
the fullest investigation and examina-
ton of the books and were confident
of the outcome.
Rev Mr.. Plass. president of the com
pany. is a graduate of Williams college
and the Yale divinity school. He has
held pastorates at Detroit, Lincoln.
Neb., Medina, o., Cincinnati and Bar
rington. R. l. In 1897 he was state su-
perintendent of the Rhode Island Anti
Saloon league and later agent of the
congregational National Home Mis-
sionary society. He became president
Of Washburn college. Topeka, in 1892
and resigned two years ago.
BaIIinger Endorsement.
The literature of the company con-
tains the following letter from Secre-
tary Ballinger:
IT have known Mr.. Norman Plass for
many years as a gentleman of high
character and integrity. He possesses
a HlEH u6SIe6 u energy ana aDllltX III
anything he undertakes. He is worthy
of confidence and respect and has had
experience in the west in the inVesti-
cation of timber lands. am sure that
he would not knowingly represent any
matter untruthfully or unfairly in bus
mess connection. (Signed)
RICHARD A. BALLINGER,
Secretary of the Interior"
Mr.. Brooks was born in Council
Bluffs. Iowa. SO years ago. According
to the federal officials he was arrested
in st. Louis six years ago, tried and
convicted in connection with the land
frauds of the Rialto Investment COM
pany, of St. Louis, and sentenced to 10
months in Jail but was pardoned by
President Roosevelt on the ground that
he had furnished valuable evidence for
the government in the trial of United
States Senator Burton.
The officers of the Redeemable In
vestment company are as follows:
President-Norman Plass, Boston
Vice presidents. Austin Paraoh,
Worcester; George A Vleavult, New
York; William H. Bryan, New York
Secretary-George B. Graft, Boston.
Treasurer. I. Traphagen. Boston.
The directors include the above, with
Charles H. Brooks, of Boston, manager;
Harry w. Davis of Wilmington, Del:
w. L. Hathaway. of New Bedford, and
Addison H. Hazeltine, of Mont Clair
N J
Manager Brooks was arraigned before