Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-29

New Orleans for using the mails to
defraud and was found guilty on that
charge in United States District Court.
The jury deliberated only two min.
utes before returning the guilty yer.
dict. Immediately the judge sentenced
the accused to serve two years in
prison.
Testifying in his own behalf, Lewis.
while admitting use Of the mails, in.
sisted that his various charms, medi.
cines and connections brought about
the cures and the good fortune he
claimed for them.
From almost every pocket the &C.
cused pulled out articles of almost
every shape and shade of color and
laid them on the table before him.
Beans. medals. herbs. powders, charms
in various designs were included. He
explained the magic Of each. For the
lovelorn he had q specially prepared
perfume. Any one who sprinkled this
on himself. the doctor" insisted,
would be besieged by persons laying
their affections at his or her feet.
Lewis admitted that he himself was
not smart enough to answer letters so
he had his own employees to do all the
corresponding. He had from 10 to Is
persons in his employ at one time.
Post Office Inspector Dunbar was
the chief witness for the Government
against the alleged voodoo doctor. In.
spector Dunbar said he arranged to
address letters to Lewis &C New Orleans
from various parts Of the country in
order to obtain evidence against him:
and in each case the accused or one Of
his employees replied with a request to
send money orders and in return he
would forward medal, powder. charm.
perfume, or whatever might be nee.
essary to cure the ills or grant the
wish Of the person seeking his aid.
Writing under one name the postal
inspector told the doctor that he would
like to have a preparation that would
enable him to get job as railroad
president with a salary Of at least
$4,000 a year. He sent the money
requested for the magic medicine and
received various luck charms. per-
fumes and enchanted powders, Dunbar
told the jury.
II asked for a preparation that
would make my wife come back home
and bring the baby with her." he said.
giving the name and address Of the
fictitious client. I received the medi-
cine and explicit directions how to
use it."
F. w. Casey, Government chemist.
offered an analysis Of many Of the
preparations, which were purchased in
the effort to make a strong case
against Lewis. DR.. F. w. Norris. Food
and Drug Administration, added that
none of the preparations could per.
form the miracles claimed for them.
Inspector Dunbar said that the Gov
eminent had received a number of
complaints concerning Lewis before he
conceived the plan of sending requests
for cures" from all parts Of the coun-
try.
There are almost innumereble
charlatans conducting mail-order en-
terprises who will sell you eyeglasses
with little more data than your age
and ability to pay the bill. Right
now their main headquarters seem
to be, for the most part, in California
and New York. However, last Spring
in Chicago Uncle Sam put out Of
business a company selling possibly
half a million dollars worth Of spec.
tacles a year. During the Federal
investigation preceding the issuance
OF q fraud order last May it was re-
vealed that the company had been
operating the same sort of business
for at least 10 years, but under 20
different names!
IT'S system consisted in claiming to
- furnish you by mail with eye
glasses "as good as you could buy
at the best class Of optical store. but
at much reduced prices" They sdver-
tised on q tremendous scale. In case
you answered one Of their ads, here's
what would happen: First you would
receive advertising literature, fam-
boyantly worded, and promising to
send you a test lens for determining
at home exactly what was the matter
with your eyesight. Next you would
send in a certain sum Of money and
In q few days your test lens would
arrive.
Approximately $500 persons over
10 years old are on relief rolls Ia %