Deposition of Antonio Meucci, Dec. 7,
1885 - Jan. 13, 1886
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
[Question No. 91] Please state what your means of procuring subsistence were in 1870 and 1871?[Answer No. 91] Several friends used to raise collections for me, giving me about from thirty dollars to forty dollars a month, and that was not even sufficient for the household expenses.
[Question No. 151] Please state in your own way what means of support you had from 1870 to 1880.
[Answer No. 151] Part was furnished by some friends, and more was given by the Supervisor of the Poor of Staten Island.
Affidavit of Antonio
Meucci, 9 October 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
… In 1872 I borrowed the money to give Mr. Stetson for my renewal of my caveat. Mr. Bertolino gave me the money in 1873 for renewal. I tried in 1874 to get the money, but I could not, nor could I raise the money in 1875 or in 1876 by which to renew my caveat or obtain a patent.After 1871, having exhausted in a few years the generosity of my friends, being unable to do business, having an invalid wife, I was compelled to apply to the overseers of the poor of Staten, Island to furnish me with necessities of life …
Affidavit of G. F. Secchi
de Casali, 23 July 1880
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
… I know since the year 1871 said Mr. Meucci has been very unfortunate and poor, and I believe him to be an honorable man. …
Affidavit of Angelo
Bertolino, 18 September 1885
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
… I further herein make oath, upon the best of my knowledge and belief, that the said Mr. Meucci was severely and almost fatally injured by the explosion upon the Staten Island ferry-boat, the Westfield, occurring about July or August, 1871, and that thereafter and since he has been too poor financially to pay for the necessary papers and other preparations to apply for and obtain his patent in said invention.I knew that he was unable to raise the money to pay his caveat fees, for the last time that he renewed I gave him the ten dollars for the purpose. I called his attention to the renewal due in 1874, asked him if he could pay the fees and he said he could not raise the money …
Affidavit of Thomas D.
Stetson, 21 July 1880
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
… And I further state that, from knowledge gained through an intimate acquaintance with the affairs of Mr. Meucci since 1871, to the best of my knowledge and belief Mr. Meucci has been too poor to pay the money necessary to complete his patent application and to introduce his invention, and has been physically unable to earn the necessary means …
Affidavit of William
Bowen, 29 March 1880
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
I , Wm. Bowen, of the town of Clifton, Richmond County, in the State of New York, hereby make oath that I held the office of Poor Master, or Overseer of the Poor, in said town. And that during the year 1878 and 1879 Antonio Meucci, of said town, was in such poor circumstances that the county gave him 25 dollars per year, as is shown by the account books of said county.
Affidavit of
Samuel L. Lewis, 29 March
1880
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
I , Samuel L. Lewis, of the town of Clifton, Richmond County, in the State of New York, hereby make oath that I held the office of Poor Master, or Overseer of the Poor, in said town, and that during the year 1880 Antonio Meucci, of said town, was in such poor circumstances that the County gave him $1.00 per week, as is shown by the account books of said county.
Deposition of James McAndrew, May 13,
1886
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
[Cross-Question No. 44] You said, a moment ago, that when he quit being in your employ he had no means?[Answer No. 44] I said I didn't believe that he could have had any means; he never was a man that I understood had means. I think Meucci was always poor ever since I have known him. I have known Meucci for the best part of thirty years, and I should judge that he never had any money in his pocket at any time.
Affidavit
of Domenico Mariani, 22 October 1885
[National
Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File
6921-1885, Box 10, Folder 1]
… When I first knew Mr. Meucci he seemed to be well off; he had the candle factory that I have mentioned and we worked in it. But he lost all his property so that at the time he was injured on the Westfield he was as bare of property as my hand. I know that Mrs. Meucci had a large amount of jewelry, diamonds and other jewelry. That she sold all this to get things to eat. I remember that Mr. Meucci had a telescope for which he paid $280, but he tried to sell it, and Mr. Tagliabue who only offered him a dollar for it. Mr. Meucci, during the time that you mention was as poor as a beggar. He lived upon the generosity of his friends who used to take him provisions …
Deposition
of Domenico Mariani, Dec. 31, 1885 - Jan. 16,
1886
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
……………………………Ques. 55. Please state, if you know, what the financial condition of Mr. Meucci was in 1873 and 1874?
