The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-13
Concern, Once Under Probe by
Postal Official, Gets Him
I'm Bad" by Making
Him Present
BRIBERY SCENTED
BY THE GOVERNMENT
Loss of Position Another Chap.
ter in MalodOrOus History
of Detroit Firm


Times ran q series OF articles telling
Of the business methods OF the PEG.
pies Quitting Co.-the store whose
motto Is Its easy to pay the peo-
pies way During that week, a great
food OF letters was received, telling
the personal experiences of people
who had dealt with the Peoples Out
fitting Co, and congratulating The
Times for bringing the company 5
methods into the open.
The company has recently added
another name 70 the list OF it's VIC
tims-the name OF man who for
years has held position OF con-
hdence. and who has been highly
esteemed.
Its methods, as exposed In The
Times more than two years ago. have
been shrewd and cunning. by copious
ADVERTISING. the concern has lured peo-
pie into its store Sllillful clerks have
taken them in charge, and have point
ed ont to them fabulous bargains"
Many tricks were invented TO make
the clerks tales plausible. The
Times was able TO expose the confed-
crate system. by which one clerk
backed up the word OF another in the
matter OF price--a simple system,
based on an easy code, but battling to
the unsuspecting customer. The
Times uncovered instance after in
stance In which the company deliver
cd goods far inferior to those which
had been ordered.
Others instances were revealed IN
which heartless collectors seized
goods on which small amounts were
still unpaid. because sickness or mis-
fortune OF some other description pre-
vented a prompt weekly settlement.
Several months before The Times
began its campaign OF exposure. IT
had banished the advertising OF The
Peoples Quitting Co. from its
columns because 1t had some linking
of the manner in which the company
did business. Ii was finally able to
verify It's suspicious.
Now comes additional evidence that
It does not pay 10 become involved In
the tolls Of the Peoples Quitting Co.
Some time ago government inspec-
= tors, suspicious OF the methods EN-.
ployed by the Peoples Quitting Co.,
in It's mail order department, conduct.
ed an investigation
1t also develops that James j..
Larmour had an account with the
company. Mr.. Larmour had been for
many years skillful employee of the
government. He had an excellent
reputation as postoffice inspector.
He had the confidence OF his super
visors. His efficiency was unques-
toned. His integrity was beyond the
shadow OF suspicion. He was one Of
those engaged in probing the anairs
OF the Peoples Quitting Co. HIS
friends claim yet that there Is nothing
more against him than that he Is the
victim of circumstances.
Mr.. I.armour had bought supplies
from the company. He had run up
an account amounting. il Is said, to
about $50. On 1t he had paid $50 or
40. Mr.. I.armour was in the unfor-
tunate situation Of owing money to
Arm which his Office had had under
surveillance. Undoubtedly he realized
his position and asked for state
ment OF his Indebtedness.
No reply came to his request. He
asked again. several times. and still
received no answer. Information
came to him. finally, that the account
had been closed There was no ex-
plapation as to how il had been set
tied. He had, quite against mis-
wishes. been given q present
A short time later, word came from
Washington that Mr. Larmour was no
longer needed in the service. NO ex'
planation of his dismissal was given.
"Iarmour knows why Is all that was
said by the post Office officials IN
Washington.
How Washington knew OF Lar
mour's account with the Peoples out
fitting Co. was indicated when the
facts behind the investigation OF the
company by the postofiice authorities
came to light.
The Peoples Quitting Co. had
bookkeeper, IL Is said, who failed 10
give the company satisfaction, and he
was dismissed. This treatment
ranked: and as the man was familiar,
to a considerable extent, with the
combany's methods OF doing business,
he saw a chance for revenge. He de-
| cided to begin a campaign against the
COMPANY on the ground that II was
breaking the postal regulations. he
! was familiar. it is said. with the
methods of the company-sufiicientiy
familiar. at least, to know many or
| the names on it's books. He had
/ probably been employed In making
| numerous collections. in the way that
| the company has OF enforcing us
| claims with the utmost rigor.
The investigation was started,
whether at the discharged mans In
stigation or at the instance Of the
| government on other information, Is
| unrevealed. The former employe, 1t
| II said. found that he needed informa-
. ton which Mr.. Iarmour had In his
| possession. He went to MIR. Larmour
| and demanded 1T; and the Inspector,
either for personal reasons ar because
| his duties would not permit him to
| give the facts requested, refused H..
The man, II Is said. then turned
against Mr.. Larmour. He knew, or
discovered. that Mr.. l.armour had an
unpaid account with the company.
Whether the. former employee was
responsible for the marking on OF Mr.
Larmour's account on the company's
hooks; or whether the company, find.
| ing that II was being Investigated. de.
| cided that 1t must have Mr.. Larmonr's
| friendship, and decided to cancel the
| debt--whether either Of these hypo-
| Ia mt vet revealed