It is refreshing to turn to an instance in which the photographic evidence had the ef fect, not of convicting a person, but of clear ing him from suspicion. The dead body of a man was found near the outskirts of a wood, and appearances indicated that he had been the victim of foul play. An acquaintance of his had been arrested on suspicion, and a vulcanite match-box believed to belong to the accused — an assertion which, however, he denied — seemed to strengthen the case against him. The box was then subjected to careful examination. It was certainly the worse for wear, for its lid was covered with innumerable scratches. Amid these mark ings it was thought that there were traces of a name; but what the name was it was quite impossible to guess. Dr. Jeserich now took the matter in hand, and rubbed the box with a fine, impalpable powder, which insinuated itself into every crevice. He next photo graphed the box, while a strong side-light was thrown upon its surface, so as to show up every depression, — when the name of the owner stood plainly revealed. This was not that of the prisoner, but belonged to a man who had dropped the box near the spot where it was found many weeks before the suspected crime had been committed. The accused was at once released. In conclusion, we may quote one more case of identification, which, although it does not depend upon the camera, is full of inter est, and is associated with that other won derful instrument known as the spectroscope. Solutions of logwood, carmine, and blood have to the eye exactly the same appear
ance; but when the liquids are examined by the spectroscope, absorption bands are shown, which have for each liquid a charac teristic form. In the case of blood, the character of the absorption bands alters if the liquid be associated with certain gases, such as those which are given off during the combustion of carbonaceous material. Now, let us see how this knowledge was applied in a case which came under Dr. Jeserich's official scrutiny. A cottage was burned down, and the body of its owner was found in the ruins in such a charred condition that he was hardly recognizable. A relative was, in consequence of certain incriminating cir cumstances, suspected of having murdered the man, and then set fire to the building in order to hide every trace of his crime, — think ing, no doubt, that the conflagration would be ascribed to accident. The dead body was removed, and a drop or two of blood was taken from the lungs and examined spectroscopically, with a view to finding out whether death had been caused by suffocation or had taken place, as was believed,, before the house was set on fire. The absorption spectrum was found to be that of normal blood, and the suspicion against the accused was thus strengthened. He ultimately con fessed to having first committed the murder, and then set fire to the building, according to the theory adopted by the prosecution. The proverb tells us that " the way of transgres sors is hard." The thanks of the law-abid ing are due to Dr. Jeserich for making it harder still. — T. C. Hepworth, in Cham bers Journal.
