The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-04-20


been made to fleece the credulous pub |
lie by a system of correspondence. The
usual method of procedure in most Of |
these schemes has been to advertise in |
magazines or newspapers describing in |
glowing terms the lnfalllbllity of the |
promoters profit making system or the |
especially alluring properties of the
particular articles to be exchanged for
money. The victims of these sttrac-
tive representations have been numer-
Gus, and their responses through the
mails have attracted the attention Of
the postoffice authorities, with the re-
suit that the schemers were either pros
ecuted or fraud order was issued pro-
hibltng them from conducting opera
lions through the postal service.
A Chicago firm, in a recent advertise
ment, offered for the sum OF 1885, a
high-grade bicycle. Upon receiving the
machine, 1t proved to be a miniature
wheel in the form of watch charm.
The deception lies in the ambiguous
wording Of the advertisement. 1t read
something like this: A model bicycle"
with "smOkeless lamp" electric bell
cyclometer registering 10000 miles, and
a nickel-plated stand 1t was describ-
ed as being a perfect charm" strictly
high grade, and modelled after the 500
machines. 1t was said to have no awk-
ward bolts or nuts visible. The adver-
tisement concluded with these signifi-
cant words: You cannot puncture or
cut the tire. 1t 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 the postoftice authorities with
held his mail.
A fraud scheme which originated In
the brain of a Nashville. Tenn. man Is
quite elaborate In the benefits which
1t claimed to confer. 1t 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 legislation. I'm
der this pretense, contributions were
solicited from those who had been
slaves or their descendants. and such
contributions when received were APP
piled to the salaries of the so-called Of
ficers or members OF their families EN-
ployed in clerical capacities. The post
office authorities, becoming convinced
that the scheme was fraudulent one,
Issued an order prohibiting the deliv-
cry of all mail addressed to the parties
concerned. which was subsequently re-
turned to the sender marked "fraudu-
lent"
A scheme which In Its nature could
not last long was launched by Tope-
ka. Kan, man. Through the mails he
distributed thousands Of circulars to
parties Offering them salaries OF S4C
per month and expenses II they would
come TO Topeka and solicit member
ship to his National Educational I'm
ion. His scheme was an aged one, but
is said 10 have been partially success
full. Upon the arrival Of the applicant
for the position. he was Informed be
fore commencing work he would be
obliged to purchase sample case. FOR
this the promoter charged anywhere
from So to $40. according to the ap'
pearance of the applicant 1t after
} ward developed that there was no IN
tention on the part of the originator OF
this scheme to give employment with
the salary stated or to pay expenses
His victims soon became convinced
that they had been duped, and his ca
reer In this direction was suddenly ter
minated.
Another man was Of the opinion. I'M
til he became acquainted with the pos
tal laws. that an easy road to wealth
Law through the hymeneal proclivit.es
NJ American bachelors. He therefore
issued a publication known as the Mat
rimonial Journal In one Of the issues
of the journal he published the descrip
tion of A hundred wealthy women, al
legged to have been taken at random
from the many thousands OF wealthy
members of his Matrimonial Bureau
These descriptions were very elaborate
All of the ladies were represented al
baing worth thousands Of dollars anC
anxious to wed poor men. He oneret
To furnish the proper names and cor
ract addresses Of all these women Il
any person joining the bureau at
membership Of Sl.O4.
To such as RENTED he always ex
nlained that the women advertised II
tbe previous issue OF the Journal ha6
been suited and inclosed list as
substitute. with 800 names Of womeI
said TO be worth from $4,000 TO 500
900 each. He stated that the reason
FOR the non-appearance OF their names
in the Journal was that, with thei
large fortunes, they might become thu
victims Of designing suitors. One maj
wrote to 100 of these addresses. and re
} ceived ffty-three replies. all of which
with two or three exceptions. state'
that all the money the writers had wa
earned by daily labor. When TIM
scheme was investigated by the post
Office authorities. it was found that TN
, man who operated had his quarters Il
7 garret. where he employed severa
Young girls to open and assert his mail
and that he had no office In the pala
tial building where he pretended to d.
Located. 1t is unnecessary TO say ina
. Ift-n1 Ma hing