New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-24
RAID COLLINS INSTITUTE
PostoffiCe Inspectors Also Invade
Dr.. ThOmpSon'S Place.
TWENTY.SIX PERSONS HELD
Defendants Defrauded by Offer
ing to Treat All Ailments, Is
General Charge.

The Collins New York Medical Institute.
at No. 40 West 3ih street, and a similar
institution conducted by Dr. John T..
Thompson at No. Si2 West 9th street were
raided yesterday by postofiice inspectors
under the direction Of W. ". Dickson, chief
of the New York office.
The raid was made on a warrant issued
by John A. Shields, United States Commits
sioner. Postofice Inspectors Kincaid and
Sharon assisted by eight detectives Of the
city. invaded the Collins institute and ar
rested William II. Rudolph. the manager Of
the place. and Dr Samuel T.. Hyndman.
his medical assistant The whole office
force, as well as a few patients who hap
pened 10 be present. was held as witnesses
and taken to the Federal Building to give
testimony before the grand jury and to
make their dispositions before the United
States Attorney.
Twenty-six persons crowded into three
patrol wagons and two wagon loads or
seized papers were the result al the raid.
Mrs. T.. &. Collins. who is said TO own
controlling interest in the corporation. Is
recovering from a severe Illness and VIII
surrender herself to-day. Meanwhil" POST
office Inspectors Reddy and Mayhem de-
scended on Dr. Thompson place and AFTER
arrcsting him obtained five clerks and
paticnt as witnesses against him.
The technical complaints on which the
warrants were obtained charge Rudolph
and DR.. Hyndman with mailing on January
Is an Illegal pamphlet to Andrija Martins.
=, No 40 East saith street. Dr. Thompson
was charged with mailing on January 10 a
a y. y.
telling him where certain illegal articles
could be procured.
The general charge against all the dc
PENDANTS will bc. however. that they used
the United states mail for the purpose oil
dcfrauding people by Offering to treat a"
possible ailments. According To poStothce
INSPECTORS. both institutions got clients from
the colonies OF foreigners throughout the
country. Dr. Thompson Is said To nave
found his patients through personal CORE
spondence with persons speaking SlaNi'
languages. His institute appears now ana
then as the Lithuanian or the Croallah-
Slavonic Institute.
The Collins New York Medical Institute
issued elaborate pamphlets i'm twenty or
more languages and advertised extensively
I'm all papers printed In those languages.
These were followed up by correspondence
As soon as a letter Of inquiry furnished an
address From that time on the patient
WAS not left in peace until IL WAS definitely
demonstrated that he could not be held any
longer.
Among tho papers seized As evidence
against this place appeared the following
instructions TO tho office force:
MT
IN good and strong circular once each
month and mail out TO al the addresses
they have.
Each manager OF department must
touch mp all patients. including office pa
tients. not less than every eight DAYS.
IAN book orders must be followed up
| bv not less than four lcttcrs-onc each
| week"
The matter Of grateful testimonials pre-
sentcd no difficulty whatever, according 10
the affidavit Of one Of the employees. lie
made this deposition under oath:
while / was employed by said institute
! was instructed by my superior TO pre-
pare testimonials for a publication, and the
method adopted was 10 select letter
written in gratitude and acknowledgment
| Of cures effected by the Collins New
York Medical Institute, take any pict-
ure that We could find in the office
and which thought would be appropriate
to the letter. and when necessary We would
change the name signed TO the letter by
taking the name signed to some other let
ter addressed to the institute, and in that
way prepare testimonials for publication"
! The irstitute was founded by Or f.. 6.
| Collins. who died some years ago. Mrs.
Collins j., said TO own % per cent OF the
stock Yesterday mornings mall con-
tanned between E0o and 500 in money
and checks. Commissioner Shields held all
three prisoners i'm $1,000 bail for cXamina-
tior on January 81.