The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-05-02 00:00:00

tiTtE MIIRTVRIDGIt OBSERVER.

t—To *Wm thitillibutillithinaws—prodiaetVganeral
It was not intended, because of the recent barbarous murder lugs of deep pain and of profound aympathy for the Royal
in the county of I,Vestmeath, to propose the extension of the family. At the Chamber of Commerce and other public
pow erg under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act to any ~t her places knots of persons discussed the intelligence. Besides
description of offence than that to which the act was now the rejoicing over Prince Alfred's escape, a source of emigre-
limited. tulation was found in the circumstance that the telegram
The notices of private members and the bills on the paper did not arrive during the stay of the Prince of Wales in
having been postponed, the House went into committee on Ireland, when it would have marred the etVoyments of the
the Established Church, Ireland. 00:R81011. The Evening Frecnom, expressing the public
Colonel Barttellot resumed the debate, and was succeeded sentiment, says ,—"Fortunately the cowardly would-be
by Mr. Charles Buxton, Mr. Pease, Lord Royston, Mr. assassin did not succeed fully in his wicked intent, but the
Bagwell, Mr. Denman, Mr. Vance, the Marquis of Hating- country vs ill learn with unanimous and deep regret that the
ton, Mr. Mowbray, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. liewdegate, mid Mr. gallant youth, the Sailor Prince, has been wounded, and that
Whalley. by the arm of one who certainly intended to carry his criminal
Mr. Reenters was proceeding to address the House, when design to a fatal end. The particulars received are scant,
An hon. Member moved that the House be counted, the but they are reliable, and meagre though they be. they will
ministerial benches being almost empty, but a sufficient disgust the world, and elicit an universal anathema against
number of members came in to make up the requisite forty, the perpetrator. The Freeman is certain that in no place
and immediately afterwards the Chairman was ordered tore- will the feeling of sorrow and indignation be more general
port progress. or niece sincere than in Ireland, 'where the Royal Duke,
The orders of the day were then gone through, and the though a comparative stranger, was yet popular 011 account
Mouse adjourned. of the manly and noble traita which distinguished his than
In
acter . . The public will be anxious to learn that full the House of
Sc
on April 29, upon the motion for . •
Justice has been meted to the guilty."
the second reading m
of the Church Rates Conunutation Bill, -
Mr. Newdegate said that the bill upon church rates which
had already gone to the House of Lords had beets found to be
in such a state that it was thought necessary to refer it to a
select committee. He should be glad that the bill now before
the house should also go to the same committee. But con- I
sidering the state of the House, and also the fact that no
member of the Government was present, he would ask leave
to postpone the Second reading until the following day.
The motion was withdrawn.

The Times, in a leader, ban the following remarks on
the event :
It is difficult to speak with calmness of the horrible and
dastardly attempt which has been made upon the life of the
Duke of Edinburgh at Sydney. A young roan who has never
in the smallest degree been mixed up with political affairs,
awl has never in word or deed dune wrong to Ireland, is
oasely shot in the back while taking part in a public enter-
tainment given for a charitable purpose. His only offence is
that he is the son of the Queen ; the only object of the
assassin is to gratify a blind, unreasoning hatred of British
authority, or, as is, perhaps, more probable, to strike terror
by showing that neither rank, nor innocence, nor general
popularity can save from Fenian vengeance. In this case
there can be no doubt of the origin of the crime, for the
assassin at once avowed himself a Fenian, and his purpose
was, doubtless, to show that the murderous society was
world-wide in its organization, and could strike down a
victim even on the other able of the globe. Coupled with
the recent assassination of Mr. .M.Gee, this deed will bring
home to the most doubting minds the true character of the
Fenian conspiracy. There are people whose temperament
instinctively leads them to a secret sympathy with insurrec-
tionary movements, and who appear to believe that the very
existence tlf disaffection towards a Government proves that
Government to be a tyranny. The earlier crimes of the
Venial. were not sidlicient to destroy this feeling. The raids
on the inoffensive Inhabitants of the Canadian frontier, the
attacks ott the police barracks in Ireland, Anil even the savage
murder at Manchester were palliated as the acts of an im-
prmient and misdirected but not unreasonable patriotism.
But what is to he said of the heroes who single out their
victim anti then shoot him boldly in the hark? Mr. M 'Gee
s murdered while putting the lateh.key into his street
door. this was the way the Fenian society disposed of an
enemy who had denounced its plots, and who, by his in-
fluence over the Irish Roman Catholics of the Dominion, had
frustrated its hopes of a successful incursion. The presence
of the Duke of Edinburgh has aroused the loyalty of
Australia, anti probably destroyed whatever influence the
Fenian organisation might possess in those colonies. The
retribution which Fenianism prepares is to shoot him at a
. . .

