The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-12-02
ARTFUL FRAUDS
THROUGH MAILS
HOW ARMLEss GIRL WORKED
EASY MARKS THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY FOR
THOUSANDS,


Washington, Dec 2.-Use OF the
mails is resorted to by artful crooks
as most convenient way OF de-
frauding the defenseless public. TIE
chief postoffice inspector and his num-
erous expert assistants, stationed In
various parts of the country, are busy
at all times trying TO save the peo-
pie from being illegally separated
from their money" Little does the
public realize the nature of the many
schemes employed to defraud through
the malls. Almost every day the
postmaster general signs orders de-
priving individuals and concerns. con-
ducting businesses to defraud. from
further use of the mails This is not
always the final disposition of such
cases-numbers of these individuals
are summoned to court and in many
instances, after trial, sentenced to
serve long terms in the penitentiary.
Perhaps one Of the most unusual
schemes to defraud, through the mails
was discovered not long ago. After
thorough investigation by the INSPECT
ors 1t was ultimately suppressed. but
not until after the promoters had
-
ed Of an appeal to the people for
financial assistance in behalf of an
armless girl For the purpose Of
bringing her condition to the public
attention, she published a booklet
and sent 1t broadcast throughout the
country. The booklet was devoted to
brief history of the girls life. de-
failing an accident by which she had
lost both Of her arms. The narrative
was accompanied by Illustrations OF
the unusual work she performed with
her feet. With each booklet mailed
was enclosed a coin card. requesting
the remittance Of twenty-five cents
for the same, and a circular letter an
pealing to the recipient for money
with which to build a home and get
some good motherly woman to take
care OF II for her.
The investigation made by the in
spector developed the fact that the
armless girl had entered into a con-
tract with man, who resided in the
same city, to furnish the capital nec-
essary to publish the booklet. In re-
turn the man was to receive and did
receive, one-half Of the net proceeds
derived from the sale of the booklet
He was first reimbursed for the money
he had advanced to pay for it's publi-
cation.
On his initial visit to the town
wnere the business was being carried
on, the inspector found that the en-
terprise had attained such proper
tions that the services of eleven per-
sons, in addition to the armless girl
and her manager, were required. The
girl informed the inspector on this
visit that at that time 1000 booklets
per day were being mailed, that the
daily receipts amounted to from sS5
to $3.50, and that the business was
steadily increasing. She further in
formed the inspector that up to tnat
time she had accumulated as her share
of the proceeds more than $4,000.
While the representations appearing
in the booklet respecting the physical
condition of the girl were true, she
had long passed the stage where she
was dependent upon charity.
When the inspector was satisfied
that the girl was no longer a SUBJ
ject for charity, and that her manager
was sharing equally in the proceeds,
the subject of depriving them OF fur