Ans. 55. Extreme poverty. I knew Meucci well off in Havana; he had much money. Moreover, his wife was the chief dressmaker of the theatre. At every benefit of the singers, from the first to the fifth year, the prima donnas Stefanoni, Bosio, Alboni, Carante used to present Mrs. Meucci with diamonds and other jewelry. The men gave, besides, money also. They were Salvi, Marini, Badiali, Ferri and others, that used to make presents to both husband and wife. Meucci was machinist of the Tacon Theatre …
In 1873 I went to Staten Island to visit Mrs. Meucci that was sick. We sat at the table, and they told me, crying, that they were in extreme poverty. Meucci recalled to the memory the times of plenty, and added: "Of so much gold nothing is left us". This made me cry also. Meucci had once a marine telescope of the value of about $280. Tagliabue, who was keeping a store for optical instruments offered for the telescope one dollar. I cried with pain at not having money, and Meucci cried in confessing to me that he was living on charity. His friends sent him flour, provisions and other things.
Affidavit of
Frederick Bachmann, 28 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
I, Frederick Bachmann, being duly sworn says, I am a resident of Staten Island. I first became acquainted with Antonio Meucci of same place in 1866. My Brewery was adjoining the residence of said Meucci, and my residence was also very near his house. When I first became acquainted with him, he was in moderate circumstances. He devoted his time in inventions. Through the years 1868, 1869, 1870, I was in his house very frequently, and saw him almost daily: During this period he became quite poor. About the years 1869 and 1870, I know he had to sell his watch and chain to purchase things for the house. He was injured in 1871 by the explosion on the ferry-boat Westfield; he was badly burned, more particularly his face and hands, and was not able to assist himself in bed.At that time I was a strong young man, and went in daily as his neighbor, to turn him in bed, I did not suppose he would recover. I often saw in a room adjoining his sick room, glass jars, six or eight inches high, with something green in them, also a good deal of wire laying around resembling telegraph wire, as well as reels of wire. At this time he was destitute, not able even to pay drug bill or Doctor, in fact he had no money at all except what was given him by his friends. Mrs. Meucci told me their circumstances, and wanted I should buy of her some old pistols and knives, which I refused to do, but gave her five dollars. In the years 1872 and 1873, 1874 and 1875, Mr. Meucci was very poor indeed; this I know from statements from them and from observation.
During these years he often came to me and said he had not money to cross on the ferry to New York, and I gave it to him. When we were taking in coal for the Brewery, I would sometimes order a load of coal dumped into his yard for their use. During these years he was in bad health, and enfeebled from age and effects of his injury. He had no business and could not have labored, had he anything to do, and I believe during all this time lived on the charity of his friends; I often assisted them during this period.
The house he lived in belonged to Mr. Sammanno who had made an arrangement that they should have it as long as they lived free of rent. He died, somewhere about 1876, and after his death, his son wrote on here to have his house sold. We wanted to extend our Brewery on his lot; for the purpose of assisting Mr. Meucci we bought the house and moved it across the street on our own land, at our own expense, and gave them the privilege to live in it so long as they lived, free of rent. At this time we gave Mrs. Meucci two hundred dollars, and she gave it, the largest portion or it, to her hired girl Matilda, who had lived with them for a long time without much pay. Mrs. Meucci being so much of an invalid, that she was compelled to have someone to assist her as she was confined to her chair or bed - from 1870 to 1876, and much of the time since, he never was able to raise a dollar in money, except that which was given to him for the purposes of paying his living expenses.
Affidavit of Mathias
Egloff, 10 October 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
… The affiant further states that since 1871 about the year 1880, Mr. Meucci was very poor. …
Affidavit of Nicola
Vanni, 19 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3]
… I visited him soon after his injury by the explosion on the Steamer, a ferry boat Westfield - I knew then that Mr. Meucci was very poor, had no money or means I was a poor man myself … …
Affidavit of Joseph
Conti, 22 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3]
I, Joseph Conti, Secretary of the Italian Consul, being duly sworn, state: That I am at present residing at Montclair, New Jersey. The Consulate Office where I do business is 27 State Street, New York. I first became acquainted with Antonio Meucci of Staten Island, in the latter part of 1872 - or 3. … … … When I first became acquainted with Mr. Meucci, he was very poor, he had no business, and continued to grow poorer and poorer for some years, at least I should think so from the appearance of things in his house.I am one of the parties who made the subscription some time in 1873 or 1874, the date I cannot fix, by which we each agreed to give him one dollar per month, ad we did pay this amount some two or three years. As other evidence of his poverty, he used to come to me in the years I have mentioned, and tell me of his wants, ad borrow a dollar at a time; sometimes he repaid this and sometimes not. Soon after I became acquainted with him, he brought a ring to me that he said belonged to his wife, and told me that in his distress they would have to sell it for something to eat. I know from my own knowledge of his circumstances, that there was no time from '73 to '76 that he could raise ten dollars for any purpose as the money given him was to go for the family support. …
Affidavit of Nicola Barili, …
September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
I, Nicolo' Barili, … do know that in the years 1870, -- 71 -- 72 -- 73 -- 74 -- 75 -- 76 -- he [Meucci] was very poor, and that the Garibaldi Lodge of Masonry, No. 542, of which I was the Master, furnished him with some money which I gave him …
Affidavit of Torello Dendi, 18 September
1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, Northeast Region, New York, NY - Records
of the US Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York: The
American Bell Telephone Co. et al. vs. The Globe Telephone Co. et
al.]