-
and JUillt Stock Companies' Bill, after a
short discussion, was read a second time.
. .

. . - .....
Some other busmess, of no public interest, was divosed
of, and the House adjourned.

We wish we could believe that this crime was merely the
work of one distempered mind, and that when the perpe-
trator had been p lied there would be nothing more to
suspect or fear. But it is too much in character with the
general tenour of line conspiracy for us to he content with
any sueh careless explanation. The Fenians have shown
that Ham have all the will to shed )1100.1 ; and they have
only been defeated in their most formidable schemes by the
matelifulneas of the British anal Colonial Governments, and
by the faithfulness of those who are in the mnploynnent of
the Crown. As this is not the first murderous attempt that
has been made, no one can venture to predict that it will be
the last. Happily, the course of events every day diminishes
the influence of those fanatical leaders who compass sea and
land to oldain agents for their schemes. The assault on the
Duke of Edinburgh occurred at a time when the minds of
the traitors in Australia were, no doubt, full of the executions
of the Manchester murderers, and of that outrage in London
which is now being investigated at the Old Bailey. They
are two months behind the march of events in the countries
which are the homes of the conspiracy. A new influence has
made itself felt since that time. The Irish have spoken in
their own country awl have denied their complicity with
their self styled representatives. The dismantled bravoes of the
American civil warmay still thirst after exeitement and blood;
the dregs of Irish poverty in Dwain or Cork, in London Sr
Liverpool, may be willing to undertake any vile work to which
their empleyers may put them ; but all who are capable of poll-
tkal insight now know that Fenianism, if it had ever
seduced for a moment a portion of the Irish people, has
been definitively abandinned and condemned. The visit of
the Prince and Princess of Wales has shown the world that
the Irish are inn heart as tinnily attached to the reigning
House and to the institutions of the United Kingdom as the
people of the larger and more prosperous island. It is an
especial subject for regret that a visit similar to that which
Inns just gratified the Irish people should have ended so
disastrously inn Australia. A Prince of the Blood does not
go through the toilsome ceremonies of a Royal progress
merely for his own amusement. Ile kisses that in his high
station certain duties are demanded of him, and that chief
aim sing them is that Inc should be willing to see and be seen
Inn every part of the British dominions. The Duke, as the
representative of his Mother, and, as it were, of the unity of
the Empire, seems to have done his best to please all those
with whom he was brought into relations. A brilliant day
has, indeed, been disastrously clouded over.
The obvious reflection is that by these acts the conspirators
will have lost their hold over even the most ignorant anal im-
pulsive class, annul will be left a mere gang of plotters without
popular support. Such is, indeed, the consolation which
society may find amid these most atrocious doings. The late
Mr. SiHee was a man of remarkable eloquence, great de-
termination, and a rare faculty of attracting and influencing
his fellows, but all the speeches he ever made will Inane been
less imwerful in the denunciation of Fenianism than the
narrative of his death. What inns been done for British
America by one crime has been done for Australia by another.
The Australians have welcomed with abundant loyalty and
hospitality the sou of their Queen, but the feeling for the
Duke of Edinburgh inn good health and spirits will be weak in
comparison with that he will excite when the colonists hear
of him as lying wounded and helpless under the bullet of an
assassin. The measure of Fenian wickedness inflow filled up,
and it may be predicted that, the character of the traitors
being fully known, they will find few more dupes in Ireland
or elsewhere.

