San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-28
AN UNLAWF UL SCHEE.
The Courts and the Citizens Shor'
Gun May Have a Hand in the
Game,

tne lnlQulUlOuS SYSTEM vi Iile DedleIS
Protective and Detective association"
and while denOuncmg the system,
plainly intimated that their circulars
were unavailable in accordance with
the new law and that persons sending
them, or even mailing the same were
liable TO fine and imprisonment.
OF course this system is kept very
private and without being a member
of the association it is difficult
to get details of it. but LIGHT
reporter has managed to get
into the whoie secret. "hen any
member wants to recover debt,
whether his claims is just or not he
sends him the members letter" as
already published in the LIGHT.
That is called 1.-The members eye
opener" and if it fails to produce the
and the local agent of the association,
ashamed or afraid to sign his name TO
the circulars issued, sends the ''red
letter. This is a circular letter
printed on red paper, filled in with
red ink, and the envelope is address
ed in the same coiOred ink. In that
the agent says:
oIlS vi uIlC llDSlS vi jul b0oO~
citation, Mr.. -, informs me that you
have received our association
letter" members eye opener in
regard to the amount OF
your Indebtedness and that you
have failed to respond. Now before
reporting your name TO the main Of
flee allow me to inform you as TO some
of the consequences of your delin-
FThn acgnria tinn hog hnan
ganiZed throughout the country for
the protection of parties giving credit,
and to publish to its members the
names of parties who fail to pay their
honest debts. Now if you do not wish
your name so published, and cannot
feel that you do, by all means call and
pay, or remit the amount to the
above named member on or before
1888. If you cannot pay all, pay part
and arrange for the balance, or your
name will 90 forward to the main Of
flee. Please govern yourself according
ly."
Now if this does not bring in the
debtor, the association at the main
office takes hand in the game, but
unlike the creditor, the secretary does
not sign his name, which is simply
printed in capitals The creditor,
however, in sending the first letter,
which is equally culpable with those
now referred to, has to sign the letter
and thus fix the crime-if crime it be
distinctly upon himself. The sec
rotary. is, however, too artful to be
caught in any such trap. This is
what he says:
"M--o of San Antonio, Texas,
hor of this oCSnciatiOn in
forms us that our association
letter has been sent to you
setting forth the amount OF
your overdue indebtness to him
viz. - that reasonable time
has been given in which to make set
Element and that you have failed to
do so. The association therefore here
| by notifies you that unless on or be-
| fore you make satisfactory set
| Element with the said member, We
shall enter your name in our book of
| reference, which will be delivered to
all members of the association in the
United States and Canada for their
protection and future guidance, and
continue it until otherwise ordered by
| the member. Trusting this will re-
ceive you immediate attention"
Then to emphasize the evil that
this publication will, or may do,
is added by a rubber of stamp
impression the query Can
cen you afford to have your good name
| in such list?"
If this were an idle threat it would
be equally dangerous and criminal,
| but LIGHT reporter is credibly i'll
formed that such list is printed and
circulated in the manner described,
not only in this city but all over the
| country.
These circular letters have all been
referred to the Hon. Rudolph kle-
burge, United States District AttOr-
ney for western Texas, and in reply
to an attorney of this city he writes:
II am not yet ia possession of the
new law, but expect it in a few days.
From an extract | have read from the
act of congress, the matter sent
through the mail to Mr.. -, is clear
ly unavailable and any one who has
been instrumental in depOsiting same
into the post office is indictable.
The matter shall have my
careful attention and if with
in the scope of the new
law the person violating it will be Wig
orously prosecuted"
Now those interested will please OBJ
serve that Mr.. Klieburg says, "any
one who has been instrumental in de-
posting the same into the pOst-otfice
is indictable." Not merely the writer,
but the creditor and the party who
mails the letter. Other prominent at
torneys are of the same opinion and