The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-30
FORMER
Pastor Now Faces A Fraud
Trial

heHtS nave DeeH pTdctlcdlly cOmplet-
ed for the trial, next week, before
Judge Dodge In the United States Dis.
trict Court in this city Of the Rev.
Norman Plass, former president, Cbas.
II. Brooks, treasurer, and John l..
Traphagen, assistant treasurer OF the
Redeemable Investment Company, up.
on the charge Of using the mails in a
scheme to defraud. United States Dis
trict Attorney Asa =. French will have
charge of the prosecution in person,
and the defendants will be represented
by the Hon. Samuel'J. Elder as senior
counsel, John p. Feeney and Francis
M. Carroll
The Redeemable Investment Com.
pany, which is said to have been a
'get-rich-quick" concern with many
victims, principally in the East, was
organized about four years ago by the
Rev. Mr.. Plass and several Boston
promoters and businessmen. In the II
terature which the company sent out
literally throughout The country 1t
was stated that 1t controlled, as
holding company, mining, farm and
timber properties in the Northwest OF
the United States and in British Co
lumbia.
After the federal authorities had re-
ceived several complaints from alleged
victims of the company, an investiga-
ton was made and on October 10,
1910, federal officials made raid up
on the elegantly furnished offices of
the concern, confscated the books and
Chas. H. Brooks, treasurer and man
ager. At that time the Rev. Mr.. Plass
was on his way to British Columbia
and it was not until three weeks later
that he returned voluntarily and sur
rendered to the U. S. marshal Upon
his arrival in Boston he stated that
he had resigned as president of the
company two months before and at
the preliminary hearing he pleaded not
guilty to the charge of fraudulently
using the mails.
The unusual interest in this case,
not only in this city but throughout
the country, is due to the fact that
the principal defendant, the Rev. Nor
man Plass, is well known in widest cir
cles as a clergyman and educator. He
was born at Claverach, N. ", May 4,
1860 and came from Dutch stock. He
studied at the Hudson N. Y.) Acade-
my; graduated from Williams College
with the degree of A. B. in 1882 and
the following year he graduated from
Yale Divinity school as a B. ID. and
obtained his degree of d. ID. from Will
liams College in 1904. In June, 1884,
he married Jessie Charlotte Wheeler
and two years later he was ordained
to the Congregational ministry. He
held important pastorates at Detroit,
Mich, Lincoln, Neb., Medina and Gin
cinnati, O., and Darlington, R. l. He
was State Superintendent of the An
ti-Saloon League of Rhode Island and
New York from 1897 to 1899, and
agent of the Congregational National
Home Missionary Society in 1900
Then he became professor of Theism
and Christian Evidence at Washburn
College, Topeka, Kas., and in 1902 he
was elected president of that college
position which he held until 1908,
whe he resigned and embarked in bust
ness, organizing the Redeemable In
vestment Co. Rev. Plass enjoyed quite
reputation as a preacher and edu-
Gator, was for many years member
of numerous scientific, religious, edu-
cational and economic societies and
won some distinction as the author OF
several books and a number OF
sermons and addresses.