- _.—
eacdtesnent..and feel! 71gtual

manifestations which hiirintuenced the
mini of the plaintiff took place. The plaintiff did not ask
for costs against Mr. Wilkinson.
The Vice-Chancellor : Do you ask for costa against Mr.
Home !—Mr. Druce Yes.

After some further arguments from Mr Druce the
case was adjourned.

On Monday the ease came on again, when Mr. Bruce, In
continuation of his speech for the plaintiff, said that Mr.
Wilkinson, who had acted as the legal adviser of Mrs. Lyon
with reference to the mortgage deed of £30,000 In favour of
Mr. Horne, was a friend of Mr. Home, and a firm be-
liever in the spiritualist powers of Mr. Home. It was,
therefore, most unfortunate that Mr. Wilkinson had
acted as legal adviser in reference to Mrs. Lyon's
gift to Mr. Home. Mrs. Lyon told Mr. Wilkinson that
she was herself subject to supernatural occurrences. Under
these circumstances ought not Mr Wilkinson to have asked
Mrs. Lyon whether any spiritual phenomenon had occurred
in her presence that induced her to make an extraordinary
gift to Mr. Hon, In cross-examination Mr. Wilkinson ad-
mitted that he had put no such question. By the will which
Mrs. Lyon had made, before she had seen Mr. Rome, she
laiingithed her property to her husband's relatives. Shortly
after she had become acquainted with Mr. Home she burnt
that will and made another will, by which she constituted
Mr. Home as her universal legatee because Mr. Home told
her that the spirit of her deceased husband desired her to du
so. It was said that Mrs. Lyikti burnt her first will because
she entertained a strong aversion to her husband's relatives.
How was that aversion brought about? Why did the deed
which Mrs. Lyon made for the purpose of confirming a gift
to Mr. Home contain the unusual recital that Mrs. Lyon, in
making the gift, was not acting under any undue influence?
It was inserted in order to meet the litigation which Mr.
Home knew must some day commence to set aside the gift.
The mortgage deed for £30,000, in favour of Mr Home, con-
tained a similar recital. He ,Mr. Druce. contended that Mr.
Home, in desiring Mr. Wilkinson to prepare a will and two !
deeds to be executed by Mrs Lyon in favour of Mr. Home,
wished hits to manufacture those instruments in such a way ,
as to meet any libjec ion which might be raised to their
validity. Mr. Horne admitted that before Mrs. Lyon made
these gifts to bins some spiritual manifestations did take
place during her interview with him. In a memorandum-
book which had been put in evidence Mr ILinw had written
these words as a spiritual communication intended for Mrs.
Lyon "Daniel is the best medium on earth for you, and all
that we wish to say and do we can say and do through him.'
And yet the defendant in his answer denied that he was the ,
agent in the spiritual manifestations to the plaintiff. In ,
one of the defendant's written communications to the plain- I
tiff he said, "We had to get control over your mind." Those
words said more thanany counsel could say against the validity :
sif Use gifts which the plaintiff had showered upon the defend- ,
dant. Mrs. Lys in had an unbounded affection (oilier husband, I
and after reading Mr. Home's leek she thought that he could
bring her into communication with the spirit of her deceased
husband. Mr. Home soon saw mum what chord he should play
to get an influence over her mind. Ile made her suppose that
the spirit of her deceased husband wished her to losik upon
" Daniel" as their child. Mr. Home not only called Mrs.
Lyon Ids as. but Ike also called the deceased, Mr. Lyon,
his spiritual father. The learned counsel, in conclusion, .
submitted that on behalf of the plaintiff there had been
asiduce,i all the evidence that could lie desired for the purpose
..f se,tl.ig aside Mrs. Lyon's gifts to Mr. Home. It hail been
proved that they were made whilst she was ander the *M.
pression, which the defendant host produced, that her
husba nsl's spird desired lier to make them. As to the defen.lant'e
imputation that the plaintiff had instituted this suit because
he refused to marry her, it appeared that in June, 1807, the
plaintiff told him that her eyes had been opened to the
delusion he had practised upon her, and she demanded back
her money. In answer to that demand the defendant, think-
ing that he could still coax the old lady, appealed to the
dutiful way in which Ike had acted towards her as a son.
Could anyone believe, then, Mrs. Lyon had desires! Mr.
Home to marry her? The learned counsel went through
the evidence and argued that the whole chain of circum-
