The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-22
A FORTUNE IN SIGHT,
COLONEL STEPHENSON WINs 4 SUIT
 OFMUCH IMPORTANCE.

The United states Courts Decide That the
 Compapy of Which he is Preident May
 Demand Royalty for Every Electric or
 Cable Car In Use in This Country.
 Bridgeport, Aug. 2l.-Judge Laeonnbe, fin the United States Circuit court in New York last week, rendered deei- sion of vital importance to not only all manufacturers in this country of trucks for cable and electric railway cars, but also to the companies using such trucks More than this, 1t Is of interest to the people of this city. for not only the reason that 1t Is In favor of one of the most prominent local citizens, but 1t may also result In establishing here another large manufacturing enter prise.
 The American Car Truck Manufac- turing Co., were the plaintiffs, and of this company Colonel W. H. Stevenson Is the president and largest stockhold- CT, owning in fact majority. His eld- est son, w. Shelton Stevenson, Is secre- tary and treasurer: H. c. Stevenson, another son, is q director, and John D. Waring, of Newark. is vice-president, all of these officers having been elected last Saturday. The company is capi- talized at $50,000, but promises to do a business of millions, as the company owns patent for trucks for all cable and electric street cars, which Colonel Stevenson declares is more valuable than the patent for the Westinghouse air-brake for steam cars. The snlt was over a patent which, unless all signs fail, promises to make its owners millionaires.
 About ten years ago John D. Warlng invented and patented device for at teching electric and other motors and cable grips to car trucks. oWlilg to lack of money he was unable to use his patent to his financial advantage, ana realizing that the development ef elec- tric and cable street railroading would eventually make it of great value, he decided not to sell 1t, but to wait until he secured the capital necessary to pro- tcct his rights. Among others to whom he offered a chance to profit by the in- yentiorl was Colonel Stevenson, who also saw. that the patent offered great possibilities for the future and who concluded to take an interest
 The patent is the device by which all motors, whether for trolley cars, stor- age battery cars or cable cars are at tached to the trucks. With such cars for oil if tIa 11yho to be connected with a solid truck, which has to be made specially to support the heavy motor apparatus. It would appear that up to the present time but one device, and that an infringement of the Waring patent, has been in use for this purpose, and also that this is the only arrangement which has proved practicable. Every car truck manufacturer in this country has been using it. After finding out all these things and fully fortifying themselves with all of the necessary evidence, Col onel Stevenson and his associates brought suit against ore of the firms manufacturing car trucks. with the result of obtaining judgment as stated. The defendants paid up in full. They are enjoineu from further trespassing upon the rights of the plaintiffs, who will now proceed to establish their rights with other to1npanies using their patent.
 The immense importance of the de- cision may be judged from the fact that in Brooklyn alone there are about 10000 electric cars, 5000 in Boston, and probably 100000 more,. in~other cities, with thousands yet to be built. In fact the business is yet in its infancy. The patent still has four years to run, with the privilege of a seven years re- newal. The prospects for the owners are very much on the Monte Cristo order. '''' |'"*"',''.'' @S