The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-11
OF
EDISON IS
ARRESTED
James |. Andem in Custody
After indictment Charg-
ing Forgery.
OFTEN SUED INVENTOR
None of BIoomiieIder's Numerous
Actions Panned Out..Say lie
WrongfulIy Used Seal and
Signatures Sc Arraign
s Him Today.
OFTEN SUED INVENTOR

On an Indictment found by the Uni-
ted States Grand Jury in Trenton.
charging him with having forged the
seal and official signatures to a bill
of complaint entered in the United
States Circuit Court, District of New
Jersey, James l.. Andem, of Bloomfield,
was today placed under arrest by Uni
ted States Marshal Joseph Mayhem.
The indictment against Mr.. Andem
charges him with forgery on three
counts and for uttering false seal.
The prisoner was brought from his
hone in Bloomfield early this morn
ing, and was Immediately taken to
United States District Attorney Vree-
lands office pending his arraignment
before United States Commissioner
Bigelow, which will probably take place
late today.
Tt was after 2:30 o'clock when Andem
was arraigned before United States
Commissioner Bigelow.
Andem was accompanied before the s
commissioner by two friends, one of
whom was said to be his counsel. The
other was William Fahnestock, of New
York. who appeared well supplied with
money III DnlS OF ldTBt QSnONlliidelOhSs
Commissioner Bigelow, in fixing the
bail at $1,000, said he would take in
consideration the character of the pris-
oner as well as the offense with which
he stands charged. MIR. Fahnestcck
pulled out his big roll and took from
it four $500 bills and handed tbelss asSsSs
to the United States commissioner,
who gave him receipt therefor.
The $1,000 bond requires Andem to
appear before United States Circuit
Court Judge Lanning next Monday at
10 o'clock.
Mr.. Andem's offense is very serious
one, and according to the evidence
presented to the Grand Jury his crime
is the climax of a long campaign
against Thomas A. Edison, Mr.. Efli
sons associates and the phonogIHplf
companies they control. Mr.. Andem
during his career has brought more
than 300 suits against Mr.. Edison and
the Edison phonograph companies, not
one of which has ever been prosecuted
to a successful issue and few of them
have been advanced further than the
mere filing of the initial papers. In
every instance the beginning of the
suit has been the inspiration of news
stories attacking Mr.. Edison and his
companies.
On May 10, 1906 he filed bill in the
equity branch of the United States Cir
cult Court, District of New Jersey.
Trenton, which purported to have been
executed by the New England Phono-
graph Company, the defendants named
being Thomas A. Edison, the Edison
Photograph Company, the National
Phonograph Company and the Edison
works.
The bill charged Mr.. Edison and his
associates with all manner of wrong
doing, and was practically the founda-
ton for all the sensational allegations
and statements which have been pub
lished since that time. The document
was signed by one Holmquist, who
STYLED himself president of the New
England Phonograph Company. and to
the bill was affixed a large wafer seal,
and beside it was written, Attest:
James L. Andem, secretary Holm
ouist never was president of the New
England Photograph Company, nor has
Andem ever been it's secretary.
The suit thus criminally started has
never been prosecuted by Andem or
Holmquist. In due course Mr.. Edison,
through his counsel, Attorney-G General
Robert H. McCarter, entered plea all
leging that the bill had been filed with
out the authority of the New England
Phonograph Company and without the
knowledge of its officers or directors.
The plea further charged that the doc
ument was forgery and an attempt
to make use of the machinery Of the
Federal court in a criminal effort TO
extort money from Mr.. Edison and his
associates. Since the filing of the plea
and the failure of his conspiracy 10
effect a settlement, ,Andem has made no
further move in the United states
court. Recently, however, bill 10
chancery was filed which is practically
identical with that now on RECORD
in the archives Of the Federal
court. Apparently the only purpose IN
filing these bills aside from the eXpec-
tation that Edison would buy MIN on
was TO obtain material to be used by
the Anden press bureau. On the hiihg
of each bill many newspapers were SUP
piled unexpectedly with copies thereol
and supplemental material IN the lothi
of interviews calculated to hnJure Mr..
reputation and standing as
business man.
was. however, taken, and the lorgee
papers and evidence in the case was pre-
sented to the United States Grand Jury
with the result that true bill Of indict-
ment on three counts was reported TO
United States Circuit Court Judge Lanning
last week.
Andem's career in the phonograph bust
ness has been spectacular for more than
ten years. Apparently. he is inbued watn
a personal grudge against Mr.. Edison. ana
during that period he has not hesitated
70 employ the most desperate and unlawful
measures to place himself In position 70
make his attacks serious and impressive
He first became known in the phonograpn