Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-18
MANNING TO ORDER,
How Some Men in France and Ger.
many Avoid CONSUMPTION.

When some months ago the question
of CONSUMPTION was widely discussed
in this country peole seemed to take
| it for granted that We're it once
adopted we would settle down to it
as they do on the continent"
| Now, anybody who has taken the
trouble ID study the subject will in
form you that on the continent they
never have quite Settled down to it,
| Indeed, the extent to which some
young men are prepared to go in order
to avoid compulsory military service
is amazing. Many will actually main
themselves, for physical deformity is
about the only cause which enables a
man to be exempt.
In France and Germany, for
ms lance, great sensations have bean
caused from time to time by the dis
covery that gangs of professional
manners have been working whole dis
tricts. The INSCRIPTIONS adventures
undertake to temporarily MAIN young
men in such way that they will be
rejected by the military authorities
when their turn comes to be examined
for service.
The French police have lately been
il hot pursuit of one of these gangs
Their plan was simple, yet very
, clever.
There must have been several mem
bers in the band, as bulky package
of their letters which has Just been
found shows that they have for
months been operating throughout the
department of Lot-et-Garonne, as
we'll as in the district Moissac.
On arriving in town the members
Of the band copied from the official
lists the names of those who would be
required to do military service when
the next call was issued, and then
they ascertained how many of these
young men were willing to become
soldiers for time and how MANY
would much sooner remain at home.
They lost no time in calling on the
sons Of well-to-do parents who vera
anxious to escape military service
eff you can only prove that you have
to each of these young men, you will
never be required to serve. 1t you are
willing to pay us 1000 francs we Will
furnish you bodily infrmity which
will not do you injury and yet will
prove barrier against your becoming
a soldier"
AS soon as a young man accepted
this offer, two Of the swindlers pro-
ceeded to manufacture a bodily in
trinity by twisting and squeezing his
tees and fingers, the result being that
after a few days manipulation they
became deformed, and the young man
could congratulate himself that in
view of such grave physical defect
no medical examiner would accept him
for service.
Of course, the fingers were 'guaran.
teed to gradually recover" and the
victims actually believed they would.
Many young Frenchmen have beel
operated On in this fashion, and for
this service the majority of them have
paid 1000 francs each.
AS rule, the band insisted on get
ting their fee in advance, but some
times they had to be satisfied with
prCmissory notes, and it is because
they demanded payment of one of
these that their work has become
known.
The note in question was given by a
young man and was readily accepted
because the rogues knew that his
mother was wealthy.
They did not know, however, that
she was a woman whom no amount Of
/ money could induce to countenance
fraud. But they soon learned it, fc!
when they presented the note she not
Only refused to pay it, but forwarded
| it to the nearest police magistrate.
AS a result some of the minor con
spirators have been arrested, and
hundreds Of letters found in then
possession have been sent to the Paris
thorities.-London Express.