Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-24
Mr.. CUSTER INDIGNANT
The Government Owes Him Little Matter
Of Thirty Millions.
Some Of the Little Things He Has In
vented-He Writes to Sec
rotary Francis.

letter has been received at the Interior
Department stating that Mr.. Joseph Gus
ter, a resident of st. LOUIS with whom 1t
is said Secretary Francis has some ac-
quaintance, has forwarded to the Secretary
G communication. in which Custer demands
from the government the trifiing sum Of
$3O.OOO,OOO as payment for the use Of gun,
which Custer claims he invented. ana WHICH
he says was adopted by the 'secfetary Of
War, but for which he has received no
money
Mr.. Custer. 1t is stated, is in doubt as to
the amount of his claim. 1t may be only
such a trif1e two hundred thou
sand dollars. but Mr.. Custer Is quite certain
it is more. He does not think 1t will
coed twenty or thirty millions. The claim
is based upon certain inventions in guns
and projectiles. which inventions are the
creatures Of Mr.. Clusters brain. These in
ventions have been. Mr.. Custer alleges,
fraudulently and feloniously appropriated
by the United States government, as he
asserts Secretary Francis knows person
ally, and as he will learn officially so soon
as the papers reach him.
1t is not generally known outside of his
own city that Mr.. Custer Is the inventor of
the rifled cannon. Such, however, is the
fact, as may be proven by very compl-
Gated drawings on file in Mr.. Clusters
workshop and residence. The rified cannon
Is only a small part of the grand ideas
which the government has filched from Mr..
Custer. Following upon it, as a natural
successor. was the pioneer shot," as Mr..
custer calls 1t. This Is an immense bullet,
so constructed as to afford accommodation
for two or three armed men. When it Is
fired into the enemys lines the bullet will
DO considerable damage. Some small holes
permit the pioneers to make a survey OF
the surroundings. If conditions are favor
able, they touch spring which releases
them from confinement, and they ravage
the enemy's country. If conditions are not
propltious for ravaging, they remain in the
strong shell secure from attack Within
the bullets are stores of provisions and also
a few lanterns, Mr. Custer having figured
it out that the bullet might sometimes be
shine.
1t Is not known to Mr.. Custer whether the
government has filched the pioneer shot"
RMS can only be determined when the gov
eminent begins to use it, Mr.. Custer saws
1t has not yet been used. but he suspects
that the government has it up its sleeve, TO
be flashed upon an astoiSShcd enemy the
hrst time there is war. The idea is such
good one and Its execution so easy that
there is every reason to believe that the
government took it. along with the Others
But Mr.. Custer has other ideas. He pro-
poses to attach knives to bullets. so that in
case OF fires it will be easy to cut tele-
graph wires. To again string the wires
they will be attached to bullets and fired
back into their respective places. 1t is
very simple. II the government ever uses
and destruction. The most formidable
weapon devised by him is a gun which will
shoot in all directions at the same time, SO
that the enemy will be struck no matter
where it stands. The plans and specifica-
lions for this and other devices OF Mr.. Gus
ter are now somewhere in the department
of ordnance OF the United States army or
else they are in the hands of the board of
| Notifications, Mr.. Custer does not know
which. For three years Mr.. Custer has
been endeavoring to regain possession of
| the papers, but the government knows a
| good thing when 1t sees 1t. and will not turn
| loose its hold on the documents.
When MIR. Francis was made Secretary of
the Interior Mr.. Custer rejoiced, for he felt
| that the presence of a Missouri man in the
| cabinet would have a favorable influence
upon his case. Mr. Custer does not doubt
| that his rights will now be recognized. He
| thinks a commission will be appointed to
| fix value on the inventions. 1t is hardly
probab BILE. he says, that the government will
return his ideas to him. for in that event
| they might get into the market and be sold
to a foreign country.