The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-07
MANY PEOPLE vIOTlMIsED.
A BOLD SCHEME NrPPED IN THE BUB.

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connected with the assistant attorney
generals Office OF the post-office de-
partment have succeeded, it is believ-
ed. in rendering abortive the attempts
Of the "Home Fascinator Company"
OF Montreal, Canada, to victimise
many credulous Americans. This con-
Gem, it is stated. publishes monthly
journal called The Home Fdscinator,
alleged to be devoted TO useful know
ledge, romance, &c. The &c" SEEM
ed 10 cover the greater part of the
paper and consisted OF an advertise.
ment of four przes to be awarded to
persons sending in the largest correct
list Of English words of not less than
four letters, constructed from the let.
tiers contained IN "The Worlds Fair
each competitor to send with his list
the sum OF one dollar, the subscription
price OF the paper. An enormous cir
cula,ion had been acquired through
out the United States upon the basis
OF this offer. Prizes were advertised to
be awarded on June IS, 1901. the first
prize consisting of 81, 900 in gold, the
second prze a grand piano valued at
S4oo and the fourth prize sewing
machine estimated at sos. AS to the
third prize consisting of ''silver tea
set. gold lined and valued at SI2o,"
the clever and unique plan was adopt
ed Of awarding it to thousands Of per
sons, as is indicated by the receipt Of
the following printed notice, which was
sent through the United States mails
10 the subscribers OF the paper through
out the country.
THE CIRCULAR.
DEAR MADAM-With pleasure we
inform you that you are one OF the
successful competitors in the 'sWorld's
Fair" word contest, and that you have
been awarded an elaborate silver tea
set, gold lined. The cost Of boxing,
packing AMI shipping is s4.9o. which
amount kindly remit us BY registered
letter, postoffice order or express
money order. and we will instruct our
United States agency to ship the prize
to you. To avoid mistakes you will
oblige us..by returning this letter, with
your full address written plainly in ink
on the lines below. We ask you as 4
special favor to show this beautiful
prize to your friends and at the same
time speak 4 good word for the Home
Fdscindtor.
These circulars asking for a remit
tance of s. 90 to pay for packing and
shipping the prize, it is stated, have
been freely distributed throughout
Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Penn
sylvania. so far as advices have been
received. In one small town in Mis-
sour, six persons were notified that
each one had been awarded this silver
tea set, and six money orders, amount
ing to $500 each, were promptly for
warded to the Home Fascinator COM
pany, at Montreal.
WHAT THE AUTHORITIES WILL DO.
Canada has no statute authorizing
the stoppage Of the payment OF money
orders or the delivery Of registered let
tiers addressed to person working a
fraud through the mails. The post
master general of this country cannot
prevent the issuance of money order
or the mailing of a registered letter, so
that it looked as if the scheme would
work, with no power to prevent the
complete success Of the swindle The
return Of the circular letter destroyed
all written evidence Of advice from the
Fascinator company to the victim.
The department seemed powerless to
act and avert the consummation of a
great wrong carried on through its own
mails, until it was suggested that all
American terminal post Offices, design
ated as exchange Offices with Canada
should be treated as Offices Of destina-
ton, and the postmasters thereat in
structed by wire to refuse to certify
money orders or forward registered let
tiers, payable and directed to the
Home Fascinator company, Montreal
Canada, but to return the same to the
Offices of origin, marked fraudulent
1t is expected that many thousands o.
letters containing money will be res
tored to the writers.