The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-25

made very great progress as an aeroplane pilot, 50
much 50, that was employed BY firm Of electrical
engineers to conduct experiments in the send
ing Of wireless messages from an aeroplane to the
ground, and it was during these experiments that &
conceived the idea of passing my bogus wireless
aeroplane destroyer on the British Government
hired small field at Shenley on which there
was hut which had been used by Mr.. GrindleyS
Mathews in wireless telephone experiments. fitted
up small motor engine and dynamo, q great mass
Of wireless coils spark gaps and miscellaneous other
electrical equipment until the interior of my she'd
looked like an electrical laboratory. had poll
ished steel rod mounted on swivel like gun andI
terminating in round ball. This rod was hollow
and half way up its length was fitted glass tube
covering spark gap. When an electric currently
was passed through this rod the spark jumping the
Agap shone out through the glass tube and created al
\weird effect of fame leaping into space. In the
interior of the hut was a plate glass PLATFORM
standing upon porcelain legs, while black
marble switchboard fitted with q sending key
!, and many imposing levers faced the operator
On two sides were glass wings.
The alleged operator of this fake Device
- stood in three-sided box composed en7
tirely of glass. / obtained an acceptance
I'D. and within the tank fitted the works of
rcANV and alarm clock connected to a flap
~ valve which would close at any de-.
sired time according to the setting
. of the clock work. Thus could
shut off the supply of petrol to the en-
CINE at any predetermined time. After maxi
ing much mystery in the neighborhood. attracted
the attention of wellknown tobacco millionaire
and succeeded in selling him an option to acquire q
third share in my invention for $4,000 also suc1
cessfuy interested prominent shipping merchant To
a similar amount
After having given demonstrations ct how an aero
plane could be brought down. left these gentlemen
tremendously enthusiastic about my invention anq7
firmly satisfied that Britain now mistress OF the
air. So enthusiastic they in fact, that without
my knowledge they opened negotiations with thf
War Office, and one never to be forgotten DAY
made appointment for me to meet General Seeley5
Secretary of War; the late Brigadier-General Sif
David Henderson, Englands aviation CHIEF, and thf
technical experts, to discuss demonstration.
/ informed them that my invention ruptured thf
condenser Of the magnetic of the engine OF the aero
plane and obtained ruptured condenser OF 4.
magnetic similar in type to the one fitted to MI
Farman machine These officials came to my hus
at Shenley and the impressive demonstration began
A government pilot had accompanied these lead
ers of Britain's military policy | timed my clocg
work device very accurately before hand as wishe{
to give the pilot good time to get high enough u
before stopping his engine in order that he Nigh
make safe landing. Il
After handing out blue goggles to the spectator
and donning rubber gloves myself, / kept thes
gentlemen in conversation, carefully watching tn
zing in the corner. took my stand on the insulate
platform with one of the experts by my side. Psy
chology and auto-suggestion were to play large
part in my demonstration than my scientific friend
dreamed Of By giving to the scientist the difticu
job of locating the aeroplane with sort of perscop
which reflected its image upon a graduated glas
mirror, completely absorbed his attention. M
subty conveyed impression that he could not pos
siby be sufficiently skiful to locate the aeroplan
accurately upon this glass stimulated his sense
antagonism to the point that he was mentally an
physically blind to everything but the object in hant
When the clock informed me that was with
few seconds of the shutting off the petrol supplying
the engine, commenced shooting series of spark
through my various spark gaps, and the intero
of the hut presented weird scene, such as H.
Wells would love to describe in one of his scientif
romances Picture four five slightly scared meI
whose fears had been preyed upon by long studio
and carefully conveyed suggestion their minds ais
being preyed on by the thought of possible danger
the pilot These fears were plainly depicted on the
faces during the intermittent blue flashes of Il
sparks jumping the gaps The strong smell of t
ozone created by the rupture of these gaps made Il
whole scene extraordinarily exciting.
turned to them dramatically, putting on anoth