Genius inventor kills love rival

1874 California, USA: During a social event, British photography pioneer Eadweard Muybridge (1830 - 1904; pictured) took out a pistol and to the horror of the assembled guests, shot and killed his wife's lover. (One version says that Muybridge shot Major Larkyns at the latter's door.)

Muybridge was found guilty of the crime, with no conviction recorded, becoming the last person in California to escape a sentence for murder, except by reason of insanity. Despite 'getting away with murder', Muybridge was disgraced in San Francisco and he soon left on a trip to Panama and Central America ...

Categories: photography, law, legal, crime