Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-09-20

cents each. The twelve boxes of pills.
including postage. did not cost over 20
cents, and the drug company was not
put to an expense of over 81 on the
entire transaction, which was covered
by the first remittance, so that the
two remittances of $3.50 made a clear
profit of something like 81
Bogus Mining Companies.
Mining companies figure prominent
iy in the operations of the postoffice
department against fraudulent western
concerns, just as medical companies
preuominate among the fraudulent
concerns in Boston and other eastern
cities. Not long ago fraud order
was issued against New York mining
company claiming to have a splendid
property near Gainesville, Ga. 1t
alleged that gold had already been
mined. This the postoffice inspectors
found to be false.
A Massachusetts minister, Rev.
Maurice h. Turk of Natick, was the
cause this summer of a fraud order
against a Baltimore concern. 1t is
likely that Mr.. Turks name had in
some way been put in list of ad-
dresses furnished this Baltimore firm.
for it sent letter to induce him to
enter sort of endless chain arrange
ment by which he would acquire "a
solid god watch, cost $50" To secure
the watch one had to send 20 cents.
for which six coupons were forwarded.
These coupons had to be sent to ones
friends, and as soon as the coupons
were returned to the company. each
accompanied by 20 cents, the gold
watch, one of those fine cases, dust
proof. gold finished" affairs, would be
forwarded to the first writer. The
Baltimore company skipped the town
before the fraud order had been is
sued on the representations of the
Natick clergyman.
Superintendent Hendricks. who has
been investigating the Equitable, was
responsible for a fraud order recently
against the National Indemnity Indus,
trial society which has headquarters
in New York and New Jersey and was
conducting an indemnity business
with people in remote states of the
south and west but which did not ac-
cept business nearer home. 1t pro-
Vided for a entrance fee of 81 and an
nual dues of one dollar. 1t was rather
small anair and the two men con-
nected with it were declared by postal
inspectors to have been peculiar char
acters, being brothers-in-law. Their
monthly collections were about SIS.
They seem to have made no effort to
pay any sick claims. They refused to
make report as required by the laws
of New York The result was a re-
quest of ew York insurance depart,
ment for an investigation by
the postoffice department and the
issuance of fraud order.
The devices for catching The pub
lies money through the mail are
legion. Fakirs in that sort of bust,
ness, who have to dodge the postal
officials sometimes describe them
selves as connected with Bible houses
or attach the prefix Rev" to their
names, 1t is not many years ago that
a Baptist minister here in Washing
ton, entitled to use the reverend"
was the subject of fraud order.
Subsequently his personal mail was
permitted to be delivered to him. The
department relented on representa-
tions that conditions had changed with
him. Very often persons caught in
these fraudulent transactions are later
allowed to receive letters addressed
to them, for it is hardship not to be
able to hear from members of ones
own family or ones personal friends
by use of the United States mail.