Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-23
HUMBUGGING OUR INVENTORS.
A Bogus Partisan Academy Selling The
Gilt Medals M $40 Apiece

a Bogus Partisan Academy Selling Them
Gilt Medals At $40 Apiece.
From the Philadeiphia Record
A swindling scheme which a clever Partisan
has applied successfully to many American
inventors has just been exposed by the author
tiles of the Franklin Institute. From
the Office Of an alleged ''Parisian Inventors
Academy" in Paris, France. its president"
E. Boettcher, sent circulars broadcast among
the inventors of the United States. informing
them that they had been elected members of
honor of the academy. and that with this dis
tinctlon went a '.frst-class diploma" and a
great gold medal" This valuable title ~
naiveiy announces the circular, will be no
expense to you. but If You are DESTROYS 70 re-
ceive the medal and diploma you would have
to send us post money order of $40 to cover
the admission taxes, freight, &C.. and We shall
send both well packed and free Of charge to
your address"
Among the Philadelphians who have been
induced to send SO for this bogus medal are
Cyrus Chambers, president of the Bala and
Merton Electric Company. and S. Lloyd Vie
gand. the well-known inventor. There are
many Others in this city who have secured
medals from Boettcher. several members of the
Franklin Institute among the number Dur
ing the past year, DIR. VAIL says. there are al
mos. one hundred inquiries recorded at the
institute concerning the academy from invent
or who had received the medal
The circular which lured the credulous in
ventors to invest their $40 each is gotten M
with all the usual academic recommendation.
The president OF honor is T. De A Des Ma
sures. alleged to have been a mayor and a
knight of the Legion OF Honor. Boettchcr is
the president director and there is long list
OF directors with imposing titles.
How these men. many of whom are OF good
standing, came to allow their names to be used
as directors is inexplicable. The attention of
the institute was frs drawn TO this widespread
swlndiing scheme by inquiries to the stand
ing OF the Partisan Inventors Academy" and
SO numerous did these become that Dr. wahi
determined to make o crucial examination of
the matter. He did so, and as result he felt
justified In issuing this open letter to American
inventors:
American inventors are hereby informed
that y. Boettcher and his academy are frauds.
There is the best official authority for the
statement that NJ. Boetscher is engaged in the
preparation OF a swindle; that his academy
has no existence save on paper; that his
diplomas and medals have absolutely no value.
and that his only visible means of support are
the fees derived from credulous American
inventors"
The information which led to the issue of
this letter was obtained from Consul yoissor.
who wrote to the department Of agriculture
and public works Of Paris in behalf of the in
stitute, and procured Boettcher's record. His
academy" was shown to be q pure myth
Boettchers method in sending out his circu-
lars is supposed TO have been to consult the
recently recorded inventions in the Patent
Office Official Gazette" and spread his circu-
had their vanity tickled and became easy
victims. The medal was always sent when the
$40 was forwarded, and Is neat aud pretty
in design and skillfully gilded.