The times., 1897-06-25
JEALOUS, US,SAYSWEDDERBURN
He Alleges Charges Against Him to
Be SpitewOrk.
Commissioner Butterworth Orders
He Should Not Be Disbarred.

Mr.. Benjamin Butterworth, Commissioned
of Patents, In his official capacity, has is
sued an order to the patent firm of We'd
derburn & Co., OF this city. to show cause
why they should not be disbaired from
practice before the Patent Office.
The charge against this flIm is that
Of fraud. The oider OF Commissioner But
terworth recftes certain charges which
have been mace against the company by
other patent attorneys. They are, briefly,
that the corporation either wilfuiIy or by
reason OF gloss negligence makes improper
and incomplete searches or exarnina tions
Is to the patentahlhty of various inyen-
tions or designs. not such searches as its
clients believe are made; that the com
pany circulates advertising intended To in
cite the persons to W hom it is sent to be-
heve that they can make large SUNS or
money ia patenting small articles very
easily, when, in reality, such is not the
case, and that, further, the corporation IS
using fraudulent matter in the way of let
teIs of recommendation iii its advertising.
reporter for The Times called on
Commissioner Buttcrworth at his home
last night to ask him regarding the
order against sdderburn & Co
Il am acting entirely as a Judge in
this matter, refereeing these charges that
have been brought against Wedderburn by
other patent attorneys. l have no great
personal feeling either way in the mat
ter, though confess that l have formed N
opinion.
However, 1 shall have the charges
against Wedderburn & Co. sifted to the
bottom, and shall give the firm every
Opportunity to answer them and TO dis
prove them IL they can do so. / have
already talked with their lawyers, and
have given them all the informal tion that
l can regarding the nature of the charges
and what 1t will be necessary for them to
prove to get their clients out Of this
trouble
Il shall certainly make il my business
to prevent any such fraudulent use Of
the Patent Office as small side adj
junct to private business, as it is
alleged the Wedderburn corporation is
doing. if it Is proven against them or
against any one else"
Mr.. John Wedderburn, the head of the
firm Of Wedderburn & Co., was seen
also at his home on Tenth street relative
to the charges. He seemed very indg-
nant about them, and said that they would
every one be not only disproven, but
shown to he malicious and entirely with
out foundation.
1.-The whole trouble has arisen," said
Mr.. We6delburn, from the fact that
though good business methods and a
tfr;..
business of my concern flourish, while
that of less progressive concerns has
dwindled.
IAN of the methods of this concern are
entirely legitimate and business-like, and
Commissioner Buttorworth will so con-
slider them himself, as soon as he has
been put n possession of the facts. 1
have no fear whatever that shall be dis
barred from practice before the Patent
Office"
The order against Wedderburn & Co re-
cites that the company is charged with a d.
vising clients that inventions are patent
able. when "a many eases cit is evident
that no examination was made or that the
examination, If made, was not thorough
but wiilfully. or by reasons of gross or in
eXcusable negligence and in violation of
the agreement made, incomplete, false and
deceptive, a1d not such as was contempiat-
ed by the said persons or clients
II is also charged hat the company has
circulated advertisements intended to in
cite the persons to w HON they are sent to
imagine and believe that many of Ihe
minor arts of common civilized life are
untried fields for inventors; whereas you
the said corponation well know, OF should
well know, that such arts are common and
familiar fields of invention, and further
that the said persons to whom such circu-
lars are sent are thus led to conceive and
make nventions relative to such arts and
TO apply fer patents for such Inventions,
whereas, In fact, others have obtained
previous patents for the same inventions;
and the said persons are also induced by
promises and offers of medals and prizes
contained in the same circulars, advertise
meEts. or pamphlets, to make unpatentable
inventions andsto apply for such invention
through you, the said John Wedderburn