The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-10-18
RAID ON OFFICERS
OF BIG CONCERN
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SEIZE
BOSTON COMPANY'S BOOKS.
Federal Authorities Allege That $40,
100000 Corporation Has Scheme
to Defraud.

Boston, Oct. 13.-Federal authori-
ties visited the extensive Offices Of
the Redeemable Investment company
at IS Devonshire street today and
came away with Charles H. Brook,
the manager, the books of the COM
pany and several thousand dollars in
cash, all taken under warrant
charging the company with the use
Of the mails in scheme to defraud.
Officers tonight were hunting for
Rev. Norman Plass, the president OF
the company, who had the indorse-
ment as an individual of R. A. Bal
Hnger, secretary Of the interior; the
late Associate Justice David J. Brew
er of the United States supreme
court; Senator Charles Curtis Of Kan
sas and several local Congregational
minister's. Rev. Mr.. Plass was seven
years president of Washburn college
at Topeka, Kan.
The raid on the Offices Of the COM
pany in the Devonshire street build
ing was of great interest to thous-
ands of investors in New England and
other sections.
Capital Of Ten Millions.
The Redeemedable Investment COM
pany was organized three years ago
as a holding company with capital
of s10,oO0,0OO.
Circulars found in the Office say
that the company promotes only those
properties of which it is the owner
or of which it has control and that
the stock is not listed, as the CON-
pany's reuzmption fund furnishes
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 1t has
been issued. The circulars also say
that the company controls the Santo
Domingo Mining company which is
said to own IS 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 claims to own 1885,
100000 feet of timber in British Co.
lumbia; the Boston. and Canada
Wheat Land company, having 10000
acres of land in Canada; and the
Okenogan Development company Of
Washington
Courts Investigation.
John P. Feeney, counsel for the
company, said tonight that the off,
GERS welcomed the fullest investiga-
ton and examination Of the books and
we're confident of the outcome.
Rev. Mr.. Plass, the president Of the
company, is a graduate of Williams
college and the Yale divinity school.
He has held pastorate at Detroit, Lin
coin, Neb., Medina, Ohio, Cincinnati
and Darlington, R. l. In 1897 he was
State superintendent of the Rhode Is
land Anti-saloon league and later
agent of the Congregational National
Home Missionary society.
The literature Of the company con-
tains Endorsements of Mr. Plass from
many prominent people, including
Secretary Ballinger, who says in his
letter that be has known Plass 1or
many years; that he is worthy Of coa-
idence and respect and adds that he
is sure Plass would not knowingly
u1is5epresent a business matter.
Brook was born in Council Bluffs,
80 years ago. According to the fed
eral officials he was arrested in st.
Louis six years ago, tried and con-
victed in connection with the land
frauds of the Rialto Investment COM
pany of St. Louis and sentenced to
18 months in jail, but was pardoned
by President Roosevelt on the ground
that he had furnished valuable evi-
dence for the government in the trial
of United States Senator Burton, OF
Kansas.
The officers of the Redeemable In
vestment company are as follows:
President, Norman Plass, Boston,;
vice-presidents, J. Austin Pharaoh,
Worcester; George A. Blauvelt, New
York, and VIM. H. Bryan, OF New
York; secretary, George B. Graf, OF
Boston; treasurer, J. I. Trappager, OF
Boston.
Brook, the manager, was arTalgned
la,e today before United States Com
missioner Hayes and later released
on giving $4,000 bail. He was ordered
to appea" for a hearing on October 20. :