The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-29
HARMLESS GIRL IS CLEVER
HER MISFORTUNE,
 SHE MAKES MONEY.
Post Offiee Inspecfors Learn of Im- position Upon Public And Bar
 Her From Use Of Malls.

rt' E Washington, Nov. 2S--(Speeial)--- Use of the mails is resorted to by art ful crooks as a most convenient way of defrauding the defenseiess public The chief post office inspector and his numerous expert assistants, sta toned in various parts of the coun- try, are busy at all times trying to save the people from being illegally separated from their money
 Little does. the public realize the nature of the schemes employed to de- fraud through the mails. Almost every day the postmaster general signs orders depriving individuals and concerns, conducting businesses to de- fraud, from further use of the malls This Is not always the final disposi- ton 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 malls. was discovered not long ago. After thorough Investigation by the inspec- tors 1t was ultimately suppressed. but not until after the promoters had reaped a harvest. The scheme con- sisted of an appeal to the people. for financial assistance in behalf of an armiess giri. For the purpose of bringing her condition to the public attention, she published booklet and sent 1t broad cast throughout the country. The booklet was devoted to q brief history of the girls life, detailing an ac- cident by which she had lost both of her arms. The narrative was accom- panied by illustration of the unusual work she performed with her feet With each booklet mailed was enclosed a coin card. requesting the remittance of 2s cents for the same, and cir cular letter appealing to the recipient for money with which to build home and get some good motherly woman to take care of It for her.
 The investigation made by the in- spector developed the fact that the armiess girl had entered into q con- tract with man, who resided in the same city. to furnish the capital neces- sary 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 its publication.
  where the business was being carried on, the inspector found that the enter prize had attained such proportions that the services of eleven persons, In addition to the armiess girl and her manager. were required. The girl in- formed the inspector on this visit that at that time 5000 booklets per day were being mailed. that the daily re- ceipts amounted to from $S5 to $i60, and that the business was steadily in- creasins. She further informed the inspector that up to that time she had accumulated as her share of the pro- cAeds more than $i0.0o0. While the representations appearing in the book let respecting the physical condition of the girl were true, she had long passed the stage where she was de- pendent upon charity.
 When the inspector was satisfied that the girl was no longer a subject for charity, and that her manager was sharing equally in the proceeds. the subject of depriving them of further use of the mails was taken up. The interested parties were asked to show why such an order should not be is- sued. After appearing and consenting to eliminate from their literature ob- jectionable and misleading statements, they were permitted to continue their business During the ensuing few months the business dwindled to prac- tically nothing and 1t was soon aban- doned entirely: the elimination of the objectionable features from the litera- ture having proved as effective as the issuance of a fraud order.