The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

10 THE PHONOSCOPE Apr , %egal IRotices Howard W. Hayes, attorney for Thomas A. Edison, the inventor, has obtained a decree from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, enjoining James A. Griffith, of Philadelphia, from using the name of Thomas A. Edison as the Edison Phonograph Company in his business. After suit was begun Griffith, who has a store in Philadelphia, consented to stop using the name of Mr. Edison, and the latter therefore agreed not to force his demand that Griffith make an accounting of his profits and pay damages and costs. "Baron" Edgar de Bara and his wife Fannie have been found guilty of using the United States mails for purposes of fraud. On the twenty-five counts which the jurors said had been proved against them, they are each liable to twelve year's imprisonment and $12,000 fine. Sentence was, however, reserved by judge Kohlsaat until he had heard the arguments for a new trial which will be made by the attorneys for the defence. The two clever persons who have thus been pronounced swindlers by a United States court took the verdict quietly and expressed their belief that a new trial would be given them and would result in their acquittal. As a matter of fact, the evidence against them, despite the fact that all the victims of the swindles lived in England, was so plain that even their attorneys had little hope of their acquittal. Even after the}' have served their terms for the present offenses the De Baras will have alleged swindles of another kind to answer to. Extradition papers are already prepared which will cause them to be taken back to England to face English courts directly. The closing day of the trial was marked by one pr two exciting incidents. The usual crowd was present, and the prisoners appeared as neat and cool as before. In the morning both the "baron" and his wife were placed on the stand to explain their theory that the swindling had really been done by some one else. In the afternoon, during the arguments, Attorney Burres for the defense made a bitter attack on the postoffice inspectors who gathered the evidence in the case, and declared that the prisoners were the victims of postoffice persecution. The jury took three hours for its deliberation before handing in the verdict, and then found the defendants guilt}' on three indictments of three counts each and eight indictments of two counts each — in all twenty-five counts — just what the prosecution had asked for. When Edgar de Bara took the stand he said that he was born in France and had never been naturalized. He said he had lived in Japan several years prior to 1893, and had served as attache to the British consul. There he met his wife. Four years ago he came to the United States, and a year ago to Chicago. He declared that he had carried on a legitimate business of delivering Phonographs for his brother-in-law, "George B. Henschel," and that if any swindling had been done it was by that brother-in-law, whom the jury plainly considered fictitious. The only question asked him by the prosecution was whether he had ever been in England, and he answered that he had been there four years ago. Fannie De Bara answered elearly all the questions put to her, although she appeared nervous when she first took the stand. She said her maiden name was Wilson and that her father was Scotch and her mother Japanese. Her sister, she said, had married George B. Henschel. She admitted that she had acted for this brother-in-law, but said she considered him an authorized agent of the Phonograph Company. She said she knew nothing of the advertisements in regard to slotmachines which the mysterious Henschel is said to have placed in London papers as a bait for victims. The case against the De Baras rested entirely on evidence in three cases of direct swindling, which had been practiced against George Kirby, Thomas Allen and Henry Cottle of London. United States District Attorney Bethea says that great credit is due Postoffice Inspectors Stuart and Mayer for making the chain of evidence so complete. Nine months ago, when the British consul here called attention to the swindling, it was known only that British subjects had been induced to send over money for which they got no returns, by "George Henschel" and "Miss E. Wilson." Then it was found that these two had conducted a printing establishment on the West Side, and later their aliases, Baron and Baroness De Bara, were discovered. Then began a long chase, which resulted in their arrest at St. Augustine, Fla. A hard legal battle over requisition ended in the bringing of the two prisoners to Chicago. The defense has asked for a new trial on the ground that the court erred in failing to state the provision that the jurors were at liberty to find one of the defendants guilty and acquit the other. The United States attorneys were pleased with the verdict and said that they would have no trouble in proving the cases again if a new trial should by any chance be granted. ©ur battler "What's that?" asks the youthful