One hundred years ago
THE AMERICANS, who are certainly much more ready in applying scientific principles to the solution of small prac- tical problems than we are, are said to have invented an electrical thief- photographing process, by which any one who attempts to open a drawer, or box, or room where he has no business, will get himself photographed for his pains without his knowledge, so that he may be afterwards identified. A tobac- conist of Toledo, Ohio, of the name of Triquet, had missed repeatedly cigars from the show-case in his shop, without being able to discover the thief. Hence, he applied to an electrician to give him an apparatus which would take a por- trait of any one going to that case. An electro-magnet was so fastened to a match as to strike it against a rough sur- face whenever the electric circuit was completed, and by the light of the match an instantaneous photograph was taken, and immediately the shutter closed on the camera. On examination after the next disappearance of cigars, the portrait of two boys was discovered, and they were apprehended and sent to prison for the theft. Such an arrange- ment for photographing burglars with- out their knowledge, — if that could be managed, — would soon make burglary too hot even for the most astute profes- sionals. The Spectator August 27, 1892
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