Daily Republican., 1879-04-29
DIR. CiIALFANT'S CRIME.

The Reason why the Fatal Shal
was Fired-The Orig ihattOn OF the
Dispute given by the Boston
Globe.
The reasons which led to the murder
of Josiah Bacon by DR.. Chalfant, for
merly Of Wilmington, is related in the
following article clipped from the Bos-
ton Globe. Bacon is known among the
dentists Of our city and our citizens
remember the dispute which occurred
between Mr.. Bacon and the members of
the profession in this city some four
years ago, over the right to use
the Dental Vulcanite. The Boston
"Globe" says:
The Goodyear Dental Vulcanite Com
pany is corporation familiar to mul-
titude of men, but none have had more
occasion to know the object and scope
of its operation than the thousands
who practice the dental art. The agent,
Josiah Bacon, was a man known per-
sonally and by reputation as few out CT
high public life have ever been known
in America. In personal appearance
he was very striking, and many had
noted in him marked and really
wonderful resemblance to the Car
Nicholas, father of the present Empe-
ror. The history of the past shows
how he has championed the "vulcanite
patent" concerning which there has
been almost endless litigation, fighting
the enemies of extension at every point
and with wonderful quickness, making
the warfare aggressive when th-re was
a stronghold of law or precedent to be
captured.
To his work, that Of collecting royal.
ties for the use or hard rubber or vul
canite in making plates for false teeth,
he antagonized the 10000 dentists in
this country by exacting from them
sums of money which they were legally
bound to pay under Judgment of court,
but which were nevertheless often re-
garded as unjust and extortiOnate in
character. A bitter feeling of enmity
against Bacon was then engendered,
which was intensified by the persistent
and tncompromising spirit Of the man.
''Many men," AYERS one gentleman,
"have Josiah Bacon's proceedings wor-
ried into the grave" When the old
Goodyear patent expired by limitation
there was general rejoicing among the
dentists of the country, who believed
that hencetorth they would be reed
from paying royalty for the use of hard
rubber for plates. But by brilliant
move executed by Josiah Bacon the ia
bles were turned upon the dentists and
the exaction of royalties continued.
For more than two years there was
no attempt made, it would appear, to
get a new patent. Hundreds ard
thousands of dentists introduced the
new material in their business, and i.
found decided favor with the general
public. All this, it is claimed, was de,
liberately planned, and when the time
for claiming patents 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 pub
lie.
1t is said that Bacon was accustomed
to keep records of conversations had
with dentists from time to time, utilz-
ing these transcripts as "true records"
to all intents and purposes, in bringing
his suits. From the data thus obtained
Bacon devised, it is said, graded Ia
riff, varying from $50 to 5000 year roy
atty. One great cause of complaint
seems to have been that this tariff was
adhered to, once fixed, without regard,
as is asserted, to falling off in business
or other change in the state Of affairs.
If the license asked was refused suit
was brought, and oftentimes it seems to
have been compromised, the dentist pay
ing the fee asked as matter of economy.
The long litigation regarding vul-
canite was settled in favor of the vail
dity of the patent; but it was by no
means unanimous dec sion. 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
a celel rated case in favor of the cor
poration which he represented. Such
statements as these added fuel to the
fire, and there is no room to doubt that
the man was held in intense hatred,
perhaps since the dullness
in business began.
About year since Josiah Bacon went
to California to press collections, and
not long ago Mr.. Caduc, an agent Of tho
Goodyear Dental Vulcanite Company,
went to San Francisco, where he was told
that if Bacon came out there again to
institute suits, as he had threatened 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 attention, and he left Boston March
18th for San Francisco.-On arriving he
brought suit against Chalfant for i'll
and it was during a dis
,ussion between the plaintiff and de-
endant at Baltimore hotel that the
Iced was committed.
DeIaWare's Future.
Charles Dudley Warner in speaking
If tba ,aUion q lopp fba Dol III q ra Rivor