New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-25
Mysterious Knockins-capro on Grimes

ELIAS CAPRok, late of Auburn, now Editor Of
the Providence Morning NeOs, makes the follow
ing comment on J. 8. Grimess assumed exposition
Of the origin Of The Mysterious KnOckngs,' origi.
einally published in The Tribune:
MYSTERIOUS NOISES ExPOsED"-"FoUND OUT
"BLOWED UP"
A correspondent asks US If we know anything OF
the facts stated by one John Stanley Grimes, ia re-
gard to his visit 10 the Mysterious Noises" as
stated in the N. T. Tribune We know but little
OF the facts" there being no "tacts' of any mo-
ment stated.
The thinking reader OF the expose by Grimes
will simply inquire for the reason of the first i'm.
portant omission IN his statements. Where was
the place2 What was the name OF the family
These omissions would have been supplied by an
honest man speaking the truth. But Mr. Grimes,
having neither OF these ingredients in his state
ments, keeps the name Of the place and family from
public view.
We were in Auburn, N. Y. in the month of June
oflssty ear when Mr.. Grimes came there to lecture
on Mesmerism aud Phrenology. We know there
were two places in Auburn where these sounds
were heard We knew Mr.. Grimes visited BOTH
The place he describes is the house OF Mr. Bene
dict. MIR. Is. himself, Mr. Grimes represents as In
ferior in intellect, while his wife is superior This
falsehood seemed necessary for what followed.
MIR. Is. is known to be man Of superior reflect
ives and perceptives, while his wife is neither by
nature nor cultivation bis equal. Mr. Grimes Is
too well &C luainted with Phrenology not to know
this. Ii he IL not, let be shy Of his teaching
The great point In his expose" is his state
ment OF the acknowledgment Of Mrs. Benedict.
He states as follows:
"Afer moments silence she ged that II was
all oecepton-lnsI abe susceptible Ihe
hhoeace In any oegfeehsI the Knockngs made by
various mechanical uleks by aid ofIhfee conederao
one Of whom was young woman who lived al the next
The knocking in he mode Of he asOr was caused by
board uLoeI he door poised Lac lever and nged
when abe iloVo hear ne ndow abe could step
hptg which was connected with end OF the lever and
hs aoor,"
Now these are the facts in the ease in regard to
this matter. Frat that young lady has no young
men cossins IN that part OF the country, nor had
she any at that time. Second, the floor aud the
house bad been over and over examined by honest
men MIR. Grimes was not there them while these
sounds were going on, and the same things occur
with the same lady if she is in any other house
consequently machinery il fixed by many OF the
hrst citizens of Auburn, This is very foolish lie
Again be says:
asked the woman what Induced her frat to sttemp
such sde<epdon- She said she had become seQuslnec
VIM sne women who prsctised The same deception II
keeee,er, and had learned Ae art from them 90 be
esh nome 'ee ued Der own sk, and succeeded per
In regard TO this We are prepared to prove tn,
following iscts LIST. Mira. Benedict Tor the othe
person VINO beard the sounds in Auburn had G.eUe
bten 10 Rochester ~ her llfs. THIS we know. I'd
She had never seen any part of the Fox family h
Der me- sd None OF the Tex family had ever bee
70 the house Of Mr.. Benedict
Nov, from Mr.. Gfimess well known charaots
we expect him, coward like, to say, "rni, WA
not the place meant at all-not toe cityr w
have stated the facts our CORES pondens yishs.
He and others can judge how much reliance Ca
be placed on bis statements. We give names ar
places. he avoided this from want OF relisn.
on bis own truthflness. Those papers that hs,
90 eagerly copied the defective statement OF Mr.
have q chance to showshe other side If they choos
Give us facts, not fiction. We are anxious to lea
all about It,