The Washington times., 1931-09-15


The amazing network of matri-
monial correspondence clubs play
on the heart-strings and purse
strings of the love-lorn and the
love-shorn to the tune of millions
Of dollars yearly throughout the
United States.
It is not often that the "cor-
respondent" in one Of the clubs
meets the fate of the two West
Virginia ''bluebeard" murder vic
tins. But lured into this sex
baited web, the sucker" finds
himself or herself the prey of all
the wolves of that mail-order
underworld.
Their ramificationS shoot out
into every known form of chican-
cry and illegitimate business
from single postage stamp theft
to phoney stock selling and black
mail, the International News Ser
vice reveals today in the second
of its series. of a coaSt-to-coaSt in
vestigation.
Ads Lure Buyers"
The ''lOve clubs become the
clearing house, not for cupid, but
M0lOch; not for Psyche, but Circe.
Wealthy and beautiful women are
the chief merchandise" in this
IOve-mart Through the adVer.
tisementS inserted in the "lOve
club" journals, every effort is
made to attract men ''buyerS"-
more euphemiStically termed "cOr-
Respondents"
"Try our ladies for quality and
value" is the song these sirens
sing.
The selling Of Sucker lists" is
one of the most profitable bust
nesses, and every effort is made
to obtain names. It maJ be by
a full page advertisement offer
ing as high as $4,000 in prizes
ito give a society girl a new
name so she can sponsor a line
of acknowledgement beauty prepa-
rationS," or it may be a little ad
merely asking one to write for
a sample-"send no money, it is
free"
Names thus accumulated and
grouped are sold to the sharp
shooting group for from 81 to
IS a thousand.
Letters Come In
Answer such advertisements, or
send your name to "correSpon-
dence club" and week later you
will be receiving letters from out
fits telling you how to develop
your form by our new marvel
cream" "play the piccolo in two
lessons" obtain information on
all important matters-Uhree queS-
tions answered for IS cents
(coin)," get men only-daring
girl photos," or maybe chow to
stop his whisky drinking"
But these schemes are petty
compared to the more insidious
methods employed. Here is a
typical case:
The superintendent Of a mine
in the middle West, who was a
widower, lonely and love-hungry,
chanced to seek his new COM
panion through the columns of a
correspondence club" weekly. He
Guly enrolled in the cluo for 81
and later sent for the ladies
list" at 50. Then he Sa5 down
and wrote several women, who,
from the advertisements, might
be the very mate he wanted.
How 1t Works
In due time he received New
York letter from a woman, who
wrote:
-"T trust that you will forgive
me for answering your letter.
feel as you do that this is q
strange way for two people to
meet. But I must tell you that
the sincerity of your letter has
impressed me. 1t is an odd CO.
incidence, but was prompted
to send my name into the Lonely
Folks Club by the same reason
as were you. /, too, am q
widow, my husband having
died ten years ago. You in
your little village and l in this
great big city-hOw much we
have in common. Neither can
find the one he wants ."
She sent her picture and il
showed a handsome woman, kind
and matronly-looking, with white
hair. The miner was impressed
For weeks a correspondence went
on between them. He was sure
now that she was his soul-mate