Louis Le Prince's disappearance is largely considered one of the most mysterious and tragic unexplained vanishings of the 1890's. But as he developed an incredible machine that would later be credited to Thomas Edison, some have speculated a far reaching conspiracy that reaches into every aspect of modern life. Was the vanishing inventor murdered? And why do some say he met an untimely end due to the efforts of one of history's most brilliant creative minds?
Louis Le Prince first came out with his invention in 1888. The select few who were present when he demonstrated the ability of his device to project captured images on a wall were astounded and a few thought it to be nothing short of witchcraft. But as Le Prince made the first historical moving pictures public he shortly thereafter scheduled a trip to the United States from Paris. He had been preparing the system to be ready to view with his family and many accounts suggest he intended shortly thereafter to begin production of additional devices. But as the train arrived at its intended destination, Le Prince did not get off. Those looking for him on the train confirmed he had checked in, but had simply disappeared somehow along the way. Also missing were all of his personal belongings including the world changing motion picture camera. The investigation was absolutely stumped. No information about Mr. Le Prince's whereabouts could be found. It was as if he, along with his belongings had simply vanished into thin air. Neither Le Prince nor his camera would ever be seen again. The official cause of death was labeled the perfect suicide. Le Prince had been on the verge of bankruptcy, and had been reportedly very depressed as a result.
But he was also about to officially patent his invention and inevitably had to know of the fortune to be made from it. Edison would shortly thereafter propose to the patent office the idea of the kinetiscope - a device that would do for the eye what the phonograph did for the ear.
So Edison has been suggested as a suspect in the murder of Louis Le Prince for years. In a paper entitled "Materials" Atreyee Guptaa asserted that evidence he had uncovered of the incident led him to believe that Edison was involved in a murder conspiracy to steal the idea and eventually the fortune that followed from Le Prince. And while the final word is still a matter of mystery, Gupta's voice is but one of many involved in the conspiracy theory surrounding Edison. A response by Erik Sherman would provide a well researched refutation of this claim days later.
But even if Gupta's claim has been refuted, is there enough evidence to warrant further inquiry? There's no doubt that Le Prince's disappearance did happen at a suspicious time and under suspicious circumstances. But for not the matter remains entirely unexplainable.
