Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-24
PROFITABLE SCHEME
BUT UNCLE SAM FINALLY GETS
AFTER IT.
HEALING BY U. S. MAIL
People Nearly Everywhere Interested
in Arrests Recently Made at an OBJ
scure Missouri Town-A Unique
Institution With Business Enough
to Keep 40 Stenographers Busy.

Many will watch with interest the
trial of Stephen A. Weltmer, presi-
dent, and Joseph H. Kelly. secretary.
of the American School of Magnetic
Healing, Nevada, Mo. The two men
were arrested at Nevada and taken to
Kansas City, where they were ar
raigned in the United States district
court charged with using the mails
for the purpose of fraud
Weltmer is the founder of the school
which taught what is called Weltmer-
ism. The institution was advertised
extensively, and in Madison there are
said TO be people who are followers
and disciples of Weltmer. They were
much surprised to hear of Weltmer's
arrest.
A unique institution, indeed. is the
American School of Magnetic Healing.
Its business has been simply enor-
nous, most of it being conducted
through the medium of the mails.
Weltmer and Kelly were indicted by
the federal grand jury which met in
Kansas City. In its advertisements
the school claimed that it could heal
all physical and mental diseases, but
that it could cure poverty and insure
success in life" To rid ones self of
any disease all that was needed was
to go into passive state twice each
| day. Absent treatment was ad-
vertised as just as good as that Of
personal contact, and for those at a
distance the mails were used. The
fee for the treatment was SIS per
month. In the indictment Weltmer
is charged with not giving his patient
equivalent value for the money paid
for the treatment in curing poverty
| and bringing about success in life."
Another charge is that he did not cor
respond himself with his patients, but
! through his stenographers sent them
suggested letters, or epistles which
were stimulating and encouraging in
! tone.
Nevada, Mo-, has been known far
and wide by the American School of
Magnetic Healing. The daily income
OF the school is said to be from $1,000
| to $4,000, and it's mail business was
so large that it caused the postoffice
receipts of Nevada to jump from s15,-
600 to $4,000 per year. The institu-
ton has had class of 100 scholars
who were learning the art of healing
as taught by Weltmerism. The course
consists of 10 lessons, for which $40
each is the fee A magazine telling
OF the school was also issued by the
| two men, under indictment.
The United States laws against the
using of the mails for the purpose of
| fraud is very wide in it's application,
and should Weltmer and Kelly be con-
| Victed the authorities are said to be
| willing to prosecute other "healers, 4"
! both those advertising themselves as
mental" and "divine" Weltmer kept
~ stenographers in his employ, and
| the large mail of the institution has
been held in the Nevada postoffice for
two weeks. The attorney for the two
men under Indictment is trying to
have the mail sent out, but the mat
ter will have to be decided at Wash
ingtOn.
The trial of Weltmer and Kelly will
be taken up at the November term of
court, and the two defendants gave
bond in the sum of $4,000 each, E. F.
SWinney, president of the First Ma
tional bank, Kansas City, going on
the bonds. The case will be bitterly
fought by the defense, and it is said
that witnesses will be subpoenaed to
testify that they have been cured by
Weltmerism