The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-19
SOCIETY OF SACRED ARTS.
Ancient and Venerable Fraud Captur-
ed by o. S. Authorities.

Chicago, Sept 19-F'or the fifth time
in seven years the postoff1ce authorities
have put the machinery of the law into
operation against the firm of A. P. T.
Elder, for using the mails for fraudu-
lent purposes.
What is known in the vernacular of
postoff1ce oficia1dom as a fraud order"
has been issued against Elder, and now
the use of the mails is denied him until
he purges himself of the offense with
which he stands charged.
The firm of A. P. T. Elder is better
known as the Society of Sacred Arts"
There is a sort of odor of sanctity not
only about the title of the concern but
also about the head of it, its members.
its line of business earring that portion
of it which comes so frequently under
the notice of the authorities), and its
manner of conducting the same.
Works of art, such as sacred pictures
by new and old masters, madOnnas
pictures of all phases of the life Of
Christ, his apostles, the prophets, the
saints and, in fact, of everybody and
everything connected with the worship
of the true God, either under the old or
the new law, are the supposed special
ties of the Elder concern. Books are
also supplied, such as works on relIg-
ious subjects, sacred history, etc.
It was in this particular line that Ell
der became nearly famous in 1886,
through his genius in securing the ser
.
then president of the United States, as
a writer on a publication then in course
of preparation.
There was quite a 1utter of excite
rnent in social circles over the fact that
Chicago was to have the sister of the
president in its midst as a resident, and
the Press club prepared for the recep-
ton of the new and illustrious mem
Der.
Somehow or other the whole business
fizzled out and Rose Elizabeth Cleve-
land found herself one of the many per-
sons who had dealings with the Society
of Sacred Arts to their sorrow.
The fraud order book shows that Sep
TENDER II, 1851, an order was issued by
the then postmaster general to the
pOStOfflce authorities at Chicago, direct
ing them to return to the senders all
letters directed to the firm of A. P. T.
Elder & Co., or the Society or Sacred
Arts, with the word fraudulent stamp
ed in big letters over the address of the
firm.
Precisely the same kind of an order
was issued Saturday by Postmaster
General Smith, and is pasted into the
same big fraud order book which con-
tanned the first one.
Assistant Postmaster Hubbard was
asked how it was that such a man as
A. P. T. Elder should be so severely
treated by the postoffice authorities.
Mr.. Elder is an old acquaintance Of
ours" said he.
1--WE are after him now as we have
using the mails for fraudulent and dis
honest purposes. The game is an old
one.
1T consists of establishing agencies
all over the country by inviting parties
through advertisements and circulars
to establish agencies for the sale Of the
firms goods.
The goods are to be forwarded on re-
ceipt of a certain percentage of the
price. The agents makes the deal and
forwards the first payment. The house
gets the money, but the agent gets no
goods and is left to fight it out with
the party with whom he makes the
deal"
DO you propose to take any further
action against E1der?" the assistant
postmaster was asked.
mo; we always break the shady
schemes by just shutting off the mail.
It always brings Mr.. Elder to time, and
the people who complain of being de-
coyed get their money back"
The pOstoff1ce authorities have not al
ways been so lenient with the head of
the Society of Sacred Arts, however, for
the records show that A. p. T. Elder
served a term in the state penitentiary
in Joliet for just such an offense as that
for which the fraud order was issued
against him the other day.