… I was intimately acquainted with Mr. Meucci. I visited his house frequently -- about once a week. I know that he suffered from the explosion of the ferry-boat Westfield in 1871, as near as I can remember. I visited him when he was sick in consequence of the injury. At this time he was so poor that he had nothing at all and I assisted him with a dollar or two myself very often. I know of his condition up to about 1880. During this time he was still very poor and I sometimes helped him.Mr. Meucci had no business from 1870 up to the present time, excepting to work on his invention …
Affidavit of Mathilda Ciucci,
13 November 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3]
I first went to live with Mr. & Mrs. Meucci, it was the 22d day of October 1875; I am not mistaken as to the date. At the time I went there Mrs. Meucci had rheumatism, she could not work, she was just able to move about. The family was very poor and had but little furniture. When I first went there to live, the house stood were the brewery now is; the house then had a basement, a first floor and attic. When I first went there to live the house had very few things in it, no spare bed. When I first went there Mrs. Meucci told me that she had sold a part of her jewelry for things to live on.The family lived very plain, very cheap, we bought soup bones and such cheap things to live on. During the first few months that I lived with the family, a gentleman used to come from New York, and he would come down into the basement where I worked and take me to the grocery, and there ask me what the family needed, I would tell him and he would then buy flour, ham, and such things most required to live on. This gentleman was Mr. Biggio, most of the time while I lived there people used to help them. I also know that the overseers of the poor of Staten Island sent the family coal, flour and other things to live on …
Affidavit of John N. Biggio,
25 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3]
… Mr. Meucci at one time had considerable property, in 1871 he was very poor. I visited him while he was suffering from the accident I have mentioned, and saw that he had been extensively burned, especially on his face and hands. His wife was an invalid, and the house showed that they were very poor. From that time to about the end of 1883 he was very poor. This I know to be a fact as I assisted them from time to time. I gave small amounts for the purpose of supplying their immediate wants. In the latter part of 1876, or first of 1877, he obtained some means from Mr. Tagliabue, for an invention. I again also helped him up to 1883, Mr. Meucci had no business from '71 to '77, his wife was an invalid, ad I do not believe that he could raise money to pay for a patent for his speaking telegraph. …
Affidavit of Maria
Gregory, 7 October 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
… At the time he was sick from the effects of injury, the family were very poor, and Mr. Meucci had a large number of instruments or machines being those he and others had used for talking through. He had them in a box, he was very choice of them. Needing money very badly the house, I told Mrs. Meucci that I could sell these talking machines for something, and she told me to get somebody to buy them, I went out and got John Fleming a dealer in second-hand goods at Clifton, Staten Island to come over and see them, and Mrs. Meucci in my presence sold them to him for something over five dollars; Mr. Meucci was sick and knew nothing about the instruments being sold and I left before Mr. Meucci knew about the same. He had property when I first went to live with him, but became poor before I left. I know he was very poor as Mrs. Meucci during the last years I lived there, sold things of her own from the house. I also know that Mr. Meucci was very poor from 1871 to the last part of 1876. …
Affidavit of John
Fleming, 23 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
…I became acquainted with Antonio Meucci of Staten Island soon after moving there. I went to his house in 1871, when he was sick from the effects of his injury by the explosion of ferry boat Westfield. I went to his house the day he was brought home; he then was in bed. …Mr. Meucci was burned a great deal, his face and hands were scalded, and the skin lay loose where he was burnt. The house presented the appearance of people in great poverty. Mrs. Meucci was an invalid from the time I first knew her; at this time she was just able to move about. I called three or four times soon after as a neighbor; I saw him each time. At these visits he seemed to be in great pain; he moaned a great deal; he appeared like a very sick man; at that time I did not think he would get well.
