Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-19
THE WIZARD SWiNDLED.
Thomas A. Edison P Nbed of
 $25o, 1000.



 Pennsylvania Capitalists Got Rich Bo- nanza, and tine Great Inventors Confi- dential Agents Pocket Fortune for Themselves on the Work of His Genius. NEW YORK, Jan. l9,-The story published yesterday to the effect that Inventor Thomas X. Edison had discharged his patent lawyer, John C. Tomiinson, because the latter had lot obtained much he should for MT. Edson's phouograph, has been fully verified. Mr. Edison, it is said, has lost about S25o 900, md principally through the negligence, or worse, of n man he had made wealthy
 MT. Edison himself exceedingly reti- sent about the matter yesterday, although ad- hitting the truth of tine statement.
 \ very close friend of the inventor was more communicative. This gentleman said Mir. Tomlinson was struggling lawyer when Mr. Edison met him. The professor threw all the business possible in his way. The ac- .aintance of the two ripeaed into the warm sst friendship Eight years ago Mir. Tomlin- ,on had charge of all MT. Edison's legal Affairs. Later on the young lawyer made himself so indispensable to Mir. Edison that ae made him attorney for the electric light company.
 Tomlinson's revenue from the company be- came soon so large that he hired nicely fur nished offices at 40 Wall street, and became, through his ability, one of the best known patent lawyers. In July last MT. Edison de- sired to capitalize the patent of his phono- graph. His laboratory work kept him so occupied that he had little time to devote to business details. Whether at the suggestion of Mir. Tomlinson or some one else does not transpire, but MT. Edison engaged E. T. Gilliland, practical electrician, at salary of SC, 900 year, to help raise the money nee essary The agreement was that he should receive 15O shares of stock in the new company and Tomlinson 300 shares Gilliland and Tomlinson worked hard to se- cure the cash, and finally interested Jesse Fl. Lippincott, of Pittsburg, in the scheme One day the two called upon Mir. Edison and informed him that they had been offered s5OO,O 900 for the invention The professor was not satisfied with this otfer
 He believed his contrivance to be worth more. On asking his agents if they could secure no better terms they are said to have assured him that S50O,O0 was the limit ''The Wizard after much hesitation, agreed to these terms. Tomlinson drew up bill of sale, the cash waS paid and the valuable in- veution became Mir Lippincott's property.
 The Pittsburg gentleman lost no time in forfhins A corporation. He interested c. A. Cheeyer, the rubbsr dealer of this city, and Penhsylvania capitalists in the enterprise, and the stock went off like hot cakes, Messrs. Tomlinson and Gilliland being permitted to retain the shares agreed upon at the outset. The North American Monograph company was incorporated and the stockholders were laughing in their sleeves at the ridiculously low price at which they had purchased the phonograph, when Professor Edison was given tip that not only astonished, but finally grieved and enraged him It was that Mr. Lippincott had actually paid S,50, 900 in- stead of $500, ,0OO to Messrs. Tomlinson and Gilliland.
 Immediately the inventor instituted an investigation for the purpose of ascertaining where the additional S25Q, 900 had gone to. It took him not great while to discover that . Tomlinson had charged not less than $62. 500, and some say S70, 900, for the onerous task of drawing up the bill of sale Whether Gilli- land had pocketed the remainder of the $2o0, : 900 or had divided it with Tomlinson the reporters informant was unable to positively state. Professor Edison was loath to believe that he could have been tricked by a man whom he had lifted from comparative ob- scurity and poverty to no inconsiderable fame and wealth. He summoned Tomlinsor to his presence, and that gentleman indig nantly denied that ne nad ln any way wronged him. ''The Wizard" nevertheless proceeded to sift the thing to the bottom.
 Further inquiry resulted in his gaining pos session of affidavits, which he presented be fore the law committee of the Edison com pany This consists of ex-Judge Noah Davis chairman; Edward H. Johnson, president oi the company; Charles Smithers and MT Wright of Drexel, Morgan & Co. Both Pro lessor Edison and MT. Tomlinson appearet before the committee and told their stories A member of it is said to have remarke, that sufficient evidence was deduced to a least prove Tomlinson guilty of g seriou breach of professional honor, in misrepresent ing a transaction to client, than whic offense none is regarded more base by tn members of the bar.
 Whatever may have been the character c the committees report 1t apparently was no complimentary to Mir, Tonilinson, for thre weeks ago he was compelled to sever his rels tions with the company and with that a income variously estimated at from $30, ,0O to $50, 900 year.
 MT. Gilliland is no longer associated wit the Edison company either. With neither C them is Mir. Edison now on speaking term: On the other hand, it was asserted yesterda that suit would be brought very soon to a certain what right Messrs Tomlinson & Gill land have to the $250, 900 they are declare sale.
 PLUCK AND LUCK.
 A Newspaper Man Saves Another, and
 Rewarded by q Fortune.