The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-17
A VALUABLE WITNESS.
The Part a Photographic Cam
era Played as Detective.
A BIG NEW YORK SENSATION.
: Husband Secures Evidence fills
WiCe's FaithIcsSncss by Means Of
u Photographic Instrument
and u Magnesium Light.

Wiic'S F0tthleSSncSS ny Means Oh
u Photographic Instrument
and Magnesium Light.
New YORK, Sept. 17.-Augustus Cook,
an artist living on East Eleventh street,
has brought suit for divorce upon evil
dencc furnished by magnesium CAM
era. The delicate instrument was car
ried bya lawyer, at Mr.. Cooks request,
when he went to II small town in the
Catskills to collect evidence against AIs.
Cook. The picture taken ut the time
is in the possession OF Falk, the photo
grapher, and will be shown in court
when the case comes up for trial. 1t
shows Mrs. Cook sleeping peacefully be-
side gentleman who does not in the
least resemble Mr.. Cook.
The case is OF special interest because
this is probably the first instance in
which the camera has played the
part OF witness. Augustus Cook
married pretty Annie Snyder Il little
over two years ago, and went to board
at house IN East Eleventh street, where
the husband had fived for long time.
Previous to his marriage Mr.. Cook had u
roommate aud chun in the person OF
Godfrey Landsman, who is Il sugar eX.
pert in the Custom House. After the
marriage OF his friend Landsman con-
tinued TO live at the same place, and he
and MIR. and Mrs Cook were on the very
best OF terms.
A FALSE FRIEND.
Landsman is swarthy young man Of
IS. and is described by those who know
him us u gay and dashing bachelor. Mrs.
Cook is a brunette, plump in figure and
lively in disposition. Mr.. Cook was de-
lighted that his bride and his friend
were OIL such good terms, and never
dreamed until three weeks ago that their
relations were anything more than pla-
tonic. On August 81 facts and circum-
stances came to his knowledge that made
him very unhappy man. On the date
mentioned Landsman told his friend
Cook that he had obtained a two weeks,
vacation, which he proposed TO spend in
the Catskiit Mountains. He told Mr..
Cook that he was going to GriiIin's Cor
ners. Now Griilins Corners is just seven
miles distant from little mountain re-
sort called Margaretville, and at Mar
garetville Mrs. Cook was domiciled for
the summer. Landsman told Mr.. Cook
that while he was in the mountains he
should call on Mrs. Cook, and Mr.. Cook
said very sincerely that tic should be de-
lighted TO have him do so.
On September ! Mr.. Cook went to
Margaretville himself. His wife bad
previously written him that "Godirey"
had grown tired OF Griilin's Corners and
had gone to Margaretville and was stop.
ping ut the same boarding house that
she was. When Mr.. Cook reached Mar
garctville he was met at the depot by bis
wife and Landsman. During n drive
that afternoon Landsmdn told Mr.. Cook
that he had been in MNrgaretville since
the Tuesday before. This statement
contlicted with the statement OF Mrs.
Cook, who said that I.andsman had
come on Thursday, two days later,
THE CAMERA AS A DETECTIVE.
AS socn us he got home from his
drive Mr.. Cook questioned his wife
closely. She retorted angrlly, and the
two parted the next day, Mr.. Cook COM
ing back to town and Mrs. Cook re-
naming at Nargaretville.
Upon his return 10 this city Mr.. Cook
consulted his friend, Benjamin Falk, the
weii-known photographer OF upper
Broadway. The latter told the troubled
husband that he saw no way to help
him, but that possibly his brother, Isaac
n. Falk, n lawyer having offices in TEN.
pie Court, might be able to help him.
On Thursday of last week Mr.. Falk,
Mr.. Cook and q Mr.. Bennett, who was
to be witness TO what transpired, left
New York for Margaretville. Mr.. Falk
is an expert photographer, having learn
ed the art in spare moments at his
brothers studio, He took with him n
magnesium, or detectives camera, aud
Il summons already drawn directing
Mrs. Cook to answer her husbands pc
tition for divorce, and another asking
Godfrey l,andSmAn to answer to Sl0,-
damage suit. At the depot in Marga-
rctville, the lawyer, the husband aud
the witness were met by LiverYman JG-
rome Dickson, the constable OF the vii
lage. The trio were driven at once to
the boarding. house at which Mrs. Cook
and Godfrey Landsman were stopping.
II was then 9:l5 o'clock at night.
uNIMpEACHABLE TESTIMONY,
Everything was quiet al The house and
everybody had retired. Landlord Boycs
wRs awakened without arousing the
other inmates Of the dwelling and when
he was told the nature OF his visitors
errand he admitted them readily. A
knock at the door Of the room occupied
by Mss. Cook was unanswered, but the |
key was not turned in the lock and the |
door opened readily. The room was
vacant, but Mrs Cooks clothes were on
the chair The door in Godfrey Land
mans room, across the hall, was next
tried. 1t, too, was unlocked and opened |
to the turn OF the knob. Mr.. Falk, Mr.. |
Cook, Witness Bennett, Landlord BOyes
and Constable Dickson tiptOed noiseless-
ly into the room, 4 lamp on table was
dimly burning.
It would have been very simple
matter to turn up the light and reveal |
what the gloom concealed, but Lawyer
Falk wanted to get the best evidence OBJ
tainablc, and he let tho lamp alone. In:
stead he adjusted his detective camera
and flashed his magnesium powder. The
dazzling brillance was over in less than |
second OF time, but the camera had
had time enough TO record upon its
negative" testimony which was unim.
peachable. II revealed Mrs. Cook and
Godfrey Landsman asleep.
The flash OF tho magnesium powder
awakened the sleepers. The wife be-
came ashen pale, but did not speak.