I don't know who T. M. Cato is, but "publication #M1085" is NARA microfilm
of FBI case files.
As for the patent, NARA would also have patent application files that should
tell you what became of the patent. I'm not sure which NARA branch those
records would be at, probably either D.C. or College Park. You might be
able to find out from the NARA website, which is:
Peggy Reeves
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cynthia Benua" <cbenua(a)msn.com>
To: "Cato List" <CATO(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 4:46 AM
Subject: [CATO] T.M. Cato of Spartanburg SC c 1917
Found this record and thought it might be of interest to
someone....can
anyone identify this T.M. Cato? I wonder what happened with his
invention?
Reports of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. NARA. Publication
#M1085. Case #88190. T.M. Cato.
Report of Robert L. Skilve, Agent. Spartanburg, SC. Nov 13, 1917. Re:
T.M. Cato, inventor.
At Spartanburg, SC. T.M. CATO, Saxon Avenue, Spartanburg, SC, now
employed as carpenter at Camp Wadsworth, reported to Agent that he was the
inventor of a device for counteracting the combative forces of all
missles, that said device had been given partial tests, and that he had
plans, designs, etc whereby vessels may be rendered proof against
torpedoes. He said that application for patent was pending and that he
intended to market his invention.
In view of Title 1, Sections 1 and 2 of the Espionage Act, Approved June
15, 1917, Agent considered this matter worthy of investigation, and on
this day examined said Cato. Cato exhibited a letter from the Naval
Consulting Board requesting plans and specification. He explained that he
did not know anything about this Board and feared writing anything down,
and requested Agent to write said Board in his behalf requesting a
personal interview in the event he, Cato, should come to New York. In
response to this request, Agent wrote Thomas Robbins, Secty, Naval
Consulting Board, 13 Park Row, New York, setting forth Cato's fears and
asking, for him, if a personal conference could be arranged.
Cato has boundless faith in the efficacy of his device, and stated that no
one else knew anything about it save himself and L.A. Green, W. Washington
Street, Greenville, SC who is Cato's partner and is financing the
patenting of the device.
posted by
Cynthia Benua
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