El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-09
Dictagraph Gathers In Evidence
Otherwise Impossible To Obtain
Instrument Easily Concealed
Many Miles Necessary

worked in relays. but sometimes lis
tened together when a double record
was needed for cOrrObOra ton. They
were under the direction Of Rowland
Evans, official stenOgrapheT Of the
federal court
Talked About the Instrument.
The day the ironworkers heard how
the instrument had been used, Hockin
was heard to ask Ryan what a dista-
graph looked like, and the latter said
he thought it was about the size Of a
hat, although he had never seen one.
Not many people have seen one. As a
matter of fact the dicta graph is about
the size Of a small bread and butter
plate, and perhaps an inch thick-that
IL, the detective dictagraph, which IS
altogether different from the CONNER
cial affair, although the principle is
the same.
In some respects the dictagraph is
like a telephone, only you don't talk
into it. It may be concealed in
drawer or behind the plaster on the
wall or 1t may lie on the desk before
you. Wherever placed it is sensitive
10 sound.
A popularity Of the instrument is
its ability to magnify a low tone and
bring it up TO a certain pitch. How
much it magnifies it is difficult to
say. as there is no fixed standard for
sound volume. on the other hand, the
instrument modifies loud tones, so that
II a man shouts his voice is not thick
and blurred when Il reaches the other
end of the wire. Attempts have been
made to connect the dictagraph with
the photograph, and thus record the
human voice. but the photograph has
so far failed to record sounds that
come by wire
Used on McNamaras.
In addition to the Diegle and Ryan
cases the dictagraph was used in the
Sd 10 ITnAT ~
ras were confined, and also in the case
Of the Illinois Central grafters- The
evidence secretly obtained in Los An
geles was supposed TO have brought
about the confession Of the McNa-
maras. thus saving the state large
sum of money in connection with the
prosecution
1t is a dangerous instrument at all
times. particularly if it falls into the
hands Of criminals, who are always on
the lookout for new methods and de-
vices. Already, it has been used by
wire tappers, and in numerous cases
men have tried to get hold OF olcJa-
graph. presumably for Illicit purposes
The dictagraph may be found in gov
eminent bureaus. detective agencies,
and the offices Of large banks and cor
porations. Police departments in this
country have been slow to utilize II,
although Scotland Yard and some OF
the European police have made the IN
C
Longest distance over which the
dictagraph has been tested in Grim
inal cases is three miles, q regular
copper wire being used to carry. the
impulses An exclusive wire IS neeo-
81 of course TO avoid Interruptions,
although the device may be attached
TO a telephone line
william j. Burns was the urst oe-
tective to use the dictagraph IN this
country He saw its possibilities in
cases Of bribery, where Il is always
difficult to get direct evidence Of the
crime. He began TO use It long be-
fore people knew much ABOUT re IN
st<l7r1enr and so he was considered
Something Of wizard in the detective
Sine. Now il is said. he travels with
a dictagraph in his pockets. II IS SAID
that the device is being USED IN faIl-
- r,or+s Of the country in connec-
ion with crimes now under inyestlga-
ton. and that these cases VIII become
public before many months