Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1935, Page 76

" F—4 IT"'S THE SAME OLD QUA i e e — By Randolph Roberts. N AN out-of-the-way office on the ground floor of the Post Office Department's main building in ‘Washington there is a collection I of the queerest-looking devices im- | the manufacturer and his attorney This is | appeared. It consumed slightly more | aginable. And no wonder! the headquarters of C. E. Dunbar, ace inspector for the department. For 16 years his main job has been to wage a never-ending battle against the mail order quacks whose pink pills, won- der-working lotions and impressive- Jooking contraptions bamboozle the weak, the credulous and the infirm out of untold millions of dollars a year. ‘There are “stretching devices” al- leged to increase a wee person’s height 3 to 5 inches, weird-looking masks to be worn over the nose and mouth to “cure” tuberculosis and rheumatism, “electric belts” sold as a sure correc- tive for liver trouble and paralysis, medicines for determining whether an expected baby will be & boy or a girl, gadgets for making lean folks fat and plump folks thin, skull caps supposed to be able to grow hair on a bald spot. ‘There's even & contraption for mak- ing two pounds of butter grow in place of one pound. Almost without exception these masterpieces of charlatanry are either worthless or else the claims made for them are fantastically exaggerated, the inspector finds. Nose-straightening devices have been sold through the mails on & tre- mendous scale durimg recent months, says Inspector Dunbar. Already, he points out, the department has de- clared two of the leading manufac- turers fraudulent and not so long ago forced out of business the appliance “institute” with headquarters at Chi- cago. According to a report made by the Chicago Better Business Bureau, this enterprise was a partnership affair organized in October, 1931. ‘The device was advertised with the claim that there were “no confusing head tapes,” although there were, and that it was “automatic” in its adjust- ment, although it wasn't. The device itself was an affair of aluminum and felt. There came with it, of course, the inevitable mystery element, a “preparing cream.” The device proper 1= said to have cost about 40 cents to make. It was sold at first for $6, the price being gradually lowered, as it became more difficult to find takers, to $5, then to $4 and finally to $2. ADPVERTISING booklets were sent out which might lead the gullible to believe that with the use of the device one could change the nose of a “King Kong” into the chastely classic. Pictures in the booklet showed men and women with noses that bore bony humps disappearing after the use of the Sculptron and giving place to per- fect Grecian profiles. Ladies with rather elongated and overlapping pro- boscides were changed—if the pictures were to be believed—into visions of loveliness. 4 “It makes no difference what shape the fleshy contour of your nose may be,” the firm proclaimed. On another page of the booklet, the story went that the principle of the device “is indorsed by doctors.” There was added the further alluring word: “Upon the rigid logic of rhino- plasticology (science of shaping the nose) are based the principles” of the device in question. “Poremost members of the medical profession indorse these principles in tne highest terms,” it said. “The science of rhinoplasiics is not in the experimental stage. It is firmly established, with & vast background of thrilling accomplishments.” There are testimonials, of course, one of the most remarkable being credited to a Miss F. B. of Memphis, Tenn., who gushes her appreciation , of the rapid work that the Sculptron will do in these words: “After the second night of wearing the Sculptron. I simply can’t keep from writing ypu how thrilled I am. At the present rate I think I am “-going to have a perfect nose in less than & week. Isn't that marvelous?” In due time the postal authorities got around to the “institute” and a memorandum of charges was fur- nished the promoter. He was called upon to show cause why a fraud oraer should not be issued against the con- | cern. There was a hearing at which | than half a day. | Earl A. Crowley, solicitor for the Post Office Department, in his memo- | | randum to the Postmaster General | recommending the issuance of a fraud | erder, brought out the fact that the | promoter himself had admitted at the | hearing that his device had been worn by his wife over a period of several months without producing any ma- |-terial or lasting change in the shape of her nose. | All type of individuals are mixed {up in mail order charlatanry. A | former butcher decided to go into the fake medicine manufacturing busi- ness. He set up shop in a New Eng- | land State and started with a corn | salve. Later he extended his line io | include cough sirup, tablets for women, pilis for rheumatism, lung tonic, nerve | sirup and “antiseptic roots.” These | preparations were labeled with fan- | tastic, curative claims for a wide va- | riety of ailments, THE manufacturer at first confined his activities to his immediate lo- cality, employing no sales agents and doing little advertising. But his busi- ness assumed greater and greater pro- portions. of his nostrums-across the State line, thus making his goods subject to seizure and himself liable to prose- cution for violation of the Federal food and drugs act. He was fined | $425 by the Federal -Court for the So finally he shipped some | THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., and