The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-01
"WE COLLECT BAD DEBTS. "
Mr.. PEYSER'S METHOD OF BuSI'
NESS ADVERTISING.


The Above Words and skull and Cross
Bones Cut on Enveiopes-Arrested
for Sending Libeious Matter In the
Mails.
The enterprise Of Petersburg Dad-debt
collector has gotten him in the hands oil
Uncle Sam. and caused one OF his victims
TO loose a job.
Mr.. |. Louis Peyser, OF Petersburg, is
magistrate of that city, and also general
collector. Some time ago be had printed on
his business envelopes, Just after his name,
ave collect bad debts" in large, attractive
letters, accompanied by a figure represent
ing human skull and cross-bones. to make
his UNIQUE al, ertsement all the more at
tractiye. lie either did not know
or care that this was a direct violation
of the United States law relating 10 the
mails. The p0stOffce authorities dld not no
tice the alleged libelous envelope, however,
until the 10th Of September. Mr.. Peyser
wrote a letter 10 Mr.. John ID. shanks, OF
Crewe. Va, an employe of the Norfolk ana
Western railroad, which was enclosed IN
one of the envelopes. The railroad authorl-
ties heard that their employe had received
this communication, and as result OF an
investigation of il they discharged him.
NATURAL ANGER.
The idea Of his getting discharge on
account of the b0ldness OF the fetersDug
had debt collector greatly enraged Mr..
shanks. and he made complaint al the
HEADQUARTERS of the Postoflice Department
at Washington. Mr.. &. w. Fisher, post
Office inspector, was sent by the auth0rl-
ties i'm Washington TO look into the mater,
which resulted in warrent being sworn
ont by the inspector before United States
Commissioner Thomas ;. Atkins on 1nnrs-
day. A copy of this warrant which Is as
follows, was placed in Major I. +. Bal
lards hand yesterday for execution:
81. Louis Peyser, OF Petersburg, did, on or
about the 10th of september. lsOO, Know
iugly deposit, or cause 10 be deposited, Ior
mailing I'm the pOstoffice at Petersburg. IN the
Eastern District of Virginia, of the United
states Court, a certain envelope addressed 70
mir. John ID. Shanks, Crewe, Va on the y.
and W. railroad, upon the outside OF Whlcn
was printed In large type, we correct Dau
debts accompanied by delineation repre-.
senting a skull and cross-bOnes, caIculaitu
by The terms and manner and style OF DIS
playend ObnoxiOusly intended 10 fenect III.
luriously upon the character ana CONDUCT oi
the said John ID. Shanks.
MIR. PEYsER ARRESTED.
Major Ballard, the deputy United States
marshal for this district, went 10 refers
burg on the early train yesterday morning
and arrested Mr.. Peyser. lie eyinced no
surprise at seeing the marshal, saying that
he rather expected tc be arrested, ana that
he had been told that his advertisement was
a violation Of the law, but he did not thlnk
IL. al afrpnfnnnan
Robert Nice andish, the assistant postmaster
at Petersburg, to appear before Judge At
kins Yesterday as witness.
Major Ballard returned TO the city yester-
day on the midday train with his prisoner,
accompanied by Mr.. McCandish. In the
meanwhile Mr.. Shanks had been summoned
by telegram to appear before Judge Atkins.
At / O'Clock yesterday the accused was
arraigned before Judge Atkins for pre-
liminery hearing. Mr.. Shanks, the principal
witness, did not put in his appearance,
however, and the case was postponed until
O'Clock in the afternoon to await his ar
rival.
THE TRIAL.
The court reassembed at ., but still Mr..
Sbanks had not arrived. The trial was be-
gun. however. MIR. Peyser testified that he
used the printing and figure on his enNel-
opes purely as business matter TO adNer-
tse his occupation, and not knowingly to
violate the law.
MIR. McCandish testified that he knew
nothing whatever of the matter, and was not
aware that such letter had passed through
his office until he was summoned to appear
as witness in the case.
Judge Atkins was not willing 10 dispose
Of the case until Mr.. Shanks, VINO had been
the sufferer from the "bad debt collectors
act, could be heard. and the case was
continued until next Friday, November the
It'll. by which time MIR. Shanks will receive
a personal summons by the marshal to be
present.