The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-28
THAT HoRRID CAMERA.
Startling, but Very Clear Evidence in a Cali
fOrnia Breach of POrmise Case.

Startling, but Very Clear Evidence in a Cali
fornia Breach of Pormise Case.
San Francisco Post
A breach of promise case is now pending at
Marysville, which exhibits some peculiar features.
1t seems the defendant young man named
Augustus Scudberry, is a member of that rapidly
increasing class of persons known amateur
instantaneous photograph cranks This lndl-
vidual had become SO enthused over the achieve
ments of European photographers in obtaining
negatives of birds flying horses running away,
tigers seizing their prey, ETC., that he made him
self holy nuisance prowling around after
people with his portable camera, electric slides
and things One day he would be found am
bushing beside the railway track and filling
up the switch-tenders with beer, in the happy
anticipation of catching a good impression of
frst-class smashup; the next, he was trying TO
bride some dying mans family to allow him to
take snap shot at the patient just when the
death-rattle set in. In fact, it is stated that
once, when some miners were having terrible
quarrel in barroom, Scudberry suddenly APP
peared in the doorway with his instrument over
his head and exclaimed excitedly
wait until put on a dry plate before you
shoot, gentlemenl Get your pistols ready and
fire together when say three. want to get IN
all the flashes"
Well, as we were going to say, this same
Seudberry was engaged to girl named Pllfey,
and somehow he got the idea into his head that
Amelia-her name was Amelia, and she wore
number four shoe which is mighty good for
MarysVllle glrl-waS untrue to him; IN fact, thaC
she was still encouring the attention OF dry
goods clerk named Boggs.
So Scudberry, having just received an auto
matte clock-work attachment to his apparatus,
carried his machine over to his fance's house
on pretense of taking the pictures of the family.
He took Amelias mother in the act of spanking
the baby; he took the baby in the act of swal-
lowing pin; took the cat in the act of catching
mouse, took dinner and then took his leave.
Seudberry explained that he was to be out of
a nd l<od hat
allowed to stand in tine corner of the parlor until
his return the next day.
That night Boggs. the alleged rival, called on
Amelia, and it is natural to suppose that they
were both unaware that the Photographic appa-
ratus in the corner-the lens of which was ad
justed SO as to rake the sofa fore and
aft, so to speak-was automatically adjusted
to take an instantaneous negative at
precisely ll:30 P. M, that being the hour when
the jealous Scudberry supposed the festivities
would be in progress if at all At all events, the
couple were startled at about that period by
peculiar click from Scudberrys machine, and
which they understood better the next day when
that gentleman Indignantly broke his engage
ment, and exhibited a picture which he sarcas-
tically labeled: mo. 46l, Roman Hug
ging Match
Miss Piifey Immediately brought suit for
breach of promise Boggs testifying that he was
ouly rehearsing a contemplated tableau with the
plaintiff, Meanwhile, Scudberry has filed the
photograph as evidence, and the whole town is
waiting anxiously for the verdict AS soon as
it is rendered. the whole story will be carefully
dramatized for the Baldwin as one of the most
thrilling episodes of life in the far West,