stances pointed one way—nankely, that the defendant,
having discovered the peculiar weakness of the petitioner's
mind, arising from her exaggerated love for her husband,
knew how to touch the chord, and availed himself of the
opportunity to enrich himself. Was it a trivial circum-
stance that in the doggerel proved to be in the defendant's
handwriting, beginning •• Shining, shimmering, golden
hair—" an allusion was intended to the vision of the
golden-haired boy? The lock could not be opened till the
boy came mysteriously out of the bookcase. What slid that
signify? A Daniel was found to interpret the stream ; and
when the lock was opened, ales. Lyon's treasure was gone.
The whole of the exigences of the cases winch had been
cited in Mr. James's opening had been satisfied in thin in-
stance ; and in allusion to the remarks of Sir James Wilde
In the extraordinary case of •• Smith v. Tebbutt," it WWI con-
tended that the difference between night and day was not
greater than the state of Mrs. Lyon's nkind when under the
influence of the supposed communication with her husband's
spirit, and when she was not under such influence. This
subject was not confined to English law, but was matter of
universal jurisprudence ; Mid in a remarkable case in France,
reported in the first volume of the Reports of D'Aguesseau,
where an old lady was induced to leave her 1111 l acy to a con-
vent, under the supposed directions of phantoms 4,1 her de-
ceased husband's spirit, which were made to pass before her
eyes, the dispositions were set aside, and her money restored.
In conclusion, he called upon his Honour to take a similar
view of the case, and to visit the defendant Home with the
just consequenies of his hypocrisy and fraud.
Mr. Matthews, Q.C., then opened the case for the defen-
dant Home. He said he had heard with surprise that the
onus of proof, that there had been no undue spiritual influ-
ence in this case, was thrown upon the defendant. There
were a number of relations in life, such as those of parent
and child, guardian and ward, trustee and cestui que trust,
solicitor and client, clergyman and parishioner, and the like,
where one party stands to the other in a relation of subjec-
tion or submission, in which it was necessary for the donee
to show that the donor was not under his influence when the
gift was tnatie. The plaintiff insist show that a gross and
chunsy deception had been practised upon her by the defend-
ant, aided by hie numerous friends. Nothing short of this ,
would be sufficient to give her a standing in the court. It
! was an admitted fact in the case that Mr. Home was a
: spiritualist—that he was a believer in spiritualism, which
was a subject difficult for men of the nineteenth century to
, deal with, but it was not creditable to the plaintiff that by
means of her false and cunning testinniny she had induced
those displays of public feeling which had taken place out.
side the doors of the court. Speaking for himself, he Mr.
Matthews would not express his belief on the subject one
, way or the other ; but there could be no doubt that the sub-
ject had been widely discussed and was extensively
believed in throughout Germany, France, and Eng-
land. The literature of the subject was vast and well
worthy of study ; it had been contributed by men of
like most ingenious and acute minds, and one of our
greatest modern silvans Professor De Morgan had ex-
pressed so much sloubt on the subject that his learned
friends would have done better to have treated the matter
with deliberation and circumspection rattier than to have
stigmatised it throughout as nothing else than a delusion, an
imposture, and a fraud. Mesmerism had been denounced
by the French Academy as a system the results of whicb
were due entirely to the inkagination, yet site of the greate.t
if our living physicians, Or. Elliotson, when in the fulness of
his mental powers, bed given iik his full adhesion to the
principles of that system. The questisin in this case would
lie, (lid these—he might call them comic—scenes really take
place to which the plaintiff had deposed? The defendant's
life had been spent in public from his early years, and he
had passed under the scrutiny sif persons of the highest rank.
Never, until these charges were brought forward, had it
ever lieen even sail of him that lie had taken money iii the
pretence of real or pretended supernatural power. 'Dial
would be proved lint besides that, in, imputation had ever
; heen thrown 011 the honesty, himour, or delicacy of Mr.
Home's character.

