Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1909 — FORMER RENSSELAER BOY IN CLUTCHES OF UNCLE SAM. [ARTICLE]

FORMER RENSSELAER BOY IN CLUTCHES OF UNCLE SAM.

William Gus Sentenced To Jail For Using Malls To Defraud—Did a Big Mall Order Business. / *•* William Gus, a former ..Renss* a et boy, was convicted in t : a! qourt. at Indianapolis Month.. r ■ ■ ish ing the malls to defraud and wag fined $lO and sentenced to serve a six months sentence in the Marion courn* ty jail. i Gus was married here a few months ago after being divorced from his first wife and moved to Syracuse, Ind., where he worked at the cement coni tracting business. Business growing slack he entered the mail order business, in which hq had had considerable previous ex* periqnce. He opened up that branefi of the business last February and adi vertised for “Agents Wanted” undeti the name of the W. E. Gus Sales Co, His scheme was to advertise for per-i sons to represent his company, claim-i ing they could make good wages without devoting much time to ths business. As an evidence of good faith Gus required a deposit of $1 for an agent’s outfit. The outfit which was sent contained three powders, with instructions to dissolve them in a gali lon of water, bottle and label them, using labels sent with the. powder. A supply of printed testimonials was also sent with the powders, and ths agent was expected to distribute the circulars and medicine from house to house and go back later and collect for the medicine or take it up. Expert testimony disclosed that the outfit was worth six cents. Gus was doing a land office business and had a number of the citizens of Syracuse interested in the proposition with the view of incorporating into a stock company when the post office department took a hand. It was brought out in the testimony, that 400 outfits had been sold since February and things were going along nicely when three investors from Ohio entered complaint and Gus was arrested. At the trial Gus was defended by two young lawyers and strong efforts were made to secure an acquittal. Mayor Ellis and Moses Leopold, of Rensselaer, appeared as character witnesses for Gus. Gus was always considered an honest boy here. He had traveled considerably and had been engaged in the mail order and distributing business considerably.