The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-30
The Rochester Rappings-singular stase-

The Rochester R.ppings-sinsuiar stase-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
As you have, from the beginning Of the rapping
humbug, taken just and honorable course to ex