s
Mr. Varley, the consulting electrician of the Atlantic Tele-
graph Company, deposed that he had examined the physical
phe iiiii nena connected with Mr. Home's manifestations. was
mtisfied with the absence of all artifice, and placed the
fullest reliance on his truthfulness and honesty.
Mr J. Han kilts Simpson, an inventor of electrical appara-
tus. was satisfied that the physical phenomena were not pro-
duced by lit or.
Dr. Gully, who had known Mr. time for seven years, had
witnessed ninny curious phenomena, such as the displace-
ment of objects without physical contact, and was convinced
they were not produced by Home's contrivance. He also
stated that he had never taken money for his stances.
Mr. Jencken, the barrister, though he had carefully
watched the phenomena, had never detected Mr. Home in
Slip deception or prevarication. Notice had been given to
cross-examine Mr. Jeneken, and possibly he would be able
to throw a little more light on this subject. The defendant's
case was that Mrs. Lyon could be proved to have been mis-
leading the court throughout. Not only were her statements
improbable—they were untrue. The points were two—
whether the alleged phenomena really did take place, and
whether Mrs. Lyon was deceived by them. Mr. Matthews
Olsen proceeded to lay the evidence before the court.
The first witness was Miss Henrietta Lefebree. She
deposed to Mrs. Lyon having within the last fur years told
her that her husband was not dead ; and that in December,
15611, or January, 1067, she told her she had adopted Home
as her son. Mr. and Mrs. Burns, spiritualist librarians.
at the Wellington-road, Camberwell, deposed to having
received a letter of the 2sth September, 1866, from Mrs.
Lyon, inquiring for the address of the Spiritual Atheniemn,
and stating that bike was a firm believer in all
Home said, end was herself a spiritualist, rmil had
had visions. Emily Head, the maid servant at 22. Sloane-
street, deposed to Mrs. Lyon's first visit. Home was
dressing for dinner, and hi a great hurry. She denied
ninny of the particulars deposed to by the plaintiff. In
about twenty minutes Home left the house, On a second 00'
rosin she deposed to geeing Mrs. I.yon and Home together
in Home's bedroem. She was examining dresses and laces.
Saw Mrs. Lyon embrace Home, and heard her call him her
son. Said that in November after Home's return Mrs. Lyon
' called almost every day, and appeared very food of him.
Sophia Maurigy, of 41, Albion-street, Hyde-park, wife of an
hotel-keeper, deposed to a letter as follows in October:—
Dear friend, thank God all is arranged. and I have no
longer to think of the future; Dan." Mrs. Cox, of 55,
Jermyn-street, widow of an hotel-keeper, said that Home
toll her the incidents of his acquaintance with Mrs. Lyon.
The plaintiff told her she had had Vi 41116 from her earliest
childhood—not dreams; that she was happier in having Dan
as a child than In being married again. Mrs. Lyn manifested
the greatest affection for Home. Deposed to Mrs. Lyon
having told her the vision of the goldeashaired boy. Her
husband had managed Home's money affairs
Mr. Taylor, the stockbroker, deposed to the letter of the
10th of October, ordering the sale of Consols; that Mrs.
Lyon told him it wan for home; and was to be re-invested in
Conmls in Home's name; and that he said it was a pity she
had not transferred it at once. Or. the fith of December he
received directions to transfer £6,000 Consols to Home. She
sold, "Isn't that a pretty present?" There were no signs of
any undue influence. Mr. Deckhouse, of the same firm. con-
firmed Mr. Taylor's account. Mrs. Lyon appeared to be in

