The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-10
AN INTERNAL MACHINE.
An AnnihiIator of Human Life Refused a
Patent by the Government.
New Haven, Conn, Special,

New Haven, Conn, Special,
A well-known Bridgeport professor makes
public the facts concerning an engine which
he calls the instant and noiseless annihilator
of human life, which can be operated with
out detection, and which the United States
government has just refused to patent for
him, because of its dangerous character, and
from fear that it will be used for nefarious
purposes A reporter visited this man to-
day, and was shown the machine.
1.-The principal objection to it," said the
inventor, ION the part of the United States
Patent Office was, believe, the fact that
they feared 1 was in league with belligerent
Irishmen and was seeking the protection of
our government in the future work of killing
off English members of Parliament who are
hostile to the Land Leaguers."
The invention consists OF brass belt of
fine workmanship. 1t is forty-two inches
long by five inches wide and is fve-eighths of
an inch thick.
DO you see that?'' he exclaimed, pointing
to slightly projecting nipple that was ex
actly in the middle of the belt, 81 can drive
pellet from that nipple that will penetrate
the skin of an OK at distance of sixty feet.
If the OK is alive will guarantee to kill it
pellet. There will be no noise from the fir
ing of this deadly missile, as you shall see
before you leave. l simply place my elbow
to my side and the machine goes off with
the force of a rife. The pellet is you will
note" and here the inventor took down a
case containing several grey, greenish-look-
ing objects about three inches long and as
large as the head Of pencil ''as heavy as SO
much lead, but no lead enters into its COM
position. 1t is all poison, concentrated by
pressure, 100 parts into one part, and the in
gradients OF that poison is my secret Now
if you will wait moment | will bring in a
dog that have in the back yard, and which
l decided this morning TO lay on the altar of
science. You will then be able to judge of
my beautiful invention"
In the absence of the old man, the CORE
spondent took up the deadly belt and exam
ined it closely. Though the outside was of
brass it was lined with steel and was very
flexible and hollow. The front was wider
and thicker than the sides and back, and the
whole machine felt much heavier than it
looked. A hinge allowed the back to open
and the belt to encircle the body Once in
place it snapped together much like hand
cuff The entire front was composed of
smooth brass, on the undersde of which,
right under the nipple, there was an attach
ment which seemed to be to enable the
wearer to load the belt. Otherwise the
machine looked far from being dangerous.
The poor dog was placed by the stove. The
professor brought out an air-pump from the
closet placed the belt under it. and pro-
ceeded to charge it with a tremendous press
ure When he had finished the gauge in
the pump stood at 10000 pounds The
belt was then quite rigid, but gave no evil
dence of the terrible strain upon it, After
he had removed the belt from the pump he
threw aside his coat, clasped the belt about
him, placed one of the pellets in the nipple
and ,.roA ittlc cfn
under each arm, which he then connected
with the belt. After replacing his clothing,
taking care to put the nipple through but
ton hole in his wastcoat where it was
scarcely observable, he announced that he
was ready.
Watch me closely" said he, you will
hear no sound"
Facing the dog he pressed his left elbow
against his side, which action, he said,
cooked" the strange device, making it
ready to go off from a light pressure on the
other side of his body. Next his right arm
fell
There" said he, with nervous motion,
wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead,
that dog is shot. In less than fifteen min
utes it will be dead"
1t did not seem possible that the dog had
been struck with anything. The Professor
explained that the penetration was so swift
and the hole made by the pellet so small that
it caused very little pain, no more than that
made by the point of pin. Suddenly the
dog gave piercing shrek, jumped from the
floor into the air, and fell back lifeless He
was dead. ut is not necessary" said the
Professor, "that these projectiles should
reach vital part to cause death. 1t is only
necessary it should enter under the skin of
the animal or man. The warmth and mois-
ture of the body dissolves the substance of
which the pellet is composed, and the in
stance drop of blood that is tainted with it
enters the heart death ensues."