Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-19
Josiah Bacon.

Josiah Bacon of Boston, who was recently
murdered in San Francisco by dentist, Dr.
Chalfant, was an agent of the Goodyear Dem
tai Vulcanite Company, in which employ
ment he made himself obnoxious to all the
dentists in the country An account of him
in the Boston Globe says
A bitter feeling of enmity against Bacon
was thus engendered, which was intensified
by the persistent and uncompromsing spirit
of the man. MANY men," AYERS one gentle
man, "haye by Josiah Bacon's proceedings
been worried into the grave" When the old
Goodyear patent expired by limitation, there
was general rejoicing among the dentists of
the country, who believed that henceforth
they would be relieved from paying royalty
for the use of hard rubber for plates. Butby
brilliant move executed by Josiah Bacon,
the tables were turned upon the dentists, and
the exacton of royalties continued. For
more than two years there was no attempt
made, it would appear, to get new patefft
Hundreds of thousands of dentists introduced
the new material in their business, and il
found decided favor with the general public
All this, it is claimed was deliberately plan
ned, and when the time for claiming patent
came, the field for the operation of royalty
was vastly wider than would have been the
case had there been any suspicion that the
new invention was not free to the public
1t is said that Bacon was accustomed to
keep records of conversations had with den
lists from time to time, utilizing these tran
scripts as "true records" to all intents and
purposes, in bringing his suits. From the
data thus obtained Bacon devised, it is said
graded tariff varying from $50 to 5000 a
year royalty. One great cause of complaint
seems to have been that this tariff was ad-
hered to, once fixed, without regard. as is as
serted, to falling off in business or other
change in the state of affairs. If the license
asked was refused suit was brought. and of.
tentimes it seems to have been compromised
the dentist paying the fee asked as a matter
of economy.
The long litigation regarding vulcanite was
settled in favor of the validity of the patent
but 1t was by no means a unanimous decision.
1t was asserted that the victorious agent had
carried himself throughout the last trial in
dictatorial manner, as though sure of success
and that in his Office in Boston there hung
photographs of the judges on the bench which
had settled celebrated case in favor of the
corporation which he represented. Such
statements as these added fuel to the fire, and
there is no room to doubt the man was held
in intense hatred. especially, perhaps. since
the dizziness in business began About Il
year since Josiah Bacon went to California to
press collections, and not long ago Mr. Ca
due, an agent of the Goodyear Dental Vul-
canite Company, went 10 San Francisco,
where he was told that if Bacon came out
there again to institute suits, rs he had threat
ened to do if certain parties did not pay up.
he would be shot. On Mr.. Caduc's return
here he told Mr.. Bacon of the threats, but
the latter gave the matter little or no atten-
ton, and he left Boston March Is for San
Francisco.