Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-24
PLACES FORGERY
CHARGE AGAINST
NOTED INVENTOR
MANAGER OF GERM-KILLING
COMPANY ARRESTED
COMPLAINT is SWORN TO BY
SECRETARY OF CONCERN
Accused Man Says He Patented Third
Rail Electric Transit System.
Denies He Is Guilty
of Crime

Ot1N McCLOOD MURPHY, vice
II president and manager of the
Observation-Disclosures company, with
offices in the Central building, who
claims to be the inventor of the third
rail system, which is used on electric
elevated lines throughout the world,
was arrested yesterday afternoon by
Detectives Murray and Mccain and
locked up in the city Jail on a charge
of forgery. Later a charge of swind-
ling, it is said, may be placed against
him.
The arrest Of Murphy was made on
a complaint sworn to by Edward l..
Payne, secretary of the company, and
alleges that Murphy forged the name
of Frederick T. Witcher to check for
$4150.
The Electro Publication company
was incorporated two weeks ago in Los
Angeles under the laws of California
and was capitalized at 100000. 1t is a
close corporation, the stock being dis
tributed among the directors. The
company was organized to exploit a
patent OF Murphy's, which was repre-
Sented to remove impurities from wa
ter, milk, liquors and sugar. f. f.
Twitchell was chosen president of the
company and Edward L. Payne was
made secretary. Because of his being
vice for eliminating germs from the
subjects treated, Murphy was made
vice president and manager.
Payne says he wrote to Washington
to learn about the patent. He received
a reply, he says, from the patent au-
1horities to the effect there was no
patent of the description of Murphy's
invention, nor was there one Of a de-
vice similar to it. Payne also says Of
4I,o ~
of it was furnished by Murphy.
Prisoner Says Mistake Made
Murphy, when seen in the city Jail
late yesterday afternoon, declared a
mistake has been made and everything
will be adjusted satisfactorily.
II met Mr.. Twitchell through friend
of mine at the Hotel st. Albans, where
/ live. 1 had shown my invention to
this friend and he mad told Twitchell
about it. The latter became interested
and after had explained it's operation
and the possibilities for such device
he suggested I organize a company. /
replied / was unable to do so because
of lack of funds. He said if would
agree he would organize the company
and would put $1,000 into the enter
prise. I assented and the organization
was formed with a capitalization of
L
the patent from a pencil memorandum
and told him at the time there might
be some trouble in finding it, as had
made several improvements on the de-
vice, and the numbers might not be
exactly as those of the patent.
'T never have received one scent
piece for my services. / was not on
salary and paid my expenses out of
my own funds Several days ago 1
suggested the advisability of obtaining
two instruments for measuring the
electricity used in the machine-a volt
meter and an ammeter. tried to buy
secondhand instruments, but was un-
able to do so and was compelled to
purchase new ones. They were paid
for by a check given by the president
of the company. I had nothing what
ever to do with that check.
Invented Third Rail System
'T have been an inventor for many
years and am the inventor of the third
rail system used on numerous electric
systems over the world. I sold that
patent for one million dollars cash, but
for my share of the money received
only about one-tenth of that sum. I
have invented numerous devices, most
of them electrical machines.
"The question about the patent Of
the device to eliminate impurities and
germs from liquids will be Strengthened
out all right, but it may take some
time to do so.
David z. Anthony, a patent attor-
ney, formerly Of Washington, D. c., has
been my attorney for number OF
years and will represent me.
Monday was to make a demonstra-
ton with typhoid baccilli for a we'll
known Los Angeles physician to prove
that my device will kill any kind Of
germ. Now that I am in jail I sup
pose 1 will lose the opportunity to
do So"
Murphy apparently is a well edu-
Gated man, about so years old. He is
an interesting talker and speaks con-
vincingly- He says he came to this
city three months ago from Mexico.
where he went to have some machin-
cry made, but because Of his inability
to have the machinery made came here.
"This affair has inconvenienced me
considerably" he said. 81 have very
little money and my wife is not in
good health. The officers of the COM
pany by their action have surprised
me and cannot understand why they
have caused my arrest"
The police say Murphy was implicat-
ed in a race track scheme in Torring-
ton, Ct, where one man invested and
lost $4,000. ]. d. Wheeler of North
Forest Park. Baltimore, is said to have
put in $4,000 in third-rail system in
which Murphy was interested.
Murphy denies having acted other
than honestly in his business transac-
tions.