The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-14
THE BIRDS HAVE FLOWN
MANY MOURN THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF TWO SMOOTH TAKERS.
Local Promoters of "Medical Alliance
of America" Did a Thriving Bus
mess While in Town.

With the disappearance of ]. c. Wilson
and II. c. Barrows, agents for an institu-
tion known as 1.-The Medical Alliance of
America the history of 'get-rich-quick
game as clever, in a small way, the OPP
erations of ]. Z. Arnold & Co. with the
horses has come to light. Seventy-six doc
tors and more than one hundred merchants,
each of whom listened to the seductive
voices of Wilson and Barrows, are plain
lively asking whittier have they gone?
Late last summer there was Incorporated
in the office of the secretary of state '"The
Medical Alliance of America. The articles
of Incorporation were drawn in proper
shape. and everything looked perfectly reg
ular and free from guile. Wilson and Bar
were the incorporators-two brisk.
businesslike fellows who seemed to know
just what they wanted and how to put the
case. conservative estimate places their
winnings at the game of credulity at over
5000
The purpose of the Alliance, as Wilson
and BarrOws stated it convincingly to the
seventy-six doctors and one hundred mer-
chants was like this: Each doctor was to
pay $11 and to give the promoters list of
his regular patrons. The doctors were then
relieved of further responsibility, so far as
the payment of bills to them was con-
bills due the doctors. Seventy-six physi-
clans listened to the voice of the siren and
went down into their Jeans" for $l1. Sew
enty-six times 81 is 1896, which was pref
ty fair start for Wilson and Barrows.
SCHEME DEVELOPED FAST
Like Arnold's famous get-rich scheme,
the thing developed of itself. The two
clever individuals went among the patrons
of the physicians and suggested that a
membership in THE Medical Alliance of
America" would be a most convenient
thing. For the small sum of 81 and a
weekly payment of Is cents, said Wilson
and Barrows, in the tone of men accus-
toned to dealing in millions, their patrons
would receive free medical attention so
long as dues were kept up. Just to con-
vince the second class of suckers" that
the Medical Alliance of America was a
purely philanthropic institution Wilson and
Barrows agreed that drugs, medicines and
all other necessary supplies were to be fur
nished the patrons of the physicians while
they were i'll. The fish nibbled, nibbled
again and were hooked. Hundreds of them
took out subscriptions on this plan. 1t is
believed that Wilson and Barrows took in
about $500 from individual subscribers.
More and more the scheme opened out.
The two philanthropists went next to the
merchants. Men whose eye-teeth should
have been cut years ago were told that all
sorts of nice things would be done for them
If they would only take out membership
certificates In the Medical Alliance of
America" at 81 per certificate Each mer-
chant was to be allowed to make use of
Alliance coupons. to be given out 10 GUS
toners holding membership certificates in
the concern Such customers were to be
given a discount of per cent. on all pur-
i chases they made from such merchants,
and the merchants were to pay the Alli-
ance another 5 per cent. commission on all
such sales made by them. A fine business
was worked up. The estimate of the pro-
| ceeds from this class of business is 81 200.
DEATH POLICY ALSO.
Still another part of the scheme was
worked to finish. The Medical Alliance
| of America" issued a policy for the pay
ment of death benefits. 1t was widely sold
| Seven hundred dollars is placed as the net
| result of the proceeds in this case.
Members of the Alliance were to receive
| no benefit until they had been members
| three months. Things went along swim
mingly for awhile, until the three months
was over and doctors bills became due
The doctors then looked to the Alliance
| for payment, the patients looked to the AL
| lance for medicines, foods and other sup
plies, the relatives of a few who had died
| looked for death benefits, and everybody
| Joined in looking for Wilson and Barrows
| Search avaied not. The philanthropists
| had gathered up their tents. like the Arabs
| and had stolen silently away. The office In
4 the Stevenson building, Room 1929, had
been cleaned out. The velvet carpets and
costly furniture had been removed. There
was nothing doing" Letters have beer
| written to the home office of the concern
| i'm Montreal, Canada. To all such answers
| have been returned that the matter would
| be investigated No money has been re-
| furn