New-York tribune., 1914-11-12
FRAUD ORDER HITS
"CURE-ALL" BELTS
Sanden Electric Company
Packs Up When Mails
Are Closed.
"HERCULEX" QUITS
AFTER 25 YEARS
Aged Inventor, Crushed. MournS
Mid Symptom Blanks and
sex TreatiSeS."

Asa result Of a federal investigation
of the Sanden Electric Company, OF
1851 Broadway. makers and distrlbu-
'ers Of a "curc-all" electric belt, two
members Of which were indicted IN
June for frsudulCat use Of the malls.
The Postof'ee Department has issued
fraud order against the company.
The Ssnden concern ls one of the Older
industries OF its kind N this city 90
fall into the government net, having
done p thriving mail order business
here and abroad for more than twenty
rvc years.
The Postofice Department has been
conducting a vigorous crusade against
fake medical concerns during the last
year. The Tribune conducted SIM
liar crusade about fifteen years ago.
during which the Sauden company re-
csived some attention, but without be-
ing involved in criminal proceedings.
INQUIRIES AZ the Office of the United
States District Attorney here yester-
CAV revealed the fact that the issuance
Of the fraud order IN the Sanden case
was not known there. The Tribune evi-
Gently had the information hrst
Following the indictment by the led
eral grand Jury Of A. T. Sanden, head
Of the concern; Gideon H. Mclyor.
manager. and Or. Charles +. Crane, Of
Brooklyn. medical adviser, the defend
ants had a hearing before Solicitor W
n. Lamar. of the Postothce Depart
ment AZ Washington. TO show causs
why a fraud order should not be issued
Mr. Lamar recommended the order,
which was issued on Monday
Kenneth ". spence. Assistant
United States District Attorney. who
nsd the case. said yesterday the ae-
PENDANTS would probably be tried this
month. Sandeu has been ont on So,OOO
bail and the others on $1,000 bail each.
MIR. Spence said the defendants were
indicted on four counts for conspiracy
10 use the mails I'm the execution Of a
scheme TO defraud the penalty for
which may be five-year term In
prison on each count The company
had made about $4,000 a year. he SAID.
DR. u. Percy HickhnE, well known
physician and acknowledgements eX-
pert, Of Washington, testlhed Tor the
government at the hearings before
Solicitor Lamar. DR.. julius Weiss. Of
this CITY, was examined as an expert
witness for the respondents. DR.. HEX
ling testified that the symptom
blanks" sent out by the company had
no diagnostic value. and the "HercuieX'
belt was clearly designed 20 1901 the
public and those who purchase it,
A Tribune reporter called AZ the
Offices OF the Sander company yester-
day. The clerks and typewriters who
had handled hundreds of letters day
were gone Great bundles Of circulars
and letters were stacked about the
rooms as If ready 10 be taken away
Several sad-faced men and women lin
eered in the rooms. 4. r. Sanden, the
"Herculex" inventor. sat IN small
private Office. at one end OF the eX-
tensive quarters Of the concern. He Is
an old man.
"The governments order was a great
shock to me-" he said Il had no idea
10 would come. ! believed ! had been
in an honorable business for thirty
seven years. and think so still The
dea that we made millions in this
business was unfounded. Our mail was
large. but our sales small. ] have no
money ! am crushed I don't know
where 70 turn or what 10 do