The Washington times., 1904-10-05
EDISON SECURES
A FRAUD ORDER
Stops Chemical Company
From Using Sons Name.
THOMAS, JRs NOT INVENTOR
Charged That He Draws q Salary Sim
ply for the Use Of Name
BE InheTits.

What postal authorities consider TO be
enc OF the shrewdest games 10 defraud
the public IN the annals OF the depart
ment has been brought 10 light through
the issuing OF a fraud order against
1.-The Thomas A. Edison, jr.l Chemical
Company" The order was issued on
complaint Of Thomas A. Edison sr.s and
reveals an alleged scheme 10 beat the
public by use Of the name OF the cleo
TTical wizard.
The company has been engaged in ex-
plotting the ''masnO-electric yitaiiZer.' %
The device is advertised TO be the in
venuon OF young Edison. and has been
advertised as a sure cure FOR the most
malignant diseases. Edison IS said 70
have refused S75o.0 900 for the invention,
False Representations Made.
In the fraud order against the COM
pany. st is held by the Posi- office De
partment that the device is imperative.
that all allegations in regard to its
curative powers are made dishonesty
and that false representations are made
concerning the inventive genius OF Edi-
son, jr.. MS inventing the vitaIizer. and
the humane motives which prompted
him to put the apparatus on the market
at so small a cost as S. for each vital
izer-
II is also held by the department that
false and fraudulent representations are
made by the company in regard TO the
alleged personal attention which the son
of the great inventor has given 10 vital
izer treatment, the foreign patents pro
tecttng the device abroad and the lab
oratOry OF the young man IN which the
vttalizer Is advertised 10 have been dis
covered.
Edison's Son Not an Inventor.
Complaint against the company was
made about a month ago by Thomas A.
Edison, ST. In his statement TO the
postal authorities Edison said that his
son had never shown any ability as an
inventor or electrical exuert, and that
he believed him incapable OF making an
invention of merit. The use Of his son S
name he alleged 10 be fraudulent.
EQlsons lI-s was summoned 10 " ash
lngton last week by the postal authori-
necJion with the vitaIizer company. He
admitted he had no scientific or invent
i've ability and had merely suggested
the idea OF the portable electric bat
terry, known as the VitaliZer, which 9th
ers acting for the company had pre-
pared and tried TO patent, He said De
had no active connection with the COM
pany.
In its Investigation the Postofice De
parLment found that an application fOI
a patent OF the device was denied Febru-
AIRY. 1903 by the patent office on the
ground that the battery consisted only
of two plates of copper with iuterp0siug
calculating blOtuug paper Alterations
were suggested by the patent ONCE, bui
they proved unsatisfactorys and "a sec,
Ond application was denied.
Hearing on Edison's Complaint.
Acting GA complaint os Edison. ST.. tn
Postohice Department directed the Of
hcers OF the company to show cause
why they should not be debarred from
using the mails. September q was SCI
as the day for the hearing The com.
pany was represented by Charles W
Soaring Of New York, and by Sparks
ITS manager. Edison, ST.. was represent
ed by Frank j. Dyer, of New York and
Church g. Church. of Washington.
AT t1e nearing Manager Sparks adj
United mat young Edison S only CON
l7SSi0L WI ~ 5zie IN l',-Ly va 20 olsH
salary or 80, appearing az the One.
only on paw days. Young Edison statel
that De bad nothing 70 do with the bust
ness end of the company, and knew
nothing of its correspondence with pros
peCtlVe buyers. il was 10 be gathered
from his statement that ne was PAL,
solely for the use Of the name 0t Ed
son,
Who Comprise the Company.
The president Of the company is VIII
lis q. TOwne president of the PeuusyI
Tania and West Virginia Coal Company
III Is Ne-ir' -A Df LNe p1Sta' al-lot4liri
that MT. T0Wue knew nothing Of tht
fraudulent operations Of the company.
The directors are W. =. Shaw, q cop
per merchant. OF New York ". Newton
Bennington, tuTfmau and real estate
Of New York. ~. Filliugham. an attOr-
ueE of New York III. ID. Schuure. pFesi
dent - the National Bank Of selins
Grove, Pa. Z Hummei. of Sullivaus
Grove. Pa. "a = IS. j. Missimer a law
yer. of New York.
Iu q statement yesterday Mr.. Benning-
ton, the tUrImau. VINO IS one of the
largest Stockholders. said DE proposes
going right ON with the business of the
company iu spite OF the fraud order.