Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-08
SOLD "GOOD LUCK, RoxEs
delivery of Mail to Henry Parker
BromfieId Street, Boston

stGSet, BOSTON.
An order has been issued forhfddins the
delivery of mail matter and the payment
OF money orders to Henry Parker. 26
Bromfield street, Boston, Mass. for con-
Quoting through the mails a scheme for
obtaining money by means of false and
fraudulent pretenses, representations and
promises
numerous advertisements were inserted
IN the Boston newspapers by Henry Par
ker to the effect that while engaged in
business In London some time before '3he
got down on his luck" and some friend
tod him of Hindoo who made good
luck box" which was endowed with miracu-
ious power Mr.. Parker sought the Hin
900, so the story goes and purchased a
lew or the boxes, and Immediately his
luck changed and business improved.
Mr.. Parker afterwards returned to the
United States; and the advertisement
states that, receiving so much good from
this wonderful box, he thought it his duty
to give his neighbors in Boston the oppor-
tunity OF possessing one of them. 1t is
alleged in the advertisements that he
made arrangements with the Hfndoo and
imported limited quantity of the boxes.
the sale Of which was under his sole con-
troll in the United States, and which he
the actual cost thereof. His desire, he
claimed, was not to enrich himself but
to bless his fellow men.
The advertisements further enlarged
docs, and the wonderful forces that were
at their command; and that these boxes.
made by a Hindoo, were endowed with
all the mystic power known to this race,
and that the wonderful results obtained
from the possession of a box had raysti-
fed scientists and puzzled learned men of
all countries.
Accompanying the advertisements were a
large number Of testimonials, setting forth
the wonderful incidents Of good luck'
that had befa,1en the possessor of one of
these "three-star ring good luck boxes"
One man, through the possession of a box,
witnessed the great fight betwee the Beers
and British at Ladysmith; another box
saved man from shipwreck when all on
board but him were drowned; wonderful
cures OF rheumatism, paralysis, etc, were
attributed to the powers of this box while
others won law suits by means of its pos
session, and by some wonderful means re-
ceived the money with which to pay off
mortgages. In other words, according to
lowed the possession of box.
Mr.. Parker claims that the testimonials
We're written by persons who purchased
boxes, unsolicited, and he produced aft
davits from those persons making oath to
that fact. 1t is not remarkable that the
imagination of a superstitious mind would
attribute all such things to the possession
of one of these boxes. or a rabbits foot,
when it is remembered that honest and
conscientious people, in the days of Salem
witchcraft, testified and made oath that
air on broomsticks.
The representations that the boxes were
made by Hindoos and imported or that
they had been endowed by Hindoos with
their alleged marvellous powers, We're alb
solutely false, as the boxes were made in
large quantities at turning mill in Lynn
Mass, as a cost of s. cents each, and the
great work of philanthropy In which
he was engaged therefore brought him
handsome profit on each box Sold as it is
estimated that during the few weeks in
which the scheme was in operation he dis
posed of two or three thousand boxes
daily.
Many people believe that the Hindoos |
have knowledge of certain hidden forces |
of nature, through the medium of which |
they can accomplish marvellous things; |
and many people, relying upon the rep |
as to the origin of the box. |
would thereby be induced to purchase one. |
The false representations are therefore /
considered material, upon which the pub.
lie is asked TO act and pay money to the /
promoter Of the scheme. The scheme is /
accordingly held to come within the pro- /
hibitions Of the statute forbidding the use |
Of the mails In the conduct of scheme |
for obtaining money by means Of false /
and fraudulent pretenses, representations |
and promises.