Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-25
AUTO BARGAIN SCHEME
PROBED BY GOVERNMENT
Offer to Sell IFords at $100
Each Attracts Notice Of
United States SIeuthS i.

L. A. Johnson postoffice inspector
in charge of the Atlanta district,
on Tuesday started investigation OF
an offer made by one James D..
Bailey, who signs himself as mem
Der of congress, to sell rural mail
carriers several thousand govern
ment, Ford cars at 500 each. In
spector Johnson wishes to determine
if the offer is a bona-fide govern.
ment proposition, or simply whole.
sale swindle directed at the rural
mail carriers of the country.
Mr.. Johnson's attention was first
called to the offer Tuesday morn,
ing by C. D. Lindsay, a carrier on
Route I, Tucker, Ga, who had re-
ceived a letter from one James A.
Bailey. written on official house
of representatives stationery, offer.
ing to sell him a government Ford
car for 500.
The letter requested that the pro.
posal be kept in the strictest conf
dence, and that the recipient sim.
ply remit $50 with his application
for one of the cars and pay the bal.
ance in monthly installments of
about SIS each.
Inspector Johnson declared Tues
day morning that the name of
James D. Bailey did not appear on
the official roster of the house of
representatives as of April q.
1922. Further investigation reveal.
ed that Mr.. Bailey's name did not
appear on the roster of the congress
Sional committee on postoffices and
post roads, of which he also claim.
ed to be a member.
Inspector Johnson advised Mr..
Lindsay to hold the matter in abey-
ance until the postoffice department.
could investigate. He Immediately
took the matter up with Washing.
ton officials.
Secrecy Requested
Mr.. Johnson is basing his inves-
tigation on the fact that the name
of James D. Bailey does not appear
on the official records and also on
the urgent request for secrecy car.
ried in the letter,
1t is believed that similar letters
have been sent to rural mail car.
riers in all sections of the country.
Inasmuch as postoffice inspectors
here have received no intimation
from official sources that such an
offer is being made by the war de.
partment. and since as the letter
requests that all funds be sent to
a private address, Mr.. Johnson ad.
V1seS mail carriers in Georgia to
delay acceptance of the offer until
its validity can be officially estab.
lished.
Following is an exact duplicate. Of
the letter received by Rural Carrie.
Lindsay. 1t is written on official
stationery, but asks that all funds
be addressed to James d. Bailey, 121
Maryland avenue, N. E., Washing
ton, d. c.. s
Dear Sir: The government has
left over from it's army stores sew.
eral thousand Ford cars and trucks.
These cars are all new having been
kept in storage at various points
since their purchase. Believing that
the use Of these cars on rural mail
routes would greatly increase the
efficiency of the service, and at thu
same time add considerable to the
volume of business done on the
routes, the secretary of war has di.
rected the committee on postoffices
and post roads of the house Of rep.
resentatives to offer these cars FREQ
to rural carriersl upon payment OF
storage and transportation. This
amount will not exceed 500 on any
one car.
Unfortunately there is not SUI,
ficient number of cars to supply all
carriers so it will be necessary to
limit their distribution to selected
carriers in localities where it is
thought they will prove of greatest
service. For this reason you will
readily understand the necessity
for keeping the matter confidential
so as not to engender any ill feel.
ing and trust that you will respect
the wishes of the department in this
matter and not make the offer
known to any one.
Fifty Dollars Deposit
eff you desire one Of the cars
sign and return the offer at bottom
of this sheet Immediately, together
with 4 deposit of $50, and the car.
will be shipped to you at the earliest
date possible. The balance, which
will average about $35, will be de-
Quoted from your pay checks in
seven equal amounts. These are the
only terms of distribution and in
order to obtain one of these cars you
must act promptly as the supply ia
limited and will be exhausted within
the next few days. Should your or
der be received too late, your deposit
will be returned. Remittances Mpay
be made in cash or postoffice money
orders Liberty bonds will be re.
ceived at face value. SHOULD you
have a bond Of larger denomination
than $50 you may send it with your
order and the $50 deposit will be de-
Quoted from it and check or addi-.
tional bonds for the remainder for
warded to you immediately
;ssRespectfully yours"
|SignedD JAMES D. BAILEY, Member
Committee on P. o. & P. r.
AS a foot-note to the letter the fol-
lowing blank appears. to be lad
out and sent to James D. Bailey, at
121 Maryland avenue, N. e, Wash.
ington, D. c.:
James D. Bailey,
''121 Maryland Ave, N. E.,
Washington, D. C. rs',:y
"Sir:
please have forwarded to my ad-
lress one. government-Ford tour
ng car-Ford roadster-FOrd
truck (place x in front of one de-
sired), for which 1 am to pay the
actual cost of storage and Transport
.ation to my station, to.ai amount
not to exceed 500. 7 am inclosing
he required deposit of $50 and yc-:
ire authorized to deduct the balance
n seven equal amounts from my
Day checks. Should leave the serv.
ce before final payment has been
made on car I will notify you and
fnr.