The Detroit times., 1909-02-18
RICH MAN IS TAKEN
IN FOR $4,000 ON
A|RSH|P F|zzLE
DEVICE FILLS BILL IN EVERY
WAY EXCEPT IN FLYiNG-MYS-
FERROUS PROMOTER DlsA9-
PEARS.

CHICAGO, Feb. 1S.-William Woods
Plankinton. multi-millionaire of Mil
waukee. together with a number of
other rich aerial enthusiasts In the
Wisconsin metropolis, today Is be-
moaning the acquaintance OF DIR
Anthony Rudolph Silverston. who was
| jailed in Chicago in connection with
The financial troubles OF Judge Arthur
r. Chetlain in 1906.
Twenty thousand dollars are de-
clared TO have been fed into the Sill
Version NAV by millionaire Plankin.
.on before payments in the doctors
airship scheme ceased.
Miss Agnes Graves. the woman me
diary OF the international adventurer' s
acquaintance with the Plantations and
other wealthy men, declares she has
lost $4,000 OF her savings,
Other losses incident TO the sale OF
stock In the "Vacu-Aerial Navigation
and Manufacturing Company OF
America" capitalized at million dol
lars, are believed to have been kept
secret.
Silverston's appearance in Milwau-
with good clothes. apparently plenty
of money and a discriminating taste
In engraving.
In the Goldsmith building is hair
dressing establishment conducted by
Miss Agnes Graves, who has numerous
clients among the wealthy. including
the Plankinton family Slverston be-
came acquainted with the hair dresser
and, IL Is claimed. led her 10 expect
that she was to become his wife
Through the hair dresser the adven-
turer progressed to an acquaintance
with William Wood Planknton. who
WAS much interested In aerial naviga.
tion.
Thus was Slverston's first object
achieved. He noised il abroad TINT
he was the inventor of an airship tina.
would solve the problem OF aerial
navigation as soon as il could be built.
Mr.. Plankinton was interested. Sill.
Version said a full sized airship could
pc built easily for $4,000.
Mr. Piankinton decided TO sign a
contract with Silverston to construct
he airship Silyerton was to receive
Pb,OOO To build the machine, also q
lominal salary OF about 5000 monthly.
AT the same time a company was in
Forporated. Mr. Plankinton was presi-
dent; Silverston was president.
The capital stock was 81 100000. In
fhares OF SO each, OF which Mr.. Plank
nton kept 81 900 shares Mr.. Silver
ton kept a few less than 40 900 shares
pnc the rest was represented in small
holdings.
Siiverston soon pleaded hard luck"
II the building OF the airship and
allied for money. Mr.. Plankinton paid
nut approximately $4,000 on II in
esponse 10 successive demands by
Bilverston. The airship appeared to
Pc a perfectly good airship and filled
he bill in every way except In the
natter OF flying.
DIR, Silyerston interested members
f the Hanson family and some OF the
nembers OF the Milwaukee Aero club,
N organization which Silverston. II Is
aid, claims the credit OF launching.
The new project went forward with
rush, despite few annoyances. One
4 these came when Mr.. Plankinton
issolved the company and sped to
Europe leaving Silverston claiming
hat the airship some day will fly.
Mr.. Plankinton had detective
gency lok mp Silyerston, with the re-
llt that the erstwhile inventor as.
umed remarkable similarity to a
haracter who had been In Vienna
Paris. New York and St. Louis and
no was known to the police.