The times., 1899-12-10


Franklin Syndicate oI NeH York whose
methods were recently exposed recalls
number Of unique ana ingenious schemes
5y which attempts have been made 10 fleece
The credulous public by system ul cor
respoudcBce. The usual method OF pro-
oedure in most Of these scheme haz breg
10 advertise in magazine or newspapers
describing BID glowing terms the irfalIibili-
ty Of The promoters profit making system
or the especially anurius properties of The
particular article 10 De exchanged for
money. The victims OF these attractive
representations have been numerous. and
their responses through The mails have at
uacted the attention Of the Post0fiice
authorities. with the result that the
schemers were either prosecuted or fraud
order was issued prohibiting them from
conducting operations through the postal
service.
omciaIs on The Alert.
The pcstofHce inspectors are constantly
ON the alert for this class of frauds and
scarcely q week passes without their un-
carthing one o. more OF these nefarious
systems.
The ingenuity ard originality displayed
by many of the promoters OF schemes OF
this character is often entitled TO admiTa-
tion and is striking tribute to their
knowledge Of human nature. Were half
their energy or ability devoted 10 q Iegiti-
mate business. it would undoubtedly re-
suit in their becoming shining lights in tie
world OF finance. With the general in
crease in the knowledge of the word AID
its ways among all classes come the ne
II
not only appeal 10 the cupidity Of the in
tended victim. but viii contain elements
of plausIbility in every detail. Without
an appearance of fairness. misrepresenta-
ti0ns Of this character cannot succeed in
these latter days.
The pathos which enters into some of
these transactions is heartTending II Of
ten happens that the money OF some Of
the investors represent their entire world
ly possessions.
The use of the imitation typewritten
circular which bears the impress OF
personal letter. and at the same time las
a business-like appearance, often helps TO
bring in customers Most Of the pro-
moters OF frauds nowadays use this
form OF letter. written on paper bearing
q letter head which gives the impression
that the alleged corporation, with which
The Individual is dealing, has branch
houses IN the large cities al home as well
ss abroad.
Letters With a Hidden Meaning.
In these letters or advertisements. the
use Of expressions having double mean
ing. is the most common form of de-
ception. Numerous instances OF this
practice are on record at the Postofice
Department
4 Chicago firm, in recent advertise
ment. offered TO ship to anyone. sending
them the sum of So So. a nigh grade bicy-
Gle Upon receiving the machine, it
proved 10 be a miniature wheel in the
form Of a watch charm. The deception
lies in the ambiguous wording Of the ad-
vertisement II read something like this:
A model" bicycle with 'smOkeIess lamp.
electric bell cyClometeT registering 10000
miles and uickle-plaJed stand. i was
described as being a perfect charm,
strictly high grade. and modelled after the
800 machines. II was said TO have no
awkward bolts OF nuts visible The ad-
vertisemeut concluded with these signif-
cant words. You cannot puncture or cut
the tire II does not weigh thirty pounds,
but is light, and easily carried. The
promoter OF this enterprise is said to have
realized large sums of money before 1he
postofice authorities withheld his mail.
8 fraud scheme which originated in the
brain Of q Nashville, Tenn. man is quite
elaborate in the benefits which it claimed
10 confer. Il was known as the "EX-Slave
Petitioners Assembly and is said TO have
been organized by its promoters to agitate
the question OF obtaining pensions for
former slaves through Congressional leg
islati9u. Under this pretence. cOntribu-
lions were solicited from those who had
been slaves OF their descendants. and such
contributions when received were applied
10 the salaries Of the so-called officers or
members Of their families employed in
clerical capacities.
The Postoflce authorities. becoming con
WINGED thar the scheme was a fraudulent
one Issued an order prohibiting the deliv-
ery OF an mail addressed 10 the parties
concerned which was subsequently, return
cd 10 the sender marked fraudulent
KANSAS scheme
A scheme which in its nature could no.
last long was launched last month 10y a
Topeka. kan. man. Through the mails
he distributed thousands of circulars TO
parties Offering them salaries Of $40 per
month and expenses if they would come to
Topeka and solicit memberships 10 his
National Educational Union His scheme
was an old one. bur is said TO have been
partially successful. Upon the arrival Of
formed that before commencing work, he
would be obliged 20 purchase a sample
case. For this the promoter charged
uywbere from - 10 so, according 10 the
appearance OF the applicant. j afterWard
developed that there was no lnteEtigr on
the part Of the originator Of this scheme
70 give employment with th= salary stated
or 20 pay expenses His victims soon be
came convinced that they had been duped.
and his career ia this direction was sua-
denly terminated.
A Milwaukee man was cf t1C opinion. uU-
I'D be- became further acquainted with th
postal laws that an easy road 10 wealth
lay through thl hymeueal procliyiues OF
American bachelors He therefore issued
publication known Is the Matrimonial
Journal Ia one OF tha issues Ct the jour
nal Az published the description Of a hun
dred wealthy women alleged TO have beer
takal at random from gbe many thousands
oT wealthy members oi his matrimonial
bureau. Thzse dezCIlp lpu0ns were very ella
borste All Ct The laGies were repres =nted
~ being worth thousands of dollars and
anxious TO wed poor men. he. offered TO
furnish Jhe proper rames and c0rrec, ad-
dresses og an these women 10 any person
joining lEe bureau aJ m smbership @.
Slt4
The Revelations.
To such - reIlifll5 be always explained
thar The women advertised In the previous
issue Of the Journal" had been suited. and
,rr.osad Ilst as q substitute. with 800
rames OF women said 10 De For,h from
S5aCC, 10 100000 each He stated that
a., reason for the noa-appearauc- OF their
names n The journal" was that with their