New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-03

persons were deceived, and I resolved in nv mind
various schemes by which 70 detect the imposition.
While | wss yet in doubt as b the best plan %
adopt gentleman called at my room who waa re.
makable for his ssgacity. He assured me 10
the most serious manner that he had lust re-
turned from the spirit haunted mouse, fully con-
WINGED that bis most secret thoughts were known
10 the invisible inhabitants Of that place He de-
tailed the questions which he bad asked concerning
matters known only TO himself and declared most
solemEly that every answer was correct When
I animated that the Knockings were made by some
mechanical contrivsnce, he replied: VERY well,
'let us. for the sake OF argument, admit that the
inoises are made by some trick can you imagine
'anv trick by which those simple people could learn
stbe most secret thoughts Of my heart Can you
seven conceive any plausible explanation of this
fac. without admitting spiritual agencyl Most
certainly can, was my answer for one at least
.ofthis haunted family is reputed 10 be cairvoy-
,ant and those who are familiar with the facts Of
sMesmerism know very well that some persons
have Temporarily possessed the power of reading
,the thoughts and feelings Of others in this very
manner, not only when they were Mesmerized
but in some instances when they appeared to be
sin their ordinary state
Preferred the gentleman to q case ia South Ad-
ans, Mass. where he had lately resided HI did
not deny the facts Of the csse-indeed he could
not for he had himself been an astonished wit
ness of them. The facts were briefly as follows:
Dr. Barker, & physician OF South Adams, called
upon me and urged me, as personal favor 70 go
with him TO try the effects of Mesmerism upon
patient Of his in whose fate the whole community
felt deep interest 1t wass young woman Of the
name Of POTTER. While in a very weak state OF
health she was suddenly assaulted and frightened
by drunken man, and, though she received no
bodily injury, she went into commissions her eyes
rolled upward and remained liked, her mind during
five weeks was in such state that she did not
L1ry fhar tOr INV
her language indicated that she was endeavoriag
10 escape from some terrible monster. Kaowng
the effect of authority upon insane persons, l ad-
vapced TO the bed upon which she was lylng and IN
loud and commanding tone told her 70 be quiet
and 90 TO sleep ut the same time took hold OF her
hands and forcibly held them still. After momen-
tary and anayaing struggle, she suddenly relaxed
her muscles and went into Mesmeric sleep her
ewes assumed their natural position she perspired
freely, snd all symptoms Of insanity vanished
in nom nt After about ten minutes told her to
open her ewes, look around her, and see her moth
err, her sister and physician. She instantly
obeyed, and spoke courteously and kindly 70 each
of them. Her insanity was cured Before left
town instructed her physician and her mother how
20 Mesmerise her, so that either OF them could IN
moment put her to sleep and keep her In that
state twelve or eighteen hours at time. Bat the
most extraordinary fact remains to be told: She
manifested Clarvoyance in uncommon perfection.
Ene tO0 tue LDOuBubss lHbSAtiOub anu thddNbtf VI
every one who entered the room with perfect accu-
racy-tod them where they bad been aud what
they had been doing, without mistake and without
the least hesitation. The whole community was
thrown into fever Of excitement and crowds Of
people visited the house to satisfy their curiosity
10 inquire concerning their diseases; and | was
obliged to forbid her answering these inquiries lest
her health might be endangered by excessive ex-
ertion For the correctness OF this statement |
have permission to refer to Dr. Barker. Now in
this case there was no pretense that the invisible
nhs bitants Of the spirit world assisted in produc-
ing these phenomena: they were probably the re-
suits of q diseased condition OF her organization.
have known several persons who occasionally
mantle sted this cairvoyant power beyond all cues
ton They could not be relied upon on all coca.
sions and were liable to commit the grossest errors
yet they would sometimes astonish and convince
all present by their performances. At the conclu-
sion Of this interview it was agreed that the gen
tleman should go with me to visit the haunted
house on the following day. In my next commu-
nicatioD will give you an account Of my visit and
investigations. Yours respectfully,
No 9Park.pIace. j. STAN LEY GRIMES.
did not intend to express any opinion on the sub
ject think theory which pronounees them the result
OF sheer deception coluson article does not sadsscto
ry account for these Knockings but what t0oud
for them we do not know We have theory the sub
ject. I'D