Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-16
SHARPERS AND THEIR VICTIMS.
Chief Inspector Sharp Describes Theil
Ingenious Devices to Get MOney-The
Cretluiify Of People.

"The slicl<est piece of work in the way of
a fraud conducted through the mails that has
come to my attention recently" remarked
Chief Inspector Sharp, OF the Post Office depart
meut. To a STAR reporter, 's what we call the
bogus medicine dodge. The ingenious author
of this scheme now languishes in Jail, but, at
| the same time. he showed himself to be man
of no mean order of ability. His plan was to
send out circulars announcing a great cure for
catarrh, which was discovered by himself after
many years of study and investigation. He
then proceeds to give, without cost, the pre-
scriptiOn tor this wonderful medicine and emu
merates twelve ingredients, which enter into
its composition. At the end of the circular Is
IL note which states that if the druggist does
not happen 10 have all these ingredients that
the prescription will be filled and forwarded
upon the receipt of SO. The person receiving
the circular and DESTROYS OF trying the remedy
| takes the prescription to the drug store. but is
told by the druggist that he has three Of the
ingredients but not the other nine. He looks
through his book. but fails to find even their
names, and SO, of course, he IL unable to fur
nish the desired medicine. The discoverer Of
the remedy is applied To and if the So has been
furnished IL bottle of some mixture is sent on,
which, of course. is entirely worthless"
THAT is one phase of the caSe,' continued the
inspector. Now the man prepares and causes
to he published in some paper in New York city
an article about the prominent doctors of New
York city, with a portrait of each and sketch
giving some account of the life and services of
EACH All the men mentioned are bona fide
doctors, the leading men in the profession. with
the exception of a man whose name is, say, DR..
Hart. He Is unknown. but the sketch states
that he left q practice of $50, 900 per year to
devote himself to the practice of his Specially
catarrh. The bogus medicine man then pro-
cures large number of copies of this paper and
marking the picture of DIR. Hart and the sketc
sends copies. together with their circular broad
east throughout the country. In consequence
he receives an immense mail. and large mum.
bers of money orders and registered letters.
After the Postmaster General had directed that
no more money orders and registered letters
= no daily H.
lated in the Brooklyn post office that had been
sent TO him. When an attempt was made TO
discovered but a sign over n door at the adver-
tsed number was found. aud that was ALL A
Dr. Lawrence occupied the same rooms. and to
him the mail was delivered. and when he was
told the letters could not be given to him. as he
was not DR.. Hart. he went off and got a power
OF attorney by which DIR. Hart authorized him
to receive the mail. About this time however,
the officers came in and relieved him of further
annoyance about his mail matter. This same
the name of Lawrence while his real name
was Connolly. He must ha made q great deal
of money one OF the witnesses in the trial
testified that he had been offered $4,000 to per-
senate DIR. Hart"
at is singular thing" observed the colonel
as he looked refiectively out of his office win
dow. chow these offers to give something for
nothing take with the people, and how rOgues
fatten upon the credulity of the public There
is another species of fraud. which one would
naturally suppose had been given such wide
publicity that no one would now be deceived by
It, MEAN the cbuillcftlt money ge,Wlere
men propose to forward a large amount Of cOun-
terfeit money by express or mail on the receipt
of a small amount of genuine money to pay for
the manufacture Usually all that the victim
receives in return is Il box filed with sawdrst
But recent operator has devised Il new plan.
He locates near small town in country dis
trict and then sends out his letters. He does
not offer to forward the counterfeit money, but
invites persons to visit him and inspect his
stock and buy what they wish. When the
visitor arrives the operator has a large quantity
OF good bills, which he shows him and allows
him To examine. In order, however, to avoid
outside Interference the visitor is taken off in
the woods, where the business proceeds The
operator produces i.is money and the viStoreX-
ainineS il and determines how much he will take
and what price Is to lie paid. Just as they are
about To close the transaction suddenly two
men emerge from the Bushes announce them
selves as detectives, and proceed to place them
under arrest. The detectives do not fail to take
ali the money from both the men. AS they are
about To march them off to the town. the opera,
tor obtains permission To speak privately with
the victim. He asks him how much more
money he has than what he going to use In
the transaction, and. ii he has more. he advises
that they had better try and buy Off the detec-
flves. Tor If they don't they will both land in the
penitcniary. The victim is ready to pay any
thing to get out of the grasp the supposed rep
contribute To q fund to pay the detectives. The
latter, OF course, accept the bride, and pocket
ing all the money, disappear. The victim gets
away as fast possible. and goes home and
| never says IL word about his loss. He is too much
ashamed. For this class of victims however,
there can be no sympathy, for they are at least
constructive criminals