SYNTHETIC GOLD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 17

SYNTHETIC GOLD

MADE OUT OF LEAD

RESULT OF TESTS

The affairs of the modern "alchemist" Franz Tausend, the subject of an article in the "Evening Post" on 17th September last," and who was arrested on a charge of pretending to manufacture synthetic gold, reached a new stage in Munich recently, when Tausend was led from prison to the Bavarian mint. A special correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" in Berlin wrote istatihg that in the presence of two I directors of the mint, the police, and I the Public Prosecutor, he performed !an experiment which resulted in the production of 1.67 grammes of pure gold. The basis of the experiment was lead, after the ■ approved fashion of medieval magicians.

The director . of the Bavarian mint attests to the surprising result of the experiment, which was carried out in utensils belonging to the mint. He states that, by methods hitherto unknown to science, considerably more gold was,distilled from the substances used by 'Tausend than could possibly have been' in them. Yet he must refuse to subscribe to the positive results of .the experiment until it has been performed;in the absence of Tausend himself.', '■'■-.'

Efforts are \now being made to release Tausend\ from prison, and several of those who caused his arrest are said to be -withdrawing their charges. At the time of his arrest General Ludendorff^ advised \by Nationalist quarters, believed in his experiments, and hoped that the^ money likely to accrue from them weuld be used for patriotic ends. Others who put money into the enterprise were actuated; by less altruistic motives. Their. Itop'es are now running high again. :