Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-27

ment."
The person referred 70 was about twenty
feet ia front Of Us; well dressed, though IN
a Bohemian sort OF fashion, and was
slroIling along looking at the sights IN
the shop windows. The only thing about
him at al out OF the common run was the
fact that he carried under his LETT arm
square box OF rather large size. It might
have been a case Of surgical instruments,
for IL was carefully covered with green
covering and had quite professional APP
pearance.
The man strolled along leisurely, looked
up at the windows, stopped for moment
to glance at the pictures III one OF the big
art stores near Eighth street, then joined
the throng and kept on.
was beginning 10 wonder why he
didn't shift that eonfounded box over 10
the other arm, w hen he turned suddenly and
in very natural manner stumbled and
lodged before a tall, thin man, almost be-
hind him. The man with the box lodged
before him moment, IN the ludicrous
way that is often seen on the street;
then both stopped, muttered an apology,
| and 20 got clear OF each other
and were soon in the crowd that was surg
/ ing up the street The box, l noticed, was
now under the other arm, and was carried
/ rather carelessly. The owner seemed to
have lost his interest in the stores and was
about 10 hail a Broadway stage and prooa-
/ bly disappear, box and all, when my
friend stepped up and touched him on the
arm and said: Nv ell, did you get himE'
The man with the box looked up quickly,
smiled when he saw who 1t was, then
broke into ripping laugh. was hnally
| introduced, and III quiet corner or the
! Hotel Dam cafe learned the mystery OF the
box. There are tricks IN ali trades but
ours" said the tall man, lighting cigar
and watching the smoke ascend upward
ring after ring. .'But Pm tired. Ive been
! following that man you saw me pretend 10
run into all day. l went down town with
him this morning, followed him over 10
Brooklyn, then back to the Jersey City
ferry. and finally he started uptown, and
got him as you saw"
What were you going to do?" L asked.
BLOW him up:"
Hardly" replied the stranger, with
laugh; then taking up the box he gave
a glance around, sent the waiter to see if
man by the name of Dobbs was on the
register, and quickly lifted the cover,
and instead of a dynamite machine there
was a simple Photographic instrument
known as a pin n-hole camera.
Yes" continued the owner of the box,
''this is a phase of the detective system,
and whether j am a detective or pho
tographer don't know. The latter Is my
profession, and try little OF both. They
tell me l have an innocent, far away
look that is quite necessary IN the make
uD of the detective. Yes, this machine Is
my idea, though believe there are others
in use in England and France. The idea
is this This little box contains the camera
and at this end there Is a small round
hole that closes or opens by a spring
that | govern by my thumb or finger.
Now, no one would ever guess what 1t
was; but if can get anyone in front Of
it and snap that spring, III the tenth OF a
second your image has been indelibly
stamped on the plate within; in other
words, it's instantaneous photography
and used whenever YOU want
TO take a mans picture without his know
ing it. | try it in different ways. The
man whose picture yoI saw me take this
morning is wanted in Belgium on a charge
v
he is the one wanted, but as they are not
sure they don't want to arrest him. In the
meantime he is watched by detectives and
| take MS picture without his knowing 1t.
When finish it up it will be sent to Bel
gium, and IL he is the man a telegram will
be sent TO that effect and he will be ar
rested"
"Is there much Of this sort of thing
done?"
Eyes, l do a good deal of it," was the
reply. "The street lodging trick is the
best. The detective on watch pointed him
out to me, and the only thing | had to dc
was to get n front of him and get full
. front view. This | can generally do by
pretending to run into a man, and while
we are trying o pass each other get him
perfectly and he does not suspect il, think
2 ing me some clumsy boor who does moi
know which way to turn. have
taken people in al sorts of situa-
tions Some time ago lady called
az our office and inquired for me
! she said that she bell we'd that her hus
. tand was decev ng her. aud that sh,
2 wanted II learn the truth 20 secure evi.
dence for a divorce. She gave me th'
I fhotoEraph OF hef hHShduo anu MS pidC'
os bus ness. and ] soon knew him by sight
and knew his habits as we'll as possible
a But it was necessary 10 have Photographic
r evidence. 50 I rigesd up machine that re
suited in divorce. I .ound that he wa
in the habit Of meeting the lady in tn
restaurant Of an up-tovn hotel, and on
day as / saw him sitting at the table
walked in rugged up a. q fower-seller.
r. had a square board punched with hole
, my box on the other side. | walked up 6
: the table and held up an array Of bouquet
50 that they had TO look at them and tn
business was done. When the photogrspl
: was shown 60 the man with the woman
l looking at bin. they say be gave right ~
a but he OF sret one of the meu $40 to fin
6 cut how they got the picture, that's whs
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