While he was sick, Mrs. Meucci's girl came to me; I remember her first name was Mary or Maria; her other name I do not remember. She came to get me to buy some instruments or thing that Mr. Meucci had. I went to the house; the girl took me up-stairs and into the basement to show me the things they had to sell, and I found boxes, reels of copper wire, and something of the shape of horseshoes; there were several of these.… As I went up-stairs, and in the basement, I was shown the things they wanted me to buy, and there was a box about 3 x 3 feet, so heavy I could not move it. …
After I took the things home that I had purchased from Mrs. Meucci, a young man came to my store and wanted to buy some of these things. He looked them over and said he could use them to rig up a battery; he took a part of them to make a shocking machine. He came from time to time, and took things from these boxes. All was sold that I purchased, except the pieces that I have here brought, which happen to be in my workshop, and that is why I have them.…
At the time I made the purchase, the girl, Mary or Maria, was there with Mrs. Meucci. I think I paid six or seven dollars for them. I think Mr. Meucci knew nothing of the sale; Mrs. Meucci said she wanted to get something for the house, and that is the reason she had to sell them. When I first knew them, there was considerable furniture in the house, but at this time it is pretty well stripped.
I knew Mr. Meucci from 1871 to 1877. He was very poor indeed. During these years the overseer of the poor helped him, and the neighbors helped him sometimes, and I among the rest. We always gave to her. I worked for her without charge. We desired whatever we did for them not to be made known, as we wished to protect their feelings; and anything that was given was given without his knowledge. Another reason why we gave to Mrs. Meucci was, we all thought he was experimenting with his talking telegraph, and might spend our donations on his experiments.
He had no business, and I know he was not able to perform labor in the years 1873, '74, '75, and '76, but in 1876 he made something like a weather gauge made out of clay. When good weather, Washington came out, and in bad weather the bad weather man would come out. I bought several of these for the purpose of helping the family.
I know that during these years he could not earn ten dollars, and if he had any money it must have been given to him. …
Affidavit of Frederick Kassner,
28 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3]
… I have known Antonio Meucci, of Staten Island something more than 15 years. I knew him when he was injured by the explosion of the Steamer "Westfield", at this time he was very poor, I was in his house and its appearance was one of great want. I also knew him very well during the year 1872, 1873, 4, 5, and 6. During this period Mrs. Meucci was a regular cripple, she was carried around considerable of the time in a chair, she had to be nursed all the time.My place of business during the years above mentioned was very near Mr. Meucci's house, which gave me an opportunity to know the pecuniary condition of Mr. Meucci and his family. I also visited them. I know that Mr. Meucci had no business and was in poor health of advanced age and could not do much of everything, and that he received donations from his friends, which was the only visible means of support he had. …
Affidavit of Alessandro Panizzi,
18 September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
… … When Mr. Meucci was injured by the explosion of the Westfield I lived at 528 Broome Street, I did not see him for a few months after his injury, as I was so busy. But in October or November I went to see him. It was in one of these months, as I was on my way to spend a day hunting, which must have been in the Fall, sure not later than November. At this visit I saw that he was still suffering from the effects of the injury as his face, neck, and hands showed that he had not recovered from the burn. At this visit I saw they are very poor, had little or nothing; Mrs. Meucci told me that she had been compelled to sell her jewelry to get food, and the necessity of life, and she cried when she told me At this time she was an invalid.While Mrs. Meucci was telling me of their distress, Mr. Meucci seemed very sad, and went out of the room. He would not say anything about his poverty, but I saw the poor condition he was in; and soon I met R. Benedetti, G. Conti, G. Vercelli, G. Cella, on 42nd Street, and we agreed on a subscription paper that each of us should pay said Meucci a dollar a month. I often took the money to Staten Island, and always gave it to Mrs. Meucci, we continued each to give his dollar a month for at least five years. During this time I understood that the overseer of the poor at Staten Island was also helping them with coal, flour and groceries;. But Mr. Meucci was not able to earn anything, and his wife a confirmed invalid, and notwithstanding the assistance they got they seemed to grow poorer until he got some, as I heard for a patent about 1877; I know that he could not have paid the patent office or anyone ten dollars in 1874, 5, and 6, unless some person gave him the money, as it was understood that all that was given him was spent for things to live on …
Affidavit of Professor Ashael K.
