The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-06-18
Many at Louisville Compelled to
Pay Heavily.
German Firm Sends Representatives
to Collect Money for Patent
Infringement.
FEW PADUCAH MEN CAUGHT

capped a Skin game" that number of
Louisville druggists fell victims to.
Is is claimed by the Louisville papers
that since the first Of the year the drug
gists here have been compelled to pay
out about $50, 900 to representatives. of
a German medicine firm for alleged
infringement on patent.
A few of the druggists refused to
pay and are being prosecuted in the
courts.
The following explanations is CIV
en-:
A German drug house, Farbenfab-
ricKen, of Elberfiled. Germany, claims
to hold patents on certain coal tar pre-
parstions, two Of the best Known of
the drugs being known as trional and
phenacetip. They allege that no 9th
er firm but theirs is legally entitled to
sell these drugs in the United States.
Their patents, they declare, were Sc
cured only after constant experiment
ing by skilled chemist in their en-
ploy, who was enabled TO finally
evolve the drugs to state OF perfec-
tion. Both drugs are used as opiates
largely. Phenacetin is especially pop
ular, and is used all over the country,
as an anti .pyretic. Having what they
thought was sole control of the OPT
ates, the house of Farbenfabricken
placed fancy prices ON them, so that
they are expensive in this country.
Until few months ago Louisville
drug firms purchased these drugs from
g man named Bartlett. whose head
quarters were in Detroit. He sold the
drugs at a cut rate, his prices being
much lower than the German house.
Tional, foi instance, he sold for So
cents an ounce, while the German
price was sl.60 an ounce. The other
drugs he sold at correspondingiy low
rate.
In addition to selling the drugs him
self, Bartlett delivered them. Because
of their low price his drugs were care.
fully examined. and experienced drug
men in this city, acco riding TO Attor-
ney Washer, asserted that they were
the same as those sold by the German
house. Where Bartlett got them, how
much he paid for them, and whether
the German house knew how he made
the purchases are facts unknown, but
when Bartlett came to Louisville he
found a ready market, and had no
trouble in selling goods, many of the
Louisville drug firms buying large
bills.
This went on until some months
ago the German house is alleged to
have begun an investigation, and sent
men to this country to ascertain what
Bartlett was dong. They employed
detectives, and one day descended upon
Bsrtlett's Office in Detroit and took
possession of his stock, books and pa
pers. Among the Detroit mans pa
psrs was found a list Of his customers,
consisting of pharmacists in all parts
OF the union. TIL s list was carefully
preserved, and q representative was
sent to each city in the country to in
terview the druggists.
Soon after he arrived many Louis
yille druggists were surprised to re-
ceive a note saying that an agent of
Farbenfabricken was in the city and
desired to see them urgently at the
Calf house. A number accepted the
invitation, over twenty appearing In
one day. The German drug firms
agent then outlined the Bartlett case
to them; told how he had been in
fringing on the patent laws by selling
the Elberfield drugs without permits
sion; how he had been undermining
the business by selling at cut rates,
and said that the German firm must
be REIN bursed for the damages that
had been done.
1t is stated that ut least two Padu-
cab druggists were caught tn the
scheme, and that it cost one ofsthem q
few hundred dollars. Most of them
were not disposed to bite at tire snap.
ose said totsy that the stuff the Ger