Malady Upper left: An alleged cure for tuberculosis and rheumatism . a “rare” mixture placed in an in- halator. Lower left: A de- vice supposed to make wa- ter radio-active. Lower center: This one was sup- posed to make electricity —but the lever and disks numbered 1 to 9 are for effect only, as no electric current is produced no matter where the lever is placed. B | | district of New Hampshite on 17| counts for labeling his preparations | with false and fraudulent claims as | to their ability to cure or prevent disease. “Small-scale medical fakers almost always confine their operations to local or intrastate shipments,” says G. P. Larrick, chief of drug control, Federal Food and Drug Administra- tion. “Most States have laws regu- | 1ating intrastate sale of {gke medi- cines. But the present food and drugs act has jurisdiction over such products only when they are shipped across State borders or are imported and exported. ' “The buyer is protected, of course, through the enforcement of the State laws, but he should remember that many of the worthless medicines of- | fered for sale are both illegally la- | beled and flagrantly advertised. It is aways & wise precaution for 'the prospective purchaser of a medical | product to read the labels with ex- treme care and not to trust to hearsay nor to exaggerated adverlising.” A man known to gullible thousands as Dr. Yosmite Nabona, who “adopted” himself into the Navajos of Colorado, is in the toils of the law again. He was fined $200 in the Federal Court at Los Angeles, Calif., recently. Op- erating from Long Beach, Calif., and, | earlier, from Colorado Springs. Colo., the “doctor” had shipped various herbs, powders, pills and liquid medi- cines which were in violation of the food and drugs act. Investigation by Federal inspectors prior_to the irial had indicated that “Dr. Nabona,” who posed as an Amer- ican Indian, was in reality a German by birth, and that he sent money at fairly regular intervals to a relative in Germany. Although he listed in his advertising booklets a hundred diseases, including Bright's disease, pneumonia, arthritis, epilepsy, paraly- sis and tumors, “Dr.” Nabona’s sole claim to diagnostic and professional ability rested from a “diploma” pur- porting to come from the University of Berlin, which, when translated, proved to be a midwife’s certificate! BEFORE his case came to trial, the “doctor’s trail had led across the country and back. He changed his place of business from his original location at Colorado Springs, Colo., to Los Angeles. But the earthquake of March, 1933, interrupted his pros- perity there. He went to Tucson, Ariz. Later he was arrested in El Paso, Tex, on suspicion of illegal entry, but was released. In an at- tempt to vindicate himself, the ac- cused visited the Indian Bureau and SEPTEMBER 29, 9 ,/, Ridden, Despite Protective Arms . | the Department of Labor in Wash- ington, D. C, and then camped for | several weeks at a tourist camp near | Berwyn, Md., selling Indian wares and his own medicines. Yhere he was | again arrested and returned to Cali- fornia for trial. One of the cleverest quack doctors | who ever flim-flammed the American | public was a man who called himself | “Espanto.” | investigation a couple of months ago, he ceased conducting his extremely | profitable business. height of his mail-order popularity was a wee cabin in a smal! Florida | Winter resort. He was said also to maintain a Summer place in Iowa. In resembled the old medicine-show man of an earlier period. He was about 60 always was garbed in the traditional | frock coat, wing collar and flowing tie, and assumed a patriarchal expres- | sion, voice and manner. Actually, for a small sum of money, Espanto volunteered to tell you by mail Following a Post Office | Espanto’s headquarters during thel 1935—PART FOUR. CKERY BEHINC A NEW MASK .. Nostrum Dispensers May—and Do—Change Names, Places and Products, but Latest Pattern of Performance Goes on Pro- ducing Same Huge Revenue in Its Preying Upon the Maimed of Uncle Sam. Upper right: This one skins the poor farmer ... it is supposed to tell whether eggs are fertile or infertile. Lower right: And here’s an electric belt, which is supposed to cure a wide variety of human ills by simply wearing it. But when tested it proved wholly incapable of meet- ing any of the claims made for it. Center: The new United States Post Office Department Building in Washington. (Associated Press Photo.) |exactly what was the matter with |you, and would offer a medicine to | cure the ailment with nothing more | definite to guide him than a small }sample of a piece of clothing worn by yourself. | Espanto conducted an enormous | business witli the ajd of an imposing- {looking circular, at the top of which l‘wu a picture of himseif surrounded {by the statement, In large letters: “Uses non-poisonous remedies only." The circular went on to say: “Espanto, in his peerless method of | treating his patients, places nature in | direct touch with his sufferers. “A lineal descendant of Aztec In- | dians of Old Mexico, a tribe that thor- | oughly understood nature and knew |how to turn aside the many little | warnings sent by nature to her peo- Mo =% “We claim there is a cure for all diseases and nature has provided that | cure. You trample it under your feet every day and go with your disease to an unnatural method * * *. ing; the more recent the picture the | better will be the diagnosing. or send garment worn next to your body for at least 48 hours. Give age, full name |and post office address in your own | handwriting. Inclose $1 and a writ- ilen diagnosis of your case will be | mailed you at once, and your picture returned uninjured. “The $1 required for diagnosis is to keep away triflers and will be credited on your order for treatment. “Follow the above directions to the letter and Espanto can raise you from your bed of pain. give you days of | happiness and nights of deepest rest ;. .o | POSTAL inspectors had a number of | interesting experiences when, writ- | ing under assumed names, they sent in for “Espanto’s” extravagantly bal- | lyhooed “treatment.” In one instance | they inclosed a piece of common cheesecloth, with the assertion that this was a piece of underclothing worn 'by a chronic sufferer from a certain | | disease. The learned “medicine man” | immediately wrote the “sufferer” say- ing he was a victim of a certain chronic disease and offered. upon re- ceipt of a sum of money, to send a | sure-fire cure! | Dr. A. Rockford Lewis, colored voo- 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 mine utes before returning the guilty vere 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, ine sisted that his various charms, medie cines and concoctions brought about the cures and the good fortune he claimed for them. From almost every pocket the ace cused pulled out articies 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 a 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 employes to do all the corresponding. He had from 10 to 15 persons in his employ at one time. Post Office Inspector Dunbar was the chief witness for the Government against the alleged voodoo doctor. Ine | *“To all sufferers of chronic, nervous | doo doctor, operating from his home | spector Dunbar said he arranged to is made this special offer. | “You can be treated successively at or 65 years old, wore his hair long. | your own homes, by mail, no matter him out. | what degree the disease has reached [eee | “Espanto will give your case his per- | sonai attention. Send a good picture of yourself, taken not longer than | four months before the date of mail- | and through the mails, for about six years before postal inspectors forced Lewis. now Uncle Sam's guest in Atlanta Penitentiary, special- |ized in “charms,” promising prospec- | tive clients & cure for all ills, success in love, any kind of job they wanted; in fact, the fulfiliment of every dream. | Lewis was arrested last Spring in IGNS ©° T e —ais efié‘ge ] FLCANNY DAVENPORT CLE'O"PATRA B ALBAUGHS GRAND OPERA HOWSE. H w5 Fitby COMING ! @ woroGeaes CVRATES. BOSTON 'é.‘asf CLARKES CiTr58URGH), § OME Fenh. \NA coasuoerzs—of\ p Soe> <O ONE SHOT. , " oF(icaso - THIS INAUGORATE: i ,m; BECAME (- OFTOMes \* 4 OLLIE CHiLL)y, * > X Vg THOSE WERE THE HAPPY DAYS! OF LOCAL FAME AND MAIN-STAY OF “THE 1903 BO0STON RED SOX IMMY COLLINS MANAGER OF o~ OF THE FIRST B e 4 Sorme €V IN 1908 FHE FIRST WORLD REMEMBER 2 VLLSAY “THE B0STON AMERICAN OF 1903 ~WINNEKS WORLO SERIES CAAMPION~ SAIP AGRINST FRED SDER|ES, ~ O0V0- s ass R ~a SK DAD, IF HE ) 2EMEMBERS THE s b T\ E1R2ST CHAMPIONSH\P SERIES BETWEEN PROVIDENCE OFTHE \\ NATZ. LEAGOE ' AND METROPOLI~ “TAN§ OF THE_AMERICAN AJSOCI- ATION WITA RADBOLRNE (A1TCH- NG FOR PROVIDENCE AND LYNC NOKEEFE FOT2 THE METS D WHO (REMEMBERS THE FIRST TEMLE COP SER -lES BETWEEN BRALTIMORE “World Series Memories™ —By DiCk ManSfield e N N TESTo WHAT DO YOL REMEMBER P ENSWER YO LAST WEEKS RUESTION, HO WAS HI HENRY P AMO| “THE — ONSWER, MINSTREL MAN OF AAY NINETIES. NEXT WEEKS;, WRAT QiTCHER HOLDS THE [ZECORD o’ MOST STRIKE TS \NA OU WORLD SERIES GAMED | appearance the “doctor,” who pro-|or:private diseases who cannot make |in New Orleans, succeeded in doing | address letters to Lewis ac New Orleans fessed to be an Indian medicine man, | gt least one personal call on Espanto an enormous quackery business, local | from various parts of the country in order to obtain evidence against him: and in each case the accused or one of his employes replied with a request to send money orders and in return he would forward a medal, powder, charm, perfume, or whatever might be nece 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 a job as railroad president with a salary of at least $15,000 a year. He sent the money requested for the magic medicine and received various luck charms, pere fumes and enchanted powders, Dunbar told the jury, “I asked for a preparation that would make my wife come back home and bring the baby with her,” he said, jgiving the name and address of tl 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 pere | form the miracles claimed for them. | Inspector Dunbar said that the Gov- ernment 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. r!x'here are almost innumersble 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 a2 company selling possibly half a million dollars worth of spec- tacles a year. During the Federal investigation preceding the issusnce of a fraud order last May it was re- vealed that the company had beer operating the same sort of business for at least 10 years, but under 20 different names! | ITS system consisted in claiming to furnish you by mail with eye- glasses “as good as you could buy at the best class of opticsl store, but at much reduced prices.” They adver- | tised on & tremendous scale. In case you answered one of their ads, here’s | what would happen: First you would receive advertising literature, flam- 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 & few days your test lens would arrive. : —_—— Approximaftely 9,900 persons over 70 years old are on relief rolls in 63 Missouri counties.