Eaton, 16 October 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
Ashael K. Eaton, being duly sworn, says: That he is a resident of Brooklyn, New York… … … and Mr. S. S. Pratt of the New York World, was rooming with me at the time, and he assisted me in my experiments … It was, I believe, in 1878, that I first met Mr. Meucci. I think it was Mr. S. S. Pratt who called my attention to him as the inventor of a telephone from some publications that he had seen in an Italian newspaper, calling attention to a telephone invented by Mr. Meucci, and referring to a description of it in a former number.I inquired for the paper, and found that the issue referred to in this item had been destroyed by fire, and it was impossible to obtain it.
Right, away after that I called upon Mr. Meucci and found him at his home in Clifton, Staten Island. He explained to me his telephone and the researches that he had made in arriving at his invention. I could not understand Mr. Meucci very well, but I gathered from him that his telephone consisted of two electric magnets connected to a battery, which actuated a small piece of iron connected with a diaphragm on which was a metallic button.
Mr. Meucci at the time I called to see him, I found to be very poor and the next day, I gave my check to the Italian Consul of New York for $20 or $25. for Meucci. Mr. Meucci never spoke to me about his distressed condition, and I felt a delicacy to speak to him about it, but I saw from his surroundings that they were very poor.
I was the inventor of the telephone in the Spencer Case … …
Affidavit of Leonard D.
Cunningham, 10 October 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1]
… From my personal observation and knowledge, in the years 1872, 1873 and 1874, Mr. Meucci was very poor. I frequently saw Mrs. Meucci, always saw her when I called at the house. She was an invalid, generally in the chair and not able to go about. She needed nursing and attention. The family appeared to need the necessaries of life. Mr. Meucci's health was very poor after his injury, and to me, he has not seen the same man since as regards his health. Mr. Meucci told me in 1873 and 3 at some of my visits in Staten Island, that the numerous Talking Telegraph Machines he had made and the things he had purchased of Chester, were sold during his sickness …
Affidavit of William W. Goodwin,
13 November 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 4]
… William W. Goodwin being duly sworn deposes as follows. That he is a resident of the State of New Jersey, doing business in Phila and New York and is President of the Globe Telephone Company of New York. Affiant states that he is personally acquainted with Antonio Meucci and knows of his own knowledge and other sources what he believes to be true that said Meucci is and has been in a state of extreme poverty since about the year 1870: that from creditable information he believes it to be a fact that all patents or applications for patents obtained or applied for by the said Meucci since the date above mentioned has been accomplished through the assistance of others and that he has not received any profit therefrom except as Affiant has been informed from patents for a lactometer and hygrometer which were obtained in the years 1875 ÷ 1876; That Mr. Tagliabue did for 1876 and a portion of 1877 give Meucci a small sum of money weekly.And that during the years mentioned said Meucci was believed from being a recipient of public charity and taken from the list of outdoor poor of Staten Island. Affiant has been informed and believes that Meucci has not received any consideration for his patents or applications since 1865 except that heretofor mentioned. That at no time between the years 1870 ÷ 1880 could he have procured from his own resources the necessary money required for an application for a patent or a caveat …
Affidavit of Frederic Kassan, 28
September 1885
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 3 ]
… I have known Antonio Meucci, of Staten Island something more than 15 years. I knew him when he was injured by the explosion of the Steamer Westfield, at this time he was very poor, I was in his house and its appearance was one of great want. I also knew him very well during the year 1872, 1873, 4, 5, and 6. During this period Mrs. Meucci was a regular cripple, she was carried around considerable of the time in a chair, she had to be nursed all the time.My place of business during the years above mentioned was very near Mr. Meucci's house, which gave me an opportunity to know the pecuniary condition of Mr. Meucci and his family. I also visited them. I know that Mr. Meucci had no business and was in poor health of advanced age and could not do much of everything, and that he received donations from his friends, which was the only visible means of support he had …
Affidavit of Fortunato Barbette, 3 April
1880
[National Archives
and Records Administration, College Park, MD - RG60, File 6921-1885,
Box 10, Folder 1 ]
I, Fortunato Barbette, of the town of Clifton, Richmond County, in the State of New York, hereby make oath, that I am well acquainted with Mr. Antonio Meucci, and that I loaned him money to pay his physician's bill, after his injury on the Westfield, and that I have frequently loaned him small amounts of money, since the month of August in the year 1871, and that I know he has been too poor to repay me …
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