The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-15

with all its might! 1t has been
known for some time that walls have
ears, but never have many of these
been so amply provided with auricular
mural contrivances as at the present
date. And not only walls, but desks
and other pieces of furniture Each
stool and chair may have little die
tograph all it's own ready to carry
your secret to some one who wants to
know. The days of espionage have
just begun.
The most recent message of the die
tograph-the confessions of Charles
McGowan-as reported exclusively in
the Daily News of yesterday, set the
town buzzing today in study of the
tiny instrument which has played
such an important role in detective
operations for the last two years.
Visits the Burns Agency.
A reporter for the Daily News went
out to interview the photograph in its
customary haunts A visit to the
William ]. Burns detective agency re-
vealed the startling fact that all Of
the instruments in the possession of
the agency were in use-that they
were all set and waiting in inconspicu-
Gus places for important messages to
be delivered and recorded.
1--WE use the photograph in all of our
big cases now" declared Raymond j..
Burns, superintendent of the Chicago
Office I'VE find it indispensable. This
instrument was first used by us two
| years ago in the Illinois Central graft
cases. That was the first time it was
ever brought into play in this way.
Before that it had been used as a
telephones for the purposes of dicta-
ton. We used it again with success
in the Columbus legislature bribery
case. We used it in Gary and we used
! it in Toronto. But these are by no
means all. Those are just the big in
stances. could name many others If
l had the time. It's certainly won
derful little contrivance and makes
our work a lot easier
Finds a Real Photograph.
A real live photograph was run to
earth in the office of company which
manufactures them, along with such
innocent things as aids to the deaf
and office conveniences.
81 want to see a photograph" said
the reporter.
Here is one" said the manager of
the concern, picking up little disk
about four inches in diameter. 1t had
been lying there all the time absorb
! ing conversations. 1t seemed a bit
uncanny 1t was suggested that the
apparatus be set up as if ready for a
cob" and this was done in a twinkle.
Here is the way it is DONE said
the demonstration, hanging the disk on
hook and covering it with a calen-
dar. He ran the wires through a par
tition into the adjoining room and
connected them with battery and re-
ceiver.
There you are" he said. THE
only thing is that the disk inst con
cealed very well. For instance, you
hide it behind the drawer in desk
You can hook it under the edge of a
chair or a table, or place it behind
framed picture. Just so it's out oil
sight and in the room it's all right
Shows How instrument Works.
Suddenly the sound of buzzer was
heard The demonstration stepped tC
his desk and took down a receiver
The conversation he carried Oh
seemed to be thrown into thin air.
That's one of its uses" he said
placing the receiver back on it's hook
"The person on the other end of the
line could have heard you striking
match just as plain as he could heal
me talking" He opened a drawer anC
showed the transmitter of the dicto
graph, which had received and report
ed his words as he uttered them.
THE whole instrument, transmitter
receiver ana battery, can be held will
ease in the palm of one hand Tit
transmitter is the important thing
It's function is the same as the trans
mitter of an ordinary telephone, |
receives and transmits vibrations o
sound 1t is highly sensitive, how
ever, and instead of talking into
.. mouthpiece the user can talk in nat
|. ural tone of voice in any corner o
the room and the sound carries wit
great distinctness.
Its Mechanism Is Simple.
. The transmitter, though remarkaDl
} sensitive, is quite simple. 1t consist
of rubber Sound collector"-serN
ing the same purpose as the SCUM
r chamber of a violin. Within that Is
disk of aluminium the size of watcf
D in which there is a delicate carlo
membrane. Behind the membrane ar
| CIV tir,y aIactrOs containing minut