Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-08-24
The Moffett Registers-Injunc-
ton Ec.-The Case rs 1t
Stands.

The Moffett Registers were put up in
? several saloons in Richmond during the
week of the State Convention, but were
scarcely up before their use was injoined.
Judge Hughes has fixed upon September
| 4th. at Alexandria, for the hearing OF the
case of the Liquor Dealers Association VS..
The State of Virginia and the Moffett reg
listers, and the Injunction restralns all par
ties from making, operating, or disturbing
said registers in the mean time. General
Field and Senator Grimsley. OF Cupeper,
counsel for Mr.. johnson, the contractor
for the make of the machines and for the
State. have gone to Norfolk to move Judge
Hughes to dissolve the injunction at once,
or until such order is made to increase
the bond of complainant, which is now but
$4,000.
The invention said to be infringed was
patented by one Vincent FOuntaine while
the Legislature was discussing the Moffett
| bill, and the right for Virginia was pur-
chased by d. G. Yuengling, proprietor of
the James River Brewery, with the view
of testing the bill. Fountaine claims
''In an apparatus for registering ana In,
dicating fares. and adapted to be carried
| in the hand, a shaft moved by the direct
application IF the hand, provided with a
worm mesliing into IL suitable wheel, and
| thereby communicating motion to the
mechanism which carries the indexes, and
also provided with an arm, which operates
the bell hammer. 4.
| ~ In the described apparatus the rota-
ting shaft-worm thereon operating to i'm
part motion through proper gearing to the
indexes. and the hammer lifters in combi-
nation with the pawl and ratchet On the
| said shaft. as set FORTH"
/ Dat vOY inn
Moffett and Deane a patent. The appl-
cants then appealed to the Board of Exam
liners, and they rendered the following de-
| ciSion:
''The device in controversy is regis
tering and alarm apparatus OF simple con-
struction, consisting OF a crank shaft OPP
Grating an ordinary train of lndex-gears,
such as are used in gas-meters, and having
a lug acting on spring-hammer for every
revolution. There is no substantial novel
ty in this style of register. The Fountain
Register cited in reference, shows full
anticipation of it, the different arrange
ment and size pointed out, being colorado,
not substantial, variations. The decision
of the Examiner in rejecting the case for
| lack of patentdble flOrelty, is affirmed.
| III. H. BATES.
| ssR, L. B. CLARKE.
Examiners-in-Chlef."
Three Washington experts depose, in pa
pers which were before Judge Hughes,
when the injunction was granted, that the
Moffett register is an Infringement upon
Fountains.
Notwithstanding these serious draw
| backs the State officers and DR.. Moffett are
sure that they will get the injunction dis
solved if they can but have an early hear
ing before Judge Hughes.
The Auditor is not authorized to use any
other style of register. There are plenty
that he could buy if he were authorized. But
the law requires Moffett's and none other
| to be used. The Hartford Alarm Register
Company have instruments that would do
admirably and could be purchased, but
without legislative authority the Auditor
cannot move foot in that direction.
The only hope Of the Auditor now is in
Judge Hugh hes dissolving the injunction.