The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-19
RICH MAN IS TAKEN
] IN FOR $4,000 ON
A|RsH|P FIzzLE
DEVICE FILLS BILL IN EVERY
WAY EXCEPT IN FLYiNG-MYS-
FERROUS PROMOTER DIsA9.
PEARS.

CHICAGO, Feb ls--Wtlliam Woods
Plankinton muti-millionaire OF Mil
wankee. together with a lumber OF
other rich aerial enthusiasts in the
Wisconsin metropolis, today is be-
moaning the acquaintance OF "Dr.
Anthony Rudolph Silyerston, who was
jailed In Chicago in connection win
the financial troubles OF Judge Arthur
r. Chetlain IN 1906.
Twenty thousand dollars are de-
clared 10 have been fed into the Sill
version nav by millionaire Piankih'
ton before payments in the doctors
airship scheme ceased
Miss Agnes Graves. the woman me
diary OF the international adventurer :
acquaintance with the Plantations and
other wealthy men, declares she has
lost $1,000 OF her savings.
Other losses incident 20 the sale o.
stock in the "Vacu-Aerial Navigation
and Manufacturing Company OF
America" capitalized al a million dol.
lars, are believed 10 have been kept
secret
Silverston's appearance In Milwar-
kee was Characteristic He arrived
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. Silverston be-
came acquainted with the hair dresser.
and, IL Is claimed. led her 10 expec;
that she was to become his wife.
Through the hair dresser the adyen-
turer progressed 10 an Acquaintance
with William Wood Planknton. who
was much interested In aerial naviga-
ton.
Thus was Silverston's irst object
achieved. He noised IL abroad that
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
be built easily for $4,000.
Mr.. Plankinton decided 10 sign a
contract with Silverston TO construct
the sirship. Silverton was TO receive
$4,000 to build the machine. also q
nominal salary OF about 5000 monthly
Al the same time a company was in
corporated Mr.. Plankinton was presi.
dent; Silverston was vice-president
The capital stock was 100000, In
shares Of $40 each, OF which Mr. Plank
linton kept $1,000 shares. Mr.. Silver
ston kept few less than 49. 900 shares
anG the rest was represented in small
holdings,
Silverston soon pleaded hard luck"
In the building OF the airship and
called for money. Mr.. Plankinton paid
out approximately $4,000 on II in
response TO successive demands by
Silverston. The airship appeared 70
be a perfectly good airship and filed
the bill in every way except in the
matter of flying.
rDr.' Silverston interested members
OF the Hanson family and some OF the
members OF the Milwaukee Aero club.
an organization which Silverston, IL is
said claims the credit OF launching.
The new project went forward with
rush.. despite a few annoyances One
OF these came when Mr.. Plankinton
dissolved the company and sped TO
Europe, leaving Silverston claiming
that the airship some day will fly.
Mr.. Plankinton had a detective
egency lok up Silverston. with the re-
suit that the erstwhile inventor as.
sumed remarkable similarity to a
character who had been In Vienna.
Paris, New York and st. Louis and
who was known TO the police.