The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-11-29
WIN BY MARRYING
BIG KANSAS sWINDLE rs EXPOSED
AT LEAVENWORTH.

Premiums into = Concern with thu
Promise that IL They Marry Inside oi
Fifteen Months They will be Paid a
Handsome sum-Nany Suckers ars
Caught-Y. NJ. C. A. Young Man has
Charge Of the Agency at Leavenworth-
Details of the Whole Thing.
Leavenworth, Kan, Nov. 2s.-The
Times has the following expose OF a
slick swindle: In about fifteen months
Judge Hawn will have a rush for mar
| riage licenses that will cause him to
employ several deputies; the mails will
be glutted with wedding invitations
and the building of $500 cottages will
become a common everyday affair. For
some brainy benefactors have devised
a method by which the most poverty
stricken young man can lead the lady
! Of his heart from the altar TO a cozy
! s2250 nest which will cost him s101 and
allow him fifteen months time in which
TO raise the latter sum.
The American Mutual Home Associ-
atom is how this organiza ton OF bach
J elors' and spinsters' heart-gladdeners
| styles itself. Incorporated under the
laws of Kansas, with handsomely fitted
| general offices in Kansas City, Mo-, the
organizers are rolling in the gold of
| the simple and guileless Kansas youth
and maiden.
The object, according to the pamphlet
is to have any white man over 16 years
nS 70 60 n COLI
and his bride,
&C. w. Sawyer, deputy organizer,
Leavenworth, Kan.," is stamped on all
of their reading matter. Mr.. Sawyer
has no regular Office but seems to make
the Y. NJ. c. A. rooms his headquarters
When Times reporter called he found
Mr.. Sawyer, with a gilt edged Oxford
Bible in his hands discussing an inter-
esting point in the Scriptures with some
other men. Taking his caller to an an
te-room he offered him some of the
Home Associa TONS literature and pro-
ceeded to explain the wonderful scheme
Their pamphlets, by the way, contained
two very alluring illustrations. One
showed handsome young lady carry
ing large boquet and surrounded by
number of bowling and smiling men in
evening dress. The young woman's
popularity Is tApldlHeu Dy the leSSnQ
She draws the admiring attention OF
men because she has $4,000 Beneficiary
Certificate in the American Mutual
Home Associa tion." In the other cut
an arrogant and supercillious youth is
pushing his way through a mob of ad-
miring girls. AS the book says: HE
attracts the loving smiles of sensible
women who know that he is going to
build $500 home, etc"
''Our membership certificates are d.
vided in five classes" said Mr.. Sawyer
to the reporter. 'In class A, you pay
a five dollar membership fee, a certifi-
cate fee of one dollar and monthly dues
of one dollar. Thus in fifteen months
you have paid a total of S21 and in the
event of your marriage you draw $3.50.
In class E. the monthly dues are five
dollars and you receive $3.50 at the
end OF fifteen months for total outlay
of SOL. Why, it will enable many a
young man and young woman to marry
who never could have entered on that
happy state in the ordinary way. It's
great thing"
But how are you able TO make such
a large return on so small an invest
ment and in such a short time?"
Very simple. New members are al |
ways paying in their initiation fees, |
We had but 10 members the first month ,
By the end of the fifteenth month when |
these members should want to draw |
out, we would have hundreds Of MEM |
bers whose fees would pay these claims |
and still leave thousands of dollars in |
the treasury. Don't you see? And |
then. besides. only 40 per cent of the |
members will meet their dues; sixty |
per cent will allow their claims to lapse; |
in he
THE longer we run, the more mem |
bers we get and the more money left |
in the treasury. after paying off the |
claims. Sure.
Limit? Why there is no limit We /
keep right on adding more members.
1--WE have about thirty-five members |
in Leavenworth already. OF course I /
couldn't give you names on account OF /
the joking they would be subjected to
especially the young ladies. But we
have several army officers at the fort,
young business men, and girls from
some of the best families here.
when young people are so situated
that they cannot pay the full initiation
fee at oncs,we allow them three months
time. The order is spreading like wild |
fire through the states. A gentleman
from Leavenworth went to Hutchison
and is now advertising for extra men
TO help him TO attend 10 the business.
The boys here have not esta blished a
lodge yet. but can do so whenever they
wish to-"
Mr.. Sawyer may be innocent in this
matter and think the plan perfectly
feasible and legitimate. II he does 50
he is undoubtedly possessed with a
innoceDce and creduaEty
The company was Incorporated last
July. and according TO its pamphlet "Ft
Is indorsed by the most prominent bu-
sness men Of the country. as well as
by eminent financiers generally and en-
Joys the confidence of the best men Of
the country" Undoubtedly Of rapid
growth.
This worthy institution also claims to
be authorized to do business by Ehe
state superintendent OF insurance.
Being benevolent institution" they
say, 1T has the rights, privileges and
mmunities granted that all such or
sanizstions have under the laws Of the
state"
Their certificate Is a most serious and