Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-19
SWINDlES WORKED BY MAIL
eullibls Americans Who Are Readily
Trioksd BY Advertisements
TEN YARDS or SILK FOR TEN CENTS
A Quarter of the Receipts the oRer
Made to Subscribers by q Fake
Magasine-Great variety
of Crooked Schemes.

The records OF the Postoflce department
are rich with examples of the gullibility OF
citizens of the home of the brave and the
land Of the free. No matter how often
some one may think Of new device for
fooling the people he can always find a
ready market for his wares.
Old stories about the singed moth do not
hold good when the average person hears
that he can make an unusually large
amount of money by investing a CORE
spondingly small sum. Previous experiences
have taught him nothing-he is willing to
pay for another very expensive lesson,
which win have. in all probability. as little
effect on him az the previous >he.
Puzzles and the reward whicn their solu-
ton may bring have always appealed very
strongly to the American public. II a man
can be made rich for life by solving a
mere puzzle he is more than willing 20 risk
the amount OF a subscription to the paper
that makes him such a magnificent offer.
When the Postofiice department learns
that person is engaged I'm using the mails
Tor such fraudulent purposes an order Is
issued forbidding the delivery OF mail to
him or his agents. The matter OF prevent
ing the continuation of the project so far
as he is concerned is not so easy
Very often in cases OF this kind the pos
tai authorities say that persons who have
been patronizng a man affected by a fraud
order resent the action of the department
In directing that their letters shall not be
delivered. They argue that II they care
to invest money in his proposed plan it is
the business Of no one to interfere.
short-Lived Mustard Pads.
An instance when the government
received no complaints from the persons
defrauded and no thanks from them for
exposing the swindle was that OF the
'Franco-German Electric Pad Company"
This alleged company advertised for
agents TO sell its goods. offering to pay a
large salary and expenses, but before one
could qualify for such a position he was
expected to buy two OF the electric pads
the electricity of which consisted of a mus
tard plaster. These were to be sold and
testimonials secured celebrating their vir-
tues. After this had been done the pro-
spective representative of the company was
supposed to be on the road to wealth
That was as far as he got. The mex,
communication from his future employer
STATED that he would now be able to sell
the pads for "a each. and. as they would
cost hisn only 81 he would make a clear
profit of 100 per cent on his investment
The salary and expenses had vanished.
Upon the discovery of this fraud its au
thor was arrested, gave 5000 bail and
skipped. He had made enough out OF hi,
Utopian scheme TO allow him to indulge II
this little extravaganza. Not a word wa,
heard from his victims. BY American greed
they had been fooled: by American spunl
they would stand for IT. The fiddler always
has to be paid sooner or later.
Fake Magazines.
Another undertaking that had for it's sol,
| object the benefit of mankind was !nsti
tuted by a magazine. 1.-THE F1reside Favor
lite" will be its designation; for charity
sake.
The men back of thei publication though
II would be quite nice little thing for then
20 OFFER puzzle to the public for solution
This thought was parent to the action, anC
| in short while the puzzle appeared will
/ the advertisement that the solver woulC
receive a quarter OF the money which 4
brought TO the owners OF the paper. AnC
then the inevitable stipula tion--a subscrip
| ton costing 81.
The puzzle was solved. The fortunate
ones received % cents, just one-qusrter o
/ what the advertisement brought from eacl
reader. The residue of the profits wa
| spent by the proprietors in the law court
! defending themselves against the orde
issued by the Postotfice department.
Ten yards of silk for 10 cents was a bal
that no feminine fish could resist Tn
origlnators OF the project made a tremen
dons haul. What woman could AFFORD L
miss such a chance? Ten yards~of silk t
fiaunt on state occasions! Alas and alacl
They received silk and the promised tel
yards-but it was sewing silk. 1t Nigh
have passed muster as material for a dres
in the Pacific islands, but hardly in thi
country.
Clairvoyants and fortune tellers seem I
have the greatest hold upon the public
These persons change their names as ofte
as they can think OF a new one. Expose
from time to time, they nevertheless con
tinue to make a good living from men an
women who are anxious to learn the futur,
1t is one branch OF the prophet business 1
which there is no lack OF profit In Its ow
country.
These readers Of the future seem to in
spire the greatest faith in their followers
and no amount of advice or caution fror
the authorities seems able to shake 1t.
Time was when the magazines and paper
were hooded with advertisements whic
purpotted 10 represent get-ncn-quic
company. The persons who answered TIL
little notice were informed by return ma
that the best possible way TO get rich In
short time was to work like the devil an
not spend a cent.
Good advice this was, too, and IL 1t wei
followed the schemes of charlatans woul
be much more apt to gang a-gley."-Wasl
ington Post.
1
FIRST PRIZE SNAKE ST0R'