her sound seams.
Mr. lon Hanford Perdlearia, citizen of the kingdom oi
Greece, SSW Mrs. Lyon on the 14th of October. Gregoire
." Sadie" was there. Mrs. Lyon kissed the child affection-
ately, and told him to call her "grandmother." Mrs. Sims
was present. Mrs. Lyon seemed not to wish to speak freely
before Mrs. Sims. After Mrs. lints was gone Mrs. Lyon told
him what she had done for Home. Said she had been accus-
tomed to look at a profile, which IVSS to be her son. Imagined
that Home wan to be her son. Spoke of the vision. she
said she would have done as much for Home had he not
been a medium. She gave Gregoire a guinea. Expressed
the greatest affection for Home, and hoped he would not
marry again. Said that tin woman should profit by her
money Iler manner to the eldhl changed all at once. She
called him a" brat," and other wiladylike names. Was very
particular about small sous of money. Lute in November
told him that she had never seen Has in one of his trances ;
rand that years before she met him she had seen, touched,
and conversed with spirits. Seemed to he greatly troubled
about (tonic's bad health. She could not believe, when she
suddenly turned against that she was acting as a free
agent. On the 17th id June he went with a policeman to
Mrs Pepper's. A man was in the passage. Witness was re-
fused to be allowed to enter by Mrs. Pepper. Neverthe-
less. saw Mrs. Lyon, and told her he feared she was acting
under coercion. She told him that she had been told at
Mrs. Berry's house that she had been deceived by (lonic,
who had "a fandliar spirit." Ile Peelicaris urged her to
take legal advice. She asked upon what terms Home would
compromise the affair, and witness said he had no authority.
Mrs. Lyon expressed very friendly feelings towards himself.
Had expressed her hatred of her husband's relations. Mrs.
. Ritchie, wife of an American gentleman, knew Home in
Ainerica. Renewed his acquaintance in London, in 1666.
Had charge of Gregorie. In October, heard Home give an
aecount of his forming Mrs. Lyon's acquaintance. Mrs. Lyon
called, and spoke of Home very affectionately. Told witness
the vision, and that she recognised Home as the son who was
foretold. Seemed disappointed that Gregoire showed tio
signs of developing into a medium. In December saw
the plaintiff again. She Caine with Home. Two gentlemen
were present. She told the child he was provided for, mid
that God had given him a grandmother. In January, 1867,
Horne gave her a cheque to pay the child's school fees
Home said it was his "virgin" cheque. Mrs. Lyon, who was
present, observed "Yes, and be knew so little about business
that I had actually ho instruct him how to draw it out."
Deposed to lira Lyon gradually beCOMing irritable with tho
child.
Mr. Thomas Shorter, an author, sahl that in November,
000 he was at breakfast with Home, when Mrs. Lyon called.
Her manner was very affectionate. On the newspaper being
read with an account of her having given him a sunua
money, she came forward, slapped hint on the shoulder, and
said, "Anita jolly good thing too, any lotoy,"
Mr. Phillips said he was engaged by Home hi November
to arrange his papers. One day. Mrs. Lyon came with his little
boy, and Mr. Gibson seemed very fond of Heine, and said he
waa provided fa- for lite Had seen Mrs. Lyon put her arm
rOund szid leiCS h 1.71. Withal! this affection. s.he
TM picot elutes aid trtsaal4e, sad ottia irsat44 44 lave

gifts of small articles lifick—again7 She was moil th- lous-
and exacting towards Home, and he the most sell-denying
and enduring of sons Witness would not have changed
places with Home for five times the money. She watched
Lila expenses, and kept his cheque book. Witness related •
visit of Mrs. Lyon's, after which he missed a letter of Home's
in her handwriting, and he believed it to be in Mrs. Lyon's
possession. Considered her a very cunning woman. Had
heard Home say in Mrs Lyon's presence that her gifts were
unconnected with spiritualism, and Mrs. Lyon confirmed it.
Heard Mrs. Lyon say she considered Emma Berry "as a
clever and wonderful medium."
Mr. Sprott, a member of the executive committee of the
Spiritual Athenteum, deposed that Home reported the pay-
ment of £3O to the funds of the Atheneum. Iled a letter
from Home in which he spoke of Mrs. Lyon as his adopted
mother. Mrs. Lyon came once to Sbmie-street, and said
that flonie's name was now Lyon: that she was an old
spiritualist, and had seen Home in her visions. Witness had
seen her caress the defendant, and put her hand through his
hair. Considered her a shrewd woman of business. Plaintiff
told witness that she herself was a medium. She seemed
much flattered by the attentions of Home's friends. On one
occasion she wore a diamond ring, which witness knew to he
Home's. and she said, " Ah, you know that that's my son's
ring." She said she had messages from the spirits when Dan
was not present.
Mr. Wilkinson's answer was put in on behalf of the de-
fendant Home. His evidence was then read. He said he
had so often laid before Mrs. Lyon the legal consequences of
what she was doing, that he thought no charge could have
been brought against him. He detailed the various warnings
and recommendations in favour of delay which he had given
her; and a long correspondence between them was read.

