The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-08
Conviction of Chinese Doctor
Began in Topeka.
u. s. Officer Read One of Morn.
ing Papers ~Purity" Ads.
USED THE MAILS TO DEFRAUD
DIR. Lee X. Ching Made Rich by
Clever Scheme.
Capture q Result of Activity OF
L. s. Harvey Here.

Notice of the conviction in San Fran
cisco Of DR.. Lee K. Ching for the use OF
the mails to defraud Is the last chapter
in an interesting story of the operation
of the United States secret service,
which commenced last spring when L.
3. Harvey, assistant United States dis
trict attorney, wrote an innocent look
ing answer to an advertisement which
appeared in the Topeka Daily Capital,
one Of the publications of Arthur Cap
per of this city.
1t happened that in the same Sunday
issue in which DR.. Ching's announce
ment was published, there appeared
heavily displayed editorial signed by the
publisher announcing the reformation
of his advertising policies and putting
his personal guarantee on the quality OF
advertising carried. Mr.. Harvey's at
tention was attracted by both the edi-
torial announcement and the spread
eagle display of the Chinese doctor who
guaranteed a cure for all forms of di-
Sestive and nervous disorders through
the use of his own famous Oriental
medicines Harvey wrote a little note
on plain paper and asked Tor advice.
Literature Came.
BY return mail came a package con-
tanning sample treatme- IS and litera-
ture explaining the virtues thereof.
This was free. There were couple
of big tablets of some desiccated ma
terial of a most repulsive appearance
which were to be m: lie into tea, ana
then two sets of heart-shaped tablets
to be swallowed, a pink one at night
and another in the morning when the
patient left his couch Of pain. Harvey
had explained to the doctor l.. his
initial letter that now and then he
suffered attacks CT Indigestion.
Sometimes" he contin I'D, Il feel
T cfu n U q
at night What do you think is the
matter, and can you effect a cure?
The letter he got in return nearly
gave the assistant United states at
tOrney q relapse.
II discovered" said he today, that
I was on the verge Of a very serious
collapse and that my condition war
ranted no delays in medical treatment
DIR. Ching assured me that his years
of study ana practical experience
among the people of his own land who
had honOred him with exalted rank
At the imperial court, fitted him to
minister unto the needs of the world.
He admitted that nothing like his
remedies had ever been introduced
into America. a statement which am
thing like them. 1, didn't, have the
nerve to taste them. although. l dare
say they would not be particularly
dangerous to a sound stomach.
Turns Over Letters.
But reading that literature gave me
a chill. My impulse was to go out and
consult a doctor. Instead 1 turned the
letter and samples over to w. l. Ma
deri, postoffice inspector attached to
San Francisco division, who happened
to be here at the time. Maderi did the
rest.
when arraigned before the United
States commissioner, we have been in
formed, DIR. Ching admitted that he
was a fraud and pleaded guilty to
charge Of unlawful use of the mails.
He had grown rich upon his imposition.
His plan was to send a full treatment
by express c. o. D. SO as to arrive
about the psychological moment at
which the patient was thoroughly
scared by his literature. There was an
abundance Of that. When I failed to
fall for the C. o. D. express bill of
$3.50 I rece'-ed a notice that rather
than see me endanger my health by
further neglect the doctor would re-
duce the price to $2.35. provided
acted at once"