visitor to a Phonograph establishment in 1920, standing before the mouth of a big Phonograph whence issues an impressive hum and roar. "That," says the attendant, "is the roar of the city's streets before their general repavement with asphalt, the common use of rubber-tires, and the abandonment of horses for the means of power now in use made them as we now know them quiet." Phonographs or talking-machines have become so cheap now that cigar and liquor dealers can afford to keep them to amuse their customers by singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" every time a man treats, or reciting extracts from "My Lady Nicotine" when one buys a cigar. A large number of these machines were installed in saloons and cigar stores in Portland, Ore., not long ago, but when License Officer Beach called and demanded a license fee of $10 per quarter they quickly disappeared. It is now concluded that this license, which was intended to drive talkingmachines off the streets, where they had become a nuisance, is rather too steep, and the ordinance imposing it will probably be amended so as to allow such machines to be kept in saloons and cigar stands at a license of, say, 50 cents per month. Phonographs loaded with Bryan free-silver speeches will be taxed $r,ooo a minute, the license to be paid every second in advance. It is strange that in this age of progress some enterprising matrimonial agent has not hit upon the plan of adapting the moving picture machine to the uses of his business. It certainly would make a hit. Patrons would be more numerous and better satisfied with their bargains. At least so says the cynical bachelor. Instead of showing a man the photographs of the eligible maidens on his list the agent -could say: "Just step into our private theatorium, sir. Would you like to look through your album first ? Yes? You rather admire this stylish brunette? Very well !" The agent ( briskly to the youth who operates the cinematograph) — Jones, trot out No. 9961 ! The room has been darkened, and in a few minutes a ball-room scene is thrown upon the canvas. In the midst of the picture No. 9961 is seen gaily disporting herself in the dance. She is dressed in the height of fashion. The applicant looks dissatisfied and the operator rapidly follows this picture with others, showing the same fashionable damsel displaying the exquisite curves of her undulating figure at a fashionable riding school. In rapid succession this beauteous siren drives off from the tee on a well-known golf links, bicycles along a country road in a bewitching tailor-made costume and finally takes a graceful header into the ladies' swimming bath in a daintily chic bathing suit which was evidently designed in Paris with a view to being worn at Newport or Bar Harbor. "Won't suit?" says the seeker after a wife, decidedly. "Fine young woman," the agent advises, judicially. "I'm afraid she is just a little too fond of amusements to suit me," says the customer, doubtfully. "Of course I have not had much experience, but isn't that kind of wife rather expensive?" "Well, of course, sir, if you put.it that way, we have had occassional complaints of the kind from clients who have married fashionable young ladies. But there are plenty more on our list." Then, turning to the attendant, he remarks, "Jones, just trot out No. 805 on the Domestic Virtues' list." Once more the patron fixes his eyes upon the screen and sees a plain but interesting looking girl skillfully and rapidly sewing a button on to the neckband of a shirt, while beside her on the table is a pile of neatly darned socks. The next scene shows her with her sleeves rolled up making pastry, with the neat servant in the background watching the saucepans on the fire. Again, she is seen in a fetching nurse's uniform tending the sick in the ward of a large hospital, while the last set of pictures shows her arguing with the grocer and finally going off triumphantly with her purchases, having evidently got the best of the bargain. "I think," says the young man decidedly, "that this lady will suit me down to the ground." "Very good sir. Delighted, I'm sure, to be able to accommodate you," says the obliging manager, handing him a card fixing the day and hour at which he may call to have a personal interview with No. S05. And thus is ended without any fuss or palaver all the worry and uncertainty of finding out a girl's character during the deceptive period of courtship. The man knows what he is getting and if he is not satisfied with his bargain has himself to blame. The agent vouches for the reliability of the pictures, which, if desired, is even sworn to before a notary, and all is peace and satisfaction. Of course the same system could be pursued in the case of the exacting spinster or rich widow who wants a husband. But as lovely woman is supposed to love a man better for his follies and is less critical in regard to a husband when his bank account is properly accounted for that branch of the business would perhaps make fewer demands on the moving picture branch of the trade. BBU.A Havnes.