Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1895 — Cleverly Trapped. [ARTICLE]

Cleverly Trapped.

A barber who kept a cigar store at oue end of his shop found that a goodly portion of his stock disappeared during the night. He watched without avail; as long as his eyes were upon them the cigars were safe. As a last resort he brought a camera just before dark, focused it on the cigar stand, and so connected it electrically that when the latch of the show case was pulled a magnesium light would be flashed and a picture taken. The next day the cigars were unmolested, but in the camera there was a clearly defined picture of two hoys who lived in the neighborhood, one in the act of opening the case and the oilier preparing to receive the booty. The flash had scared them, and they made off; but they were at once arrested and sent to prison. An electrician has designed an apparatus by which he says be can circumvent the knavish tricks of the smartest thief, and that between the electric light and the infinite variety of electrical detective and alarm appliances now devised the cracksman's occupation is virtually gone.