The reading of evidence on behalf of the defendant WaS
continued 0 Tuesday.

One of the deponents said that Mrs Lyon asserted that
she had had visions throughout her life, and that in one of
them, which occurred before her first interview with Mr.
Home. she saw him, and therefore recognized him at her
first interview with him. She expressed great affection for
him to the deponent.
Dr. Hawke!,ley, the medical adviser of Mr. Home and his
family, deposed that Ile had known Mr. Home for some
years, and had always found him to be a man of integrity.
Dr. Hawkesley was one of the attesting witnesses to the will
made by Mrs. Lyon, and he remembered that before the will
was executed Mr. Wilkinson fully cautioned bet as to the
course she Wan taking, when she appeared to understand very
well what she was doing.
Mr. Robert Chambers, one of the proprietors of Chambers's
Journal, deposed that he had known Mr. Horne many years,
and that the character of Mr. Home was irreproachable.
Sir. Gerald Massey deposed that he had heard Mrs. Lyon
relate in the presence of Mr. Home the history of her life;
that Mr. Boise had been shown to her in a vision ; that her
husband tidd her she :dumbh adtmt a wits, and that as soon as
she first law Mr. ilmne she reiwnised him as the son whom
lib.; was to adopt. Mr. Massey heard Mrs. Lyon address Mr.
Home as her child. Mrs. Lyon appeared to exercise a very
potent influence over the mind of Mr. Home. Sirmetimes
she acted very imperiously towards him, awl appeared to be
Jealous of his going anywhere without her. Mr. Massey told
Mr. Home that he would not for the sake of £30,000 endure
the tyranny of Mrs. Lyon.
. .

Mrs. atherme Berry, the mother of Miss Berry, the
medium of the tender age of eleven years, was present with
Mrs. Lyon at one trance at which the spirit of the late Mr.
Lyon denied that it had ever urged its side to give money to
"than." The spirit then threw a shower of sweet-williams
011 the table, 811.1 shortly afterwards left. On another taxa.
slot; being consulted by Mrs. Lyon as to the advi,ability of
going to law, the 'spirit expressed itself in favour of
that course, but declined to give any opinion as to
the choice of a law) er, or an to the result of the
suit. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall also gave evidence
for Mr. Home. At that gentleman's examination which
followed, he stated, in reply to a question from Mr. James,
that one good resulting from these spiritual manifestations
was that they helped to convince persons of the immortality
of the soul. Spirits often predicted events, but he admitted
they had never been known to give information on stock-
jobbing. Mr. Monte had been subject to their influence ever
since he was a hairy; he was less than a year old when their
first manifestation occurred. Since that time he has
travelled a great deal, visited the Courts, and moved in high
circles; and hie expenses have partly been paid by his
friends.

[Waiving for the present all judgment In the Home case,
the Examiner observes that, whichever story he true, the
disclosures ought to suffice to startle from their dreams of
correspondence with the other world all who desire to retain
the respect of their fellows, and, we will add, their own.
It is impossible to conceive anything more fatuous or do-
moralising we use the phrase in the higher sense of the
word, not with any reference to mean or mercenary emo-
tions , than the spectacle of a credulous and evidently half-
educated woman being induced, by the belief that she could
talk to her dead husband through the intervention of a
mahogany table, to hand over the greater portion of her
large fortune to small whom she had never seen or heard of
until a few weeks previously.]