Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-14
Federal Authorities Declare Re-
deemabIe Investment Company
Frauds Total Million Dollars.
OFFICERS SEEK PRESIDENT,
WHO is FORMER MINISTER
Endorsement by Secretary Bal.
linger Included in Literature
Sent to Investors.
Especial to the Newark star.l

ROSTON Oct 14-Under warrant
charging use OF the mails with intent
to defraud federal officers yester-
day raided the handsomely appointed
Offices of the Redeemabie investment
Company, of which Addison H. Hazel
tine, of Gen Ridge. is a director. and
came away with the manager, Charles
II. Brooks. the books of the concern
and several thousand dollars in cash.
Police are still hunting for the presi-
dent of the company, the Rev Nor
man Plass Mr.. Brooks is today at
liberty under $4,000 bail, for hear
ing october 20. Accordingto the fed
eral officers over 81 ,0D00 is involved
in the alleged frauds.
A s1O,O0O,OOO Company.
The Redeemable Investment CON-
pany was organized three years ago as
a holding company, with a capital OIL
$4,000, 900. Circulars found in the
office say that the company promotes
only those properties of which 1t is tne
owner or of which it has control anu
that the stock is not listed. as the
companys redemption 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 tpvr cent. for the time it has
been issued. The circulars also say
that the company controls the Santo
Domingo Mining Company, which is
said to own So per cent. of the mines
of Jalisso, Santo Domingo. and a ranch
of 10000 acres in the same state; the
Norman Plass Lumber Company,
which saws it owns $50, 900, 900 feet of
o,;4 iet tho ROE-
ton and Canada Wheat Land Com
pany, having 10000 acres of land in
Canada, and the Okenogan Develop
lnent Company, of Washington.
Along with mass of account books
and circulars the federal officers took
away several bags said to contain gold
coin, while six employees of the COM
pany were summoned before United
States Commissioner Hayes and gave
personal recognizance in 500 each as
witnesses.
Endorsed by BaIlinger.
The printed matter of the company
contains Endorsements of Mr.. Plass
from many prominent persons, lnclud-
ing a letter purporting to come from
Secretary Ballinger, which reads as
follows:
II have known MIR. Norman Plass
for many years as a gentleman of
high character and integrity. He pos
sesses 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 investigator of timber lands.
| am sure that he would not know
ingly represent any matter untruth-
fully or unfairly in business connec-
tion. RICHARD A. BALLINGER,
Secretary of the Interior" :"
Mr.. Brooks was born in Council
Bluffs thirty-nine years ago. Accord
ing to the federal officials, he was ar
rested in st. Louis six years ago, tried
and convicted in connection with the
land frauds of the Rialto Investment
Company of ST. Louis, and sentenced
to eighteen months in Jail, but was
pardoned by President Roosevelt on
the ground that he had furnished val
liable evidence for the government in
the trial of United States Senator Bur-
ton.
The officers of the Redeemable In
vestment Company are as follows:
President, Norman Plass, Boston; vice
presidents, J. Austin Pharaoh, Worces-
ter; George A. Blauvelt of New York
and William H. Bryan, of New York;
secretary, George 3. Graft. of Bos-
ton; treasurer, j. |. Traphagen, of
Boston,
The directors include the foregoing,
with Charles II. Brooks, of Boston,
manager; Harry w. Davis, of Will
mington. Del; w. e. Hathaway, of
New Bedford, and Addison H. Hazel
tine, of Glen Ridge.
When efforts were made to COM
municate with Addison H. Hazletine
at his home, in Marston place, Glen
Ridge, and at his law office, 4S1 Bloom
field avenue, Montclair, it was learned
that he is in oBston attending the gem
eral conference of Congregational
churches in session there from October
10 to october 20. He is expected home
October "a Mr.. Hazletine is a promi-
nent member of the Glen Ridge Con-
gregational Church and is highly es-
teemed in that community, where he
has lived for fifteen years.