Deals & Developments

Bear's Brick. Bernard E. ("Sell 'Em Ben") Smith, member of the New York Stock Exchange, has the reputation of being the stormiest bear on the Floor. He makes a pet, however, of Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co.; whenever this issue is mentioned he becomes a beaming bull. Fortnight or so ago Bear Smith departed for a vacation, announced he would visit Alaska, inspect Juneau's plants. Last week he saw the mines, bought a souvenir. It was a $25,000 brick of solid gold, weighing nearly 100 pounds. "Brick No. 1,000" will probably be sent to Bear Smith's office, set where it will bedazzle all who lack faith in Alaska Juneau. A few days later flush Bear Smith saw a picture of Mt. McKinley by Painter Sidney Laurence, paid $10,000 for it.

Bob Again. When Charles Victor Bob, strapping, breezy and likeable, emerged from the West with tall tales of precious metals, he found a friend and supporter in elderly, rich August Heckscher of Manhattan. It must have grieved Friend Heckscher to learn, last October, that Promoter Bob had vanished, left behind records which demanded his arrest when he was found (TIME, Oct. 27 et seq.).

Awaiting trials for using the mails to defraud and for criminal conduct of his companies, Mr. Bob has been busy again. Three weeks ago he brought bankruptcy suits against several of his pyramided companies, saying they were paying other creditors in preference to him. Fortnight ago he brought suit for $25,000,000 against Mr. Heckscher, Mr. Heckscher's son G. Maurice and 16 other men, charging they had run his companies illegally during his "absence." Last week silent Mr. Heckscher was no longer silent, brought a $250,000 suit against Promoter Bob on grounds of fraudulent representations made in connection with Consolidated Chromium Corp. Whereupon Mr. Bob went to court, said the Heckscher complaint contained much that was "vexatious, scandalous and irrelevant," should be rewritten.

Cash Registers-- Several years ago an Ohio court enjoined big National Cash Register Co. from acquiring more properties. Last week the company asked the court to approve of the purchase of the second biggest U. S. cash register company. If the court says yes, N. C. R. will buy Remington Cash Register Co. Inc., 90% owned by Remington Arms Co. Inc.

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