It still would not hurt to hook up one electrode or partial tube length to one side of a lightbulb and the other
side to a positive voltage source and see if there is a connection, electron or current flow through the lightbulb.
Somewhere there are electrons to remove and a lightbulb test would prove it.
Choosing the proper bulb may take a few test runs to see it light a little or alot.
Thats what I think as I have not proved this, I will try it when I get there.
If the electron is free from the valance how it would be damaged after being charged or ionized
and should be used up.
Bottom line a test would prove it.