The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-09
NAILS ARE NOW
BARRED TO
SEERS
Calling Themselves AstroIo-
gers, They Find Many Vic
tins in This Country.

WASHINGTON, April S.-The post.
ONCE department during the last few
months has conducted q determined
crusade against fake astrologers who
have been using the American mails
to carry on their business from Lon
don, Paris and The Hague. The cru
sade Is not yet ended, but eleven OF
the "seers" have besn barred thus far,
The crusade started in earnest last
November has been pushed vigorously
ever since. From time to time in the
past fake astrologers In this country
and various foreign countries have
had the further use OF the United
States mails denied to them, mail for
them from Americans being returned
marked fraudulent"
Several Of the foreign seers, in ad-
dition to making all sorts Of impos-
sible pretenses in the shape Of read
ings," sold magic tailsmans in the
shape OF stones having mystic powers
alleged to have been discovered by a
British army officer in Egypt. This
officer. according to the literature sent
out, was told the history of the So
called tailsmans by famous Egyptian
seer. Before dying Of his wounds or
otherwise taking himself of, the Of
ficer Of course revealed the secret to
the person who was working the
scheme. and for a financial consider
alton this person was willing to pass
along the magic stones to humanity
at large.
GJ,ife Raadinps.1
The principal business Of these
gentlemen, however, was to furnish
readings" to folks on this side OF
the Atlantic who were willing to pay
the price. Many of the victims were
persons Of undoubted intelligence and
no small amount Of learning. The
readings" were OF the stock variety.
Every person who was born on the
same day Of the month got identically
the same reading" OF his or her life.
There are Indications of some very
interesting possibilities in this life,"
says one Of the circulars.
Another reads: "a period in which
some matters can be turned to your
advantage is approaching"
Another promises to tell why you
are sick, happy or fortunate" and to
direct your way to success"
Others promises to show victims
how to safely invest their money,
show who were their best friends,
and tell them in advance whether they
would be a financial success.
A Swfndle on Its Face.
One Of the "astrologers." who charg-
ing SO for full life reading, made up
a series Of form replies. These were
in twelve forms. one for each sign of
the zodiac. each year being divided
arbitrarily into twelve parts. Each of
the twelve parts was assigned to one
of the signs Of the zodiac. Two per-
sons born on the same day, therefore,
invariably received the same reading.
The readings" did not take into
consideration the year Of birth. the
place of birth. the position of the
planets at the time Of birth, or any
thing except the sign of the zodiac.
"In fact" says the order pronounc-
ing one Of the astrologers fraud.
these readings are simply printed
form letters made up in advance and
not prepared individually for those
who order them"
The promoters of these schemes are
charged with having been engaged
in conducting a scheme for obtaining
money through the mails by means of
false and fraudulent pretenses, rep
reservations and promises in violation
of sections 1929 and 4041 of the re-
vised statutes as amended"