Free electricity from the air? Oh, no, no, no. We could never have that. Roy J. Meyers, in prison because he wrote a bad check, invented a machine that was reported to capture the electricity in the air. People who witnessed it said it worked, but other than that, it is unknown whether his device really did work or not. A British patent does exist for his device, but nothing ever came of it.
Convict Finds Way to Get Light and Power “Free as Air”
30 Days Freedom to Get Patent
By Judson King
The State Prison, Florence, Ariz., May 8. — Roy J. Meyers, a convict, has 30 days in which to show the world that he has discovered a method of taking electricity from the air and turning it directly into light and power.
If he does that — and there is good reason for thinking that he will — he will have millions of dollars in his grasp. Will he then return to this prison and justify the “honor system” and Gov. Hunt, who allows him to go to Washington, without guard, to patent his invention?
If Meyers invention will do what he and the few who have seen it, operate claim for it, he will have accomplished what the greatest geniuses of this generation have sought in vain. It will smash the electric light and power trust and give endless cheap electricity to the millions.
Meyers is a mechanic, about 32 years old, who was “sent up” for forgery. He was put in charge of the prison engine house. At nights and odd hours he tinkered with some sort of an invention.
But he wasn’t taken seriously. Only Parole Officer Sanders and Prison Superintendent Sims knew what he was trying to do.
Just the other day Miss Kate Barnard, famous commissioner of charities and correction of Oklahoma, visited the prison.
“One night,” says Miss Barnard, “Meyers’ assistant came running from the pumping station calling out, ‘He’s got it! He’s got it!’
“Between gasps he told us what was doing and we made a rush for the engine house. Meyers was working like mad at the fly wheel of the 26 horse power gas engine. Outside was a strange contrivance emitting sparks.
Another stood on a small table near the sparker of the engine, wires connected them. There was a strange light in the eyes of the man — hope, uncertainty, and almost terror — as if the ambition of a lifetime was about to fail or succeed. Suddenly the wheel caught and the engine drove on by its own power!”
Meyers was actually taking electricity from the air above the engine house to “spark” the gas engine!
“A look of joy flashed over his face,” says Miss Barnard. “Then for the first time he saw us.
“‘What are you doing here?’ he demanded, forgetting he was addressing the superintendent. ‘I did not want this known till I get out. I can’t protect myself — I’m a prisoner — this is my discovery.’
“The superintendent understood his excitement and quietly assured Meyers he would have every protection.”
The very next day Miss Barnard went before the legislators and asked them to request the governor to release Meyers for 30 days. They did. Then she planked down $50 of her own money to help him and challenged the legislators to match it. They did that, too.
That night the governor made Meyers a free man for one month. Next morning Meyers left for Washington. He is going directly to Samuel Gompers, head of the A.F. of L., at Miss Barnard’s suggestion — sure that the labor leader will aid him.
“I was skeptical at first,” says Supt. Sims. “I thought it might be a scheme to get a parole and escape. But I know something of electricity. I watched the engine. I turned off all the switches which connect with the prison’s electrical plant. I made a careful search for ground wired or other means by which the electricity to spark the gas engine might be stolen. I found none. I am convinced that a great discovery has been made by Meyers. He ran the engine for five hours and pumped full the 26,000 gallon tank.
“There is no question in my mind but that Meyers will return.”
“All that is necessary,” said Meyers, starting for his train, “is to enlarge and improve the apparatus on the principle I have discovered. Then we can get enough power direct from the air to do anything. It is very simple, too. I can put this machine in a dwelling house and light it, or do anything now done by the big central plants.
“Of course, I will return.” [He did return and finished off his sentence.]
Source: King, Judson (1912, May 10). Convict Finds Way to Get Light and Power “Free as Air”. The Day Book.
