PROOF AGAINST FIRE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4826, 23 March 1925, Page 2

PROOF AGAINST FIRE.

WRITING CANNOT BE, DESTROYED

Even the careful criminal, who destroys, as he thinks, all traces bfevidence against him by burning documents that prove his guilt, is not safe from the modern arm of the modern scientific detective, for document charred in the fiercest fire can now be mafic to give up their secrets. A short time ago a document of vital importance was thrown by mistake into the fire. When its loss was discovered it was nothing more than a blackened fragile thing containing not a single word that was decipherable.

An expert was called in, though the owner of the burnt paper had little hope that he could be of any use. Four weeks later, the expert returned and handed the owner a clear photograph of the document, with every word as easy to read as on the day it had been written.

The expert knew, that photographic plates arc acted upon by other things besides light. The ink of the original wriling contained chemicals, awd even though they had been in the heart of the fire he felt that some of their potency must remain.

He placed the paper between two’ ultra-sensitive plates and left it for a week. Then he looked to see if there was any result; a few faint marks appeared on the plates, but tint was all. Undeterred he next gave a three weeks’ exposure, at the end of which period he was able t> deliver the perfect photograph.