Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
FO0kS AND THEIR MONEY.
How the Guileless are Fleeced by the
SharPers Through the Nails.

1
A POST OFFICE OFFICIAL GIVES AN INTEREST
ING CHAPTER OF EXPERIENCE WITH FRAUDS
THE SHARP DEVICES THAT ARE EMPLOYED.
speaking of frauds practiced by using the
mails" remarked a Post Office department Of
fetal who has charge of the investigation OF
complaints against frauds, "loOk here" He
| opened a large case where were pigeOn-hofed
about a CARLOAD of documents. "These," said
he, "are exposures of the frauds. They are
legion. Their methods embrace all the tricks
that rascality has invented to entfap the I'M
wary. They reveal a shrewd knowledge OF
human nature. 1t is difficult to tell which is
the more amazing, the brazen impudence and
transparency of the frauds or the gullible SIM
plicity of their victims. The greater part of
these swindlers get their hold upon the conf
dence of the public by advertising in the news
iigious journals of the country are usually
made, through carelessness probably rather
than the cupidity of their business manage
ment, accOmpices to the confidence game
played upon their guieless readers"
WORKING THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
"For example," he continued, show often is
seen in the advertising columns of religious
periodicals something like this: Comfort to the
practice, but still DESTROYS of doing good to his
| fellow men, takes this means of informing the
suffering of something to their advantage. He
was himself, for many years. q sufferer from
| that terrible malady, the Catarrh. In his en-
deayors to effect a cure he studied all the best
| medical works on the subject. He Travelled
over Europe and consulted the most eminent
physicians of the civilized world, but all the re-
sources of science, and all the medical skill of
all the schools, could not arrest the pro-
gress of the fell disease that made his
lie burden Finally, as he had about de-
the grim monster, he heard through a returned
missionary of the celebrated FOOleman Root,
Fersla, perform such wonderful cures of this
Dreadful malady. Gathering up his remaining
strength, he sailed to Persia, found out this
| wonderful remedy, and paid an enormous sum
lor the secret of its preparation for use. 1t re-
| stored him to health, and enabled him to save
| the lives OF thousands of his patients Having
now retired upon a competency, his natural be-
| nevolence prompts him TO give to the suffering
the benefit OF this marvellous cure. On receipt
| OF one dollar (Which simply covers the cost OF
| the materially and three postage stamps, to pre-
pay postage on the package, he will send this
a perfect cure or the money refunded. Address
| DR.. Cheatfraud, No. 10 Invisible Lane, N. Y, or
| Catarrh Dispensary, p. .. Box 5O.49O.'
| THE TRUSTING VICTIM.
| "Some piOus victim Of this malady" con.
| tinued the official, with grim smile, receives
| her weekly Journal devoted to Christian work
and the interests of her denomination. After
! reading an earnest editorial. on the need OF
faith, and the articles admOnishng her to read
the religions in preference to the secular news
paper, as its columns are filled with only the
| choicest geanings of truth. her eyes glance over
| the advertisements. Her faith is active, espe-
cially in credulous acceptance OF all she finds in
| the religious journal. which has been help to
her spiritual life for so many years. As her
eyes rest upon the allurlng advertisement Just
quoted she accepts it as gospel truth and reve-
lation. Surely Providence has directed her to a
cure at last. That dear, good, wise old man, so
full OF sympathy for an agony that has
brought bro him M almost to deaths door,
| give her back her health once more.
| The dollar and the stamps are quickly mailed
| to DIR. Cheatfraud, and she lies awake at nights
| in expectancy of the wonderful balm that is to
| heal her much-doctored disease. But no re-
| Spouse. After fortnight of anxious suspense
| and daily disappointment, she writes again.
Still no reply AT last, after scOlding the village
postmaster, and denouncing the inefficiency of
the postal service, it dawns upon her that she
has been swndled- Then she and all her sym
pathizing brethren and sisters tall to censuring
| the Post Office department for allowing the
| mails to- be used by such impudent and bare
| faced frauds. She writes to the editor of her
paper. the lions FTreside Guardian and ne
takes up the cudgels in her behalf and rOundly
lectures the Postmaster General for permitting
the postal facilities of the country to be used as
OF their money II does not occur to these good
people that Dr. Cheatfraud has not used the
mails . at all He has simply used the columns
| Oh the Z,ORs Ftreside Guardian.
DEVICES TO DEFRAUD.
The above is but sample of the schemes to
| defraud. Here is another that is being worked
by many a rascal: "Agents wanted-Good smart
young men or women can get steady employ
me M. ana good wages. ranging from s5 to $40
per day. as agents for the sale of one of the most
| popular books of the age. Apply to Hum
Bugg & Co, No. 146 Nix street, Chicago, en-.
closing 81 and one postage stamp to be used in
making inquiry of references, etc Send by
| mail" Devices OF this sort cause the money Of
| many simple, credulOus soul to part from his
or her pocket. The dollar is sent. but the
agency or the 50 or SO per day are never real
1nea Inc t victims who have thus sent their
| for bearing 1t away to the Golfers of the enter
prising Hum, Bugg & Co.
| Here Is another sample: Wanted. The Gre
| clan Art Redivivus mpany desires TO emplov
persons to copy choice works of art, such as
pIices ranepe frn y, p9I good i, it,
| The work will be sent to applicants. For such
as Is rejected the patrons will only lose their
labor Here Is rare opportunity not only to
| develop artistic talent, but to earn money,
Many patrons are making large sums. Send IS
box No. Os,5OO. New York. and ntctnres'
paints, brushes and other apparatus will be
| sent, together with full instructions, so that
persons can begin this work who have not be-
come skilled artists, and can receive the benefit
OF instruction. This association is founded and
| laudable end of developing the genius of the
| for the nOblest arts
| THE ARTISTIC RACKET.
Such notices as these, slightly varied, capture
multitudes of innocent but simple people, some
of whom have a smattering Of experience in
| painting or drawing; and others lacking the
| requisite genius to WELD white-brush, also
vus company, which consists of one shrewd
rascal in a New York attic, with an investment
only In q lew advertisements and box In the
post office. reaps plentiful harvest of five dol.
| lar bills. Then a shower of dOlOrOus Complaints
pours into the department By the time an in
spectOr cap get upon the scene to investigate
this concern, the rascal at the bottom OF it has
| departed, sought some other city, where he
comes out with another name and another
scheme to collect the tax that fools are so eager
| TO pay for experience. One very successful
game was played in this way. A notice ap-
peared in the advertising columns of Respect
able journals something like this:
AID To LITERARY GENIUS
"a gentleman of much literary culture and ex-
perience, as author, editor and reviewer, offers
| his services to young authors in preparing for
publication and securing recognition for their
literary work. Any person having manuscript
stories or novels which they desire published
VIII DO weH to consult him. His rare critical
| attainments will be Of use in suggesting i'm.
provements in plot and style; and his acquaint-
| ance ana personal friendship with the leading
! publishers of America will enable them to Sc
cure publication of all good work In manner
| that Will bring the writer's both fame and for.
| tune. Terms OF consultation by letter $40: to
De sent with manuscript. Address Berwick
| Nansemond Buffer, Philadelphia, Pa. p o.
box lO,59O One would think this was angijng
IN waters where no gudgeons would be found to
olte But this knave, with shrewd insight into
| human nature, bats his hook to aDpeai both to
| cupidlty ana green ambition and cast IL into a
very hungry school, In upon him poured q
ueiuge Oh manuscripts, mostly from young
| ladleS, ana with each came the REQUESTS
| ten dollar bill. He answered them ALI nraiseT
| the authoresses each In highest terms sno.