The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-09
ARTFUL CROOKS
Use the Mails to Dsfraud The Public on
a Big Scale
CLEVER BEGGING GAME

/ CLEVER BEGGING GAME
An Omcial OF the Postoffice De-
partmene Tolls of an Interesting
Scheme Where a Girl Raked in
Big Pile of Hard Cash by ciaasi-
ty Scheme.
The following interesting story is
l.reported by. "a postoffice official; s.,
c use of the mails is resorted to
by artful crooks as most conve-
nient way Of defrauding the defense
less public. The chief postoftice in
spector and his numerous expert as
sistants, stationed In various parts
OF the country, are busy at all times
irving to save thr people from be-
ing illegally separated from their
money, Little does the public rea-
lize the nature of the schemes en-
oloyed to defraud through the mails.
Almost every day the Postmaster
General signs orders depriving IN
diyiduals and concerns conducting
businesses to defraud, from further
use of the mails. This Is not al
yays 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 unusu-
al schemes to defraud through the
mails was discovered not long ago.
After thorough investigation by the
inspectors it was ultimately suppress
ed. but not until after the promoters
had reeped harvest. The schemes
Consisted @of-s an; appeal to the rpeo-
ple for financial assistance In behalf
Of an armless girl. For the pur-
pose of bringing her condition 10
the public attention. she pubasneo
booklet and sent it broadcast
throughout the country. The booklet
was devoted to a brief history or
the girls life, detailing an accident
by which she had lost both Of her
arms. The narrative was accom-
panied by illustrations Of the unusu-
lSaI work she performed with her
feet With each booklet mailed
was enclosed "a coin, card REQUESTING
the remittance Of Is cents for the
same, and circular letter appeal
Ing 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
inspector developed the fact that
the armless girl had entered into
contract with man, who resided
in the same city, to furnish the CAPT
tai necessary to publish the booklet.
In return the man was to receive,
and did receive one-half OF the net
proceeds deriving from the sale OF
the booklet. He was first reimburs-
ed for the money he had advanced
to pay for its publication.
.on his initial visit to the town
where the business was being car
ried on, the inspector found that the
enterprise had attained such pro-
portions that the services of eleven
persons. in addition to the armless
girl and her manager, were requir-
ed. The girl informed the inspec-
| tor on this visit that at that time
three thousand booklets per day were
being mailed, that the daily receipts
amounted to from $s5 to $50. and
that the business was steadily in
creasing. She further Informed the
,nspectc. that up to that time she
had accumulated as her share OF the
proceeds more than $4,000. While
the representations appearing in the
booklet respecting the physical con-
dition OF the girl were true, she had
long passed the stage where she was
dependent upon charity.
when the inspector was satified
that the girl was no longer a sub
ject for charity, and that her man
ager was sharing equally in the pro-
ceeds, the subject of deprlving them
of further use of the mails was TAX
en- up. The interested parties were
asked to show why such an order
should be issued. After appearing
and consenting to eliminate from
their literature Objectionable and
misleading statements, they were
permitted to continue their business
During the ensuing few months the
business dwindlod to practically
nothing and 1t soon abandoned en-
tirely; the elimination OF the OBJ
jectionable features from the litera-
ture having proved as effective as
the issuance of fraud order.
THE letter which accompanied
the booklet was q reproduction. a
footnote explained that 1t was 9
facsimile of letter written with the
feet OF the girl, and that she would
like to write each personal letter
but it would be too much Of task
! On the reverse side Of the letter
what the girl proposed to do with
the money derived from the sale OF
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