The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-27
COMPLAINT MADE
AGAINST 4 RAILWAY
Bill Filed in the Supreme
Court of the District.
A TROLLEY PATENT IN ISSUE
Plaintiffs Assert Wrongful Use Of an
Invention With Alleged Intent to De
prive Them of R0yalties-Other Suits
Pending IN the West

Benson Bidweu and Clara BidweU.
citizens and residents Of the state Of
Illinois. and Charles +. BidweH. citi-
zen ana resident OF the State OF Ohio,
filed a bill Of complaint in the Supreme
Court Of the District Of Columbia 10
day against the Washington Traction
ard Electric Company The complaint
alleges that Benson RidweI. before and
At the time Of his application for Ger
tain letters patent on September /.
1854. vas The inventor Of useful inven-
lions, methods ard devices for Dropel-
ling and operating cars BY electricity
that said inventions were not known o:
patented or described in any printed
publication in this or any other country
before his invention. nor were they
known OF. on sale in this country for two
years prior 10 his application IOT letters
patent
The coupIainants show that ca Sep
tembev >. 1893. letters patent No 504-34g
were delivered to Benson Bidweu under
the seal OF the Patent Office OF The
United States, granting him, his heirs
or assigns the exclusive right to make,
use ard sell the inventions throughout
the United States and Territories Tor
the full term CT seventeen years
Transference Of Rights.
The complaints further show that b.
assignments. all the rights 50 granted
20 Benson BtdweH have been transferred
10 them. also al rights Of action Tor in
fringfng the patents. Il IS further al
legged that no specimens OF ,he lnvcn-
lions have been made and placed upon
lie market by any person having a law
fCl right 10 DO SO. but the compliments
have been prevented rom making the
Inventors and placing them OF the
market by ths defendant and other in
fringeTs.
The ccmpIainants allege that in 1893
and after the date Cf the patent. and
I'D 10 the time Of the commencement d
this scit the defendant did wrong
fully api unlawEuIly make and use The
invention. with intent 10 deprive the
complainantS of the royalties which
they might and otherwise would have
received rom The sale OF rights 70
make and use The Inventions and with
the intent of deriving profit rom the
use Of the inventions so covered BY the
letters patent. and without the license
OF the comPlaiHants. and still persists
IN so doing and ihe Gafa1dant has ue-
rived large profits and the complain
ants have incurred lsTse damages
Ask for an Injunction.
The compliments say THAT unless the
defendant IS restrained by a writ CT in
junction issued by the Supreme Court
OF the District OF Columbia. it viii con
tiuue to make. use. snd sell Numbers O.
specimens Of the invention. and cause
injury TO their rights.
They ask the granting Of a prelim-
mary and also permanent writ CT in
junction. directed TO the Washington
Traction and Electric Company cnj0iE
ing il not 20 make. or use, or sell, O.
cause 70 be made, used. or sold. any Gp
paratus or device caEJainiug or employ.
ing the invention covered and secured
by the letters TateE=. ard thar tie &c
fendant, by q decree 0f rEe CONT. I-uI
be compelled 20 account for and Tar
over 70 the rom9lz5Csnss all the croft.
which the defendant has derived. Of
shall have derived. and also that III,
defendant Se deeTeed % paw al tbt
damages which shall have. incurred, or
account Of the Defendants infringe
ment; also to pay the costs OF the suit
The compliments ask that a writ o
subpoena be directed 10 the washington
Traction and Electric Company. CON
manding il 10 appear before The court
Filler Of the Complaint.
The complaint was fled by Charles
r. Bidweu. OF Toledo Ohio. who is busi
ness manager OF me patent litigation
TO q reporter tBis morning be statet
that the patent IS for the successful an,
commercial operation Of conduit eIectrj,
-.rrrg rot TOD
Washington. anJ also II New York citv
Ny father said Mr.. BidwelI
claims 10 be ;Ee inventor o. the troll
and conduit systems Of electric railway.
wherein cars arc operated lighted, ans
heated by one current HIS hcue is j
Chicago. Ny father first operated car.
by these systems N Philadelphia "a,
Boston IN 1884 and 1855 a. the electrica
exhibitions held ia these cities The
operation Of all electric cars Is prae
ticaliy the same today, the only differ
encc being larger cars. larger power
houses, and longer lines
Mr. Bidweu said that suits are nov
pending under various BidEeil patents
through the West Among the cities
ere Grand Rapids Cleveland. Toledo
Detroit, ST. Louis, Milwaukee, MANS
tee, san Francisco, and Minneapolis.
Mr.. BidWeu has Just arrived here from
III tlOtu- tJii-l-- " mere ne aaS INSTITUTED
suits against the Hartford Street Rail
way Company. and experts to institute
suits or the BidweII trolley patents il
New York AID Boston later on and pro
poses 10 fight 10 final decision thes
cases and establish the fact IA tn
couTss that Benson BidweH his father
e the inventor Of the conduit and rrOiie
electric railway system as now operated
The Death Record.