December 15, 1953
Sheriff W.O. (Jimmy) Hicks Tuesday announced operations of three sets of itinerant magazine salesmen had been halted in El Paso County recently, and warned citizens of the County to be cautious before buying subscriptions or anything else from out-of-state promotion crews.
Managers of two crews were jailed in the County this week, Hicks said. Sheriff’s deputies picked up a crew manager in the Upper Valley several days ago and he was fined $25 for having out-of-state automobile license while working in Texas.
Unable to raise bond, he is in the County Jail, Hicks said.
Two state Highway Patrol officers Tuesday arrested another operator, in the Lower Valley, and he too was jailed.
Hicks said the traveling sales crews always are operating at this time of year and frequently complaints are received from citizens who pay money to the groups and receive no merchandise as promised. He advised that subscriptions and other things sold by the traveling groups be bought from local salesmen.
Chief of Police John C. Risinger said City police had not been bothered with similar problems because of an ordinance which forces the crews to post $1,000 bond with the chief of police.
The company for which the crews work post the bond and each crew chief must register each of his salesmen with police. Persons having any doubt as to the authenticity of traveling salesmen should call the office of the chief of police and check to see if they are registered, Risinger said.
Persons not registered are subject to arrest, he said, if the bonded companies fail to deliver the promised merchandise, the citizen may obtain a refund from the bond posted with police.
“People are good about keeping us informed of the activities of these crews,” Rislingr said. “By checking the addresses of the persons who call in to check on the authenticity of the salesmen, we can keep in constant touch with the neighborhood where the salesmen are working.
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