Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-08
CONVICT DECLARES * |
HE CAN SQUARE CIRCLE
Inmate of Missouri Peniten4
tiary Offers to Demonstrate
Discovery to Experts.

KANSAS CITY, August S.-AssertinS
that he is able to square the circle and
has made other mathematical discoveries
which will have a sweeping influence on
that science Michael Angelo McGinniss
who Is serving a ten-year sentence for
forgery in the Missouri penitentiary. has
offered to demonstrate his discovery To
any committee of mathematicans Cove
Hadley may designate II a pardon will be
| considered his just reward for success
His communication was sent to the govs
ernor through DIR. d. j. Simpson Oh
Clarksburg. Mo.
DR.. Simpson says the great discovery
made by McGinnis is the reduction OF
the general equation OF the tenth degree
to an equation one degree lower.
McGinnis claims that for the general
| solution of an equation containing hterat
rithmic solution for its corresponding
| numerical equation, thus establishing =
| general method OF solving numerical
| equations by logarithms.
He says he has found the exact ratio
of the diameter o. a circle to It's circum%
| ference. Since the time OF Euclid tho
ratio has been supposed TO be 3.14l6 plus
MGinnis says he knows just what the
plus is. He says he has discovered the
| exact root OF all numbers. and that "imS
perfect squares will be no more.
| McGinnis says In his communication to
the governor:
Makes Offer to Governor.
$50 confident am l that I am right
| In what claim, and fully realizing THAI
my claims are OF such a character as I'd
be almost unbelievable. 1 will pay the
railroad expenses of any three known
mathematicians in Missouri to jefferson
| City and return to pass Judgment upon
my proofs SO that they may submit their
| findings to your excellency.
| McGinnis is a descendent of John NJ.
| Napier, inventor Of logarithms, who died
| in 1917.
'If McGinnis insists that he has de.
| covered a method for the reduction OF
the general equation of the tenth degree
| to the ninth and on down to one of the
known equations by which 1t then could
| be worked out, his statement is worthy
Of the closest investigation. If he can
| do this thing. hitherto believed impos-
sible, he has made name for himself
as great Or greater than any mathema-
tician, living or dead. His name will live
| forever
So said Prof J. NJ Greenwood. super
intendent of the Kansas City public
schools. last might.
Was Teacher Of Mathematics.
81 have known McGinnis for years"
continued Prof. Greenwood. HE taught
! mathematics in college at Wichita,
Kan, also in southern Missouri. His book
| entitled Algebra, the Universal Solution
for Numerical and Literal Equations
| written, / am told. during a former term
| in prison, Is marvellous work. He had
| one sOf the best methods for solving nu-
| merical equations known today. There is
not mathematician in Europe or Ameri-
| ca who is this mans equal in solving
| numerical equations. But for drink he
would be an international authority too
day.
"Mathematicians so far never have been
| able to solve literal equations above the
| fourth degree. McGinnis says he can
| work them in the tenth by system OF
| reduction to a known equation. European
mathematicians claim they have proved
1t impossible to work above the fourth
| degree, but I disagree with them. / be-
| lieve that some day it will be done IL
| took long time for the old fellows to
solve the first degree. still longer before
| they could work in the second and third
| and a much longer time before they got
to working in the fourth degree. Perha Is
| McGinnis has accomplished what he
| claims. l believe he can do the thing if
| any man can"