Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-26
From The Mobile Daily Ledger, Nay 3.
A HUMBUGGER CAUGHT.


Every person will recollect a certain
little man who exhibited himself here as a
magician few weeks ago. His name
was Monsieur Addrant. and although by
this sobriquef, the reader might suppose
he was a native Of Paris, yet the gentle
man was born in Yankee land and could
not tell French from Spanish. A few
days before he left town, he gave an ex-
bibition of animal magnetism, and aston
shed some of the NATIVES by his wondrous
| illustrations OF clairDoyance.
Moved by bis success among the folks
here, he proceeded to the interior, and
there managed to excite the marvellous
propensties Of the people so much, that
they concluded he was the devil in pro-
| pria persona. This career Of success and
magic, however, as we learn from one of
the interior papers, was cut short at Ma.
rion. The Herald OF that place gives a
long account of his exhibitions of the as
constituent Of the citizens; and last, Of
the detection and confusion of Mr.. Ad.
drant.
Ii appears from the account that the
Mesmerst advertised his exhibition, and
invited the ministers, lawyers and scien-
tiGc men to be present. Before manipu.
lating his subjects, 1.-TWO boys, one of whom
was his sony he administered to both
colorless fluid, in two glasses. One IT was
afterwards discovered, contained pre-
paration Of morphine the other was SIM
pie water. The effect OF this was to put
one to sleep almost Immediately, while
the other, being fully trained to the bust.
ness, wen, to sleep as naturally as could
be. All proceeded smoothly enough SO
far, and the spectators we're filled with
amazement, questions were put, and
doubts suggested, bu; the manipulation
was fully equal to the emergency, and ex.
planned every thing very clearly.
The Herald tells the sequel as follows:
"But il was discovered that the Doc
tor always leaned forward in his chair
and pressed down with his heels, before
elevating his own hands. This directed
suspicion in a different channel, very much
to the Doctors confusion. The platform
was examined, piece of cloth which
seemed to have been placed carelessly
under his feet was removed, and an iron
spike projecting through the carpet was
perceived under the operator 'sheels, which
he pressed when the correct object was
their own fun" for the whole secret was
Immediately understood. The Doctor was
asked to change his position. He turned
his chair half dozen ways, but always so
placing it as TO give him an opportunity
of pressing upon the nail. He swore that
he did not know how The spike came there
that the stage had been hastily con-
structed, and it might perhaps be some OF
It's puppet wires. He requested the gen.
tIemcn to retire to their seats-thnt they
pestered him and greatly interrupted the
communicative Of the fluid. The crowd
was in an uproar of laughter; he was
overcome with confusion, and did not well
know how to conduct himself, but still de-
termined, if possible, to carry on the de-
fusion, lie walked up to the subject, ana
with a single backward stroke revived
him and lifted him off the stage, from which
he quickly escaped. By this time the
whole cat was let out Of the wallet. 3y
pressing the spike at the Doctors end OF
the stage another was pushed up, upon
which his sons foot had been placed.
Upon examination, the whole contrlvance
was found to be board fastened to
beam of the platform by wire in the
middle. OF course, when one was press
ed downward the other would be eleva:-
ed, and TO each end there was spear at
tached peroendicularly. The subject was
appraised by the upward pressure against
the bottom of his foot through crevlce
purposelv loft in the floor Of the platform,
when to raise his hands"
Whether they lynched the Mesmer'st
or not, is not stated but he deserved GER
tainly very genteel ride on the soft side
of rail.