BEGGING LETTERS

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 1

BEGGING LETTERS

Ingenious Methods Used in England. LONDON, March 26. The recent Law Courts case concerning begging letters, when a titled woman was sent to prison, has resulted in the revelation that the Charity Organisation Society has dossiers of over 50,000 begging letter writers and promoters of bogus charities. Their methods are ingenious and clever. One is a verse-writing officer who conducts his business on a large scale. He has a staff to send out a booklet of poems. When kind-hearted people buy a copy for a few shillings they always receive by the next post a request for the loan of £lO. His “ business ” has continued for over 20 years. He even has a foreign department. Another is the “ Rent Book Ladv.” She sends out hundreds of rent books showing various arrears because “ my husband has just died.” Alternatively her husband is dying of cancer. The society at one time received £3O a or t * l * s S ase > “if proved genuine.” Many thousands of pounds are paid away by people who do not seek the society’s verification. Another man specialises in country clergy. He sends appeal:',, announcing that they had christened or prepared him lor conformation. So far he has been christened ” over 50 times.