Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-15

pleased to enter this charmed region
Philadelphia Inquirer.
Wizard or Mathematics or Just Faker?
Wizard or faker. Michael Angelo Nc
Ginnis. who was recently paroled from
the Missouri penitentiary, is believed
by u great many prominent educators
to be the mathematical prodigy of the
age.
McGinnfs was paroled in the custody
of Prof. J. NJ. Greenwood of Kansas
city, Mo. He is working on an alleged
new discovery in mathematics he made
while in the penitentiary. His preten-
sions have been denied by different
mathematieians, one of them declaring
that he is a colossal eharla tan Prof.
Greenwood believes the man is a gen
ms and has helped him on every posi-
bic occasion.
McGinnis was born in Greenville.
WIS, fifty-nine years ago. He attend
ed the public schools until he was l.
years old, and astonished his instruc-
tors by his remarkable mathematical
feats. He was principal of the Jetfer-
son High School at Osconto. Wis, and
p ''N-''7tA VI III Il
college in Wichita. Kan He has pub
lisheo numerous mathematical books,
among them ane entitled Algebra" He
was also newspaper publisher and
owned papers in Sterling and Jules
burg, Col.
1t has been asserted that McGinnis
has mastered the problem of the tri-
section of any rectilinear angle. which
has been thought impossible of soIu-
! ton. This is one of the many mathe-
NAUTICAL achievements credited to him
He was committed to prison June "A.
1907 from Jackson county. Missouri.
having been convicted of completely in
the forgery of deed. Several months
| after his Incarceration he made the fol :
lowing proposal to Gov Folk
FOR an absolute pardon he said Il
Will demonstrate general solution of
| the literal equation OF the fifth de-
gree.
Demonstrate that all even degree
equations can be depressed one de-
gree and that all odd degree eoua-
! lions can be depressed two degrees.
| demonstrate general logarithmic
solution for numeral equations up 10
! and including the sixth degree; with
| proof sthat numerical equations of all
| degrees can be solved by logarithms
| eliminating Descartes's rule of signs;
| the various methods of approximation,
! and the difficult Sturm method"
| His application for a pardon at
| tracted the attention of mathemati-
| clans all over the United States
l Scores 70 o..
to parole McGinnis. To prove his So
lutions We're genuine McGmnis wanted
a congress of mathematicians appoint
ed to examine him.
! MeGinnis was SO years old when he
| was convicted. Six years of prison
| life have left their mark on him. He
| is bent and broken old man He
has wife who lives with her sister
| at Neosho. Mo. She is a frail little
woman and has a strong belief in the
genius of her husband.
| Prof. Greenwood has certainly beer
a friend to my husband" she said
He will now have an opportunity to
work on his new discovery with his
mind free. ! do not understand but ]
| know that whatever it is, he Will solve
it,"
Many people in Neosho knew Me-
Ginnis. He was regarded as an agree
able. easy going man, who would give
YOU What you wanted for the asking
If he had it. He was considered
somewhat visionary and was always
calculating on some new problem
1t is said that he once caused a goo6
deal of strife between the pupils ant
teachers in the high school at Neosho
number of students had difficulty
with the higher mathematical prob
lens. They would come to him an(
he would solve them orally and ther
teach them quick methods of solution
The teachers did not like this anC
commanded the students to worl
their solutions according to the ole
methods. The students rebelled ant
there was a little war until McGinni
was appealed to. He settled the mat
ter by refusing the students aid
somewhat reluctantly, for he SCENE,
to take delight in the confusion
New York Sun.