Evening star., 1901-04-23
FRAUD ORDER ISSUED.
Man Claimed He Would Cure Deaf
ness or Refund Money.

The Postmaster General, upon recon-
mendation of George A. c. Chrstiancy.
acting assistant attorney general for the
Post Office Department, directed the issue
of fraud order today against Charles H.
Rowan, alias C. H. Rowan, alias c. Rowan.
of Milwaukee. Rowan, 1T is said at the de-
partment. advertised that he would cure
!! deafness for $3.50, setting forth that for
this price he would give his patients $40
treatment and guarantee of cure. He
made this special offer, he said. that he
might cure one case of deafness in every
township in the country for the purpose Of
| advertising his remedy. When those per-
sons who had taken the $3.50 treatment
with the guarantee to cure complained that
their hearing had not improved Rowan sent
| a circular in which it was stated that the
$3.50 remedy was designed only to cure
| mild forms Of deafness, but that for $15
he would forward six boxes of the remedy,
which would cure radical cases. A guar
antee to cure was made in connection with
this proposition. Upon failure to cure he
agreed to refund the money. Complaint
being made to him that no cure had been
effected, Rowan wrote that his remedy
should be given fair trial, and that the
sufferer should take one dose of the rem
edy upon retiring each night for six years.
1t was shown that he had sent to single
patient 1900 pills.
The case was called to the attention Of
the Post Office Department and referred to
Tic lilSpcClOIS IOI report. inspect
Ors returned that, though Rowan adver-
tised that he had cured 80 600 cases of
deafness, not one instance Of cure could
be found. The inspectors reported that his
testimonials were fraudulent; that in some
instances they were forgerieS, and that in
others the persons alleged to have given
the testimonials could not be found Some
testimonials were learned to have been
given by persons who had never been deaf
On March 9 Rowan was ordered by the
: Office Of the assistant attorney general to
! show cause why a fraud order should not
be issued against him. The case was con-
tinued until April 1S. The defendant was
| represented by r. W. Hayden, and the
plea was set up that Rowan meant to pre-
scribe six months treatment and not a
six years treatment.
| 1t was shcwn on the other hand that the
accused had sent pills to last a patient six
years. The Office Of the assistant attorney
| general recommended that the fraud order
| be issued. Rowan appealed to the Post
master General, and this appeal was today
overruled and the issuance of the order
| directed
Rowan in April, 1888, was arrested at
Milwaukee and convicted of using the mails
| to defraud, and was sentenced to three
months in jail aud to pay fine Of $780, In
May, 1892, he was arrested and convicted
on a like charge and sentenced to three
| months in jail and to pay fine Of $50. In
December, 1898. he was arrested on sim
liar charge. A fraud order was issued
against him. Seven indictments had been
returned against him: Being tried on one
he was acquitted. Fhe other indictments
are pending. In December, 1899, he was
arrested on thet charge Of attempting to
bribe a United Statess attorney and a post
office INSPECTOR .nt