The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-05
EDISON BEATS BENNINGTON.
GETS FRAUD ORDER AGAINST A
ET-WELL-QUICk CONCERN.
Inventors Ininyentlve Son Makes Oath
I.a. SO Invented No "MagnO-Electrio
yitalizer"-The Gang Propose to Go
Ahead and Sell II, Using Another Name

WASHINGTON, Oct. Am order issued
bv the Post Office Department to-day
AGAINST 1.-THE Thomas,A. Edison, Jr.. Chemi-
cal Company of New York" and its officers
d.harring them from the Use of the mails,
brought to light condition of affairs which
thc postal authorities regarded as show
ing conclusively fraudulent attempt to
get money out OF the pockets Of a trusting
public by Use of Edison's name. The order
includes also Thomas A. Edison, Jr., son Of
the electrical wizard, and the evidence in
the case indicates state Of strained re-
lations between father and son. Thomas
A. Edison. ST., made the complaint which
resulted in the issue of the fraud order
against his offspring and the company.
The Offices of the Thomas A. Edison, DR.,
chemical Company are at IA and 10 Stone
street, New York. The company offered
for sale device styled "the magno-elec-
tric vitalzer," which consisted principally
Of an alleged electric battery. In February,
1908. the patent Office denied an application
for a patent of the device on the ground
that the battery consisted only of two
plates of,copper with interposing calculated
blotting paper, which the examiners pro-
nounced imperative because there was
nowhere any relation of copper and zinc
as required for battery cell. Alterations
were suggested by the patent office to meet
the requirements for battery, but they
were not satisfactory to the examiners
and a second application for a patent was
refused.
The Thomas Edison. Jr., Chemical Com
pany advertised its device extensively. In one
OF its statements it said that young Edison
had refused $75OOOO for his invention. 1T
was stated also that young Edison had in
herited the inventive genius of his father
but had devoted it to the cause of humanity
and was proving his philanthropy by Of
fering the ma gno- electric vitalizer for sale
at COSTS Readers of the advertisement
were invited to send description Of their
ailments to Thomas A. Edison, Jr., at the
company's address, and it was shown by
the evidence submitted that responses
were sent to these to the effect that young
Edison had found that the symptoms de-
scribed were such as could be cured by his
invention.
Assistant Attorney-General Goodwin of
the Post Office Department, on whose
recommendation the fraud order was is-
sued, refers in his report to an affidavit
submitted 10y w. Newton pennington.
one Of the directors of the company, in
which Bennington declared that Thomas
A. Edison, Dr.. had said to him that he had
received an offer of $3.50 900 for his vitalizer.
but he had to refuse 1t, because he had
already contracted with the chemical COM
pany."
Young Edison was summoned 10 Wash
ington by the postal authorities last
week, and in statement to them he said
he had no scientific or inventive ability
that he had merely suggested the idea Of
a portable medical electric battery which
others acting for the company had pre-
pared and tried to patent. and that he had
no active connection witn the concern.
In the opinion of the Post Office author
tiles who examined into the matter all
those actually engaged in the directorate
OF the Thomas A. Edison, Jr, Chemical
Company must have known that they were
conducting fraudulent enterprise.
About a month ago. Thomas A. Edison
Sr., complained to the Department against
the operations OF the concern which used
the name Edison In his statement he
alleged that his son has never shown any
ability as an inventor or an electrical e1-
pert. He believed that Thomas A. Edison,
Jr., was incapable Of making any invention
or any discovery OF merit. He said the
use Of his sons name was fraudulent. The
young man, he declared, had been en-
ployed by him for several years, but only
b q clerical capacity.
Acting on this complaint. the Post Office
Department directed the officers of the
concern to show cause why they should
l. 4 10 20 81 Ia,
and set Sept. ~ as a day for the hearing.
The company was represented by Charles
W. Soaring of New York, its attorney, and
by Sparks, its manager. Thomas Edison,
sr, was represented also, Frank L. Dyer
Of New York and Church 4 Church OF
Washington appearing in his behalf.
The claims made by the representatives
Of the concern failed to convince the Post
Office authorities that the enterprise was
legitimate. Manager Sparks admitted that
young Edison's only connection with the
concern was to draw a salary Of SaS week
and that he appeared at the Office only on
payday vs. Young Edison made a state
ment substantiating his fathers charges.
He admitted that he had no inventive genius
and with reference to the statements of
the company that he examined tthe letters
OF prospective buyers describing their
symp toms, he said he knew nothing what
ever of this correspondence, never saw it
and never pr ofessed to have any ability in
the field Of invention involved. He charged
that the company had applied for a patent
in his rarne in order to connect with it the
name OF Edison, which would sell any
device
Prior to the hearing the Thomas A. Edi-
son, Jr., Chemica, Company had been
forbidden to use the mails for the purpose
OF selling its alleged curative device and this
action was made permanent by the order
Issued by the Post Office Department to-
day at the instance of the Attorney Cen
cal.
The president OF the Thomas A. Edison,
DR., Chemical Company is Willis G. Towne,
who is president Of the Pennsylvania and
West Virginia Coal Company. He is also
a member Of the directorate Of the so
called Edison concern.
nthe opinion of thr Post Office authorities,
lowne has no knowledge of the manage
ment OF the chemical company and was
not aware of its alleged fraudulent work.
HRa' The directors, in addition TO Towne,
are W X. Shaw, described in the company's
circular as a copper merchant of New