The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-08
GEO. A. BRIST0W'S

duLSu- ulSO Sllio w ISoiA II
show business; experience unneces-
r expenses paid while learning:
state age; enclose stamped envelope
for reply. Address Predro, care The
State"
A subscriber of The State at Kings
tree had his suspicious aroused by
reading the advertisement and to sat-
isfy his curiosity he caused a fake
answer to the advertisement to be
written, singing the name Miss An
ME Dow" His answer to the add
was written on March II and was as
follows:
Kingstree, S. c., March II, 1908.
Dear Sir: I see your advertisement
in The State for three girls to learn
the show business.
would be glad to engage with you
as | have always had an inclination
for that line Of work and think I have
some talent if developed. Am II
years Of age and neat in appearance.
Please write me full particulars about
the work you would expect Of me
and how long 1t would be until ]
would receive some compensation
Hoping to hear from you soon
Respectfully,
(Miss) Annie Dow,
Kingstree, S. c.
Care of Box 173.
Four days later he received a reply
to his letter, dated Columbia, March
10, and written on Columbia Inn
stationery. The letter was signed
wallace Amusement Co." and Miss
Dow" was instructed to address this
company" care Of general delivery.
Columbia. The letter set forth that
I'VE could use you IL you can come
I'D to the requirement, but we can
not tell you anything without we could
see you and you will have to come to
Columbia"
The Requirement.
1t was stated that the girls whom
the company" required would have
to work but n hour each night,
land we pay from SIG to 5000 per
week and expenses" 1t was also
stated that they travelled in a private
car and stopped at the first class no.
tells only. The requirement. was
then set forth in very suggestive Ian
guage and it was plainly stated that
only girls with good figures were
wanted.
IF you care to join u.s." continued
the letter, you will have to come to
Columbia Thursday. March &c, and
put up at the Columbia inn, then
our stage manager will meet you
there Thursday night, March rs and
see you and If satisfactory will en-
ploy you and you will be in a position
to become a successful actress with
an income that will give you a mark
in your home town" 1t was explicit
" stated that I'VE must hear from
you before Thursday and she was In
structed to drop them a postal card
with these words on it. Meet me at
appointed place and hour" She was
Informed in the letter that IL she
were employed her railroad fare
would be refunded, but If rejected
she would have to pay her own ex-
penses. But this very significant Ian
guage followed. But If you will talk
to our agent, and treat him as you
should, We have 40 doubt but what
you will make good"
The letter consumed four pages Of
ordinary stationery and was written
page was written in ink the follow
ing: "Charles Van Bureau, Manager
Wallace Amusement Co., is the man
you are to meet in Columbia, s. C..
Don't forget" On the letter head
also appeared in ink the following
number: "6335." On the bottom Of
the last page of the letter was the
following In ink: Register at the
hotel as you wrote to us, that IS
Miss Annie Dow, so our agent will
know you.
Investigations Start d.
On the day following the receipt OF
this letter it was mailed to the editor
of The State, enclosed In a letter from
the subscriber in Kingstree giving the
facts concerning it's receipt by him.
The letter and enclosure was receir
ed by the editor of The State Tuesday
morning at ten o'clock. Being anN-
ious to protect the advertising col
umns Of The State and being annoy
ed by the thought that they had been
used for futhering not only a fraud
ulent scheme but one that appeared
to be vile and vicious. The State i'm
mediately decided to investigate me
matter without sparing expense.
The number, $685." on the letter
signed wallace Amusement Co., in
Dictated that possibly the writer was
an agent of the white slave traffic
and was promoted by no other pull
pose than to bring about the down.
fall Of innocent girls. The number
ing made 1t appear that the whole
hing was a sytematic scheme and was
being worked in a wholesale fashion.
The State after hard work got Post
office Inspector Gregory to Columbia
and sent one of its representatives
to Kingstree to find a girl to come to
Columbia Thursday and i~mpersonate
the supposed Miss Dow. He succeed
ed and on Thursday at 1925 the girl
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