New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-29
Sues to Keep
zone Cent Gas"
From Germany
National Power Company
Asserts Enricht Wishes
Enemies to Have Secret of
His Invention

MINEOLA, L. l., Nov. 2s.-Suit was
fled here to-day against Louis En-
richt, inventor of "one-cent gasoline"
by the National Motor Power Company,
of which Benjamin F. Yoakum, railway
man, is president. asking that Enricht
be enjoined against divulging the Sc
cret of his compound to anyone.
The complaint says that the "one-
cent gasolene" has been proved CON-
rlete success, but that its inventor,
because OF a fondness for Germany,
his native land. has refused to turn
over the formula to the National
Motor Power Company, which has pur-
chased 1t.
Further, it alleges that Enricht sin.
tends to and will disclose the secret OF
the said compounds and formula and
the methods for the manufacture and
compounding Of the said motor fuel, un-
der said formula, to the enemies OF the
United States, and more particularly to
the spies, agents and representatives
of the German government, TO the ir-
reparable damage of your plaintiff and
of the act of Congress more generally
known as the trading with the enemy
act"
A Commercial Fortune
According to the suit, the "green
gasolene," the butt of many jokes, in
which. Henry Ford once took interest
and then spurned. is an actual COM
mercial fortune in itself, and, more
over, is of tremendous value to The
government in time of war.
The complaint. in which Louis En-
RIGHT. jr., Mrs. Louis Enricht, sr.,
Harry Rosenbaum and the First Ma
tjonal Bank of Farmingdale are also
named as co-defendants Of the inven-
tor. alleges that on or about April II.
1917. Enricht sold "all and every OF
his discoveries, inventions. formai3 and
improvements" on his discovery to the
plaintiff company. ,-
formula was conveyed 70 Mr..
Yoakum, but il did not work. He did
not known this, however, during the
time that the fuel was being tested,
for at each of these tests Enricht was
present and, according to the COM
plaint. added on each occasion some
ingredient TO the operating fluid, which
made all of the tests satisfactory.
About the 18th of November, the
COMPLAINT continues, the National
Motor Power Company offered the for
mula TO the government Tor the AURA
ton Of the war, free of'charge, on con-
dition that Mr.. Yoakum was able 10
obtain the missing ingredient from
Enricht.
Denies Rights TO Formula
Meanwhile. il is said, the inventor
entered into negotiations with marry
Rosenbaum, offering the fluid to the
United States for s500,000 a year ana
additional payments OF $5,oOO,ooy
year for the next sixteen years. IN.
richt, the company claims, has no rignt
TO the formula and has no authority "
sell the fluid.
This statement is based on para
graph in an agreement between Mr..
Yoakum and the inventor. After stat
ING that the formula itself is in the
First National Bank, Of Farmingdale'
i'm safe deposit box. this agreement,
signed by Enricht and his wife, reads:
"I,ouis Enricht also agrees that, af-
ter the ending Of the present existing
war. he will consent to push the in
vention, now the property OF the
above company, in conjunction with b.
r. Yoakum. TO a successful commercial
enterprise"
The plaintiffs request that the court
oraer Enricht 10 break off all negotia-
tions with any one to the view of sell
ing or retaining the formula. and also
ask that the inventor Us instructed TO
turn over the secret Gf the missing in
gredient al once.
FARMINGDALE, N. Y, Nov: 2s.-
Louis Enricht denied to-day that he
had ever considered selling his inven-
tlon 20 Germany. He said that he was
q true American and desired only TO
turn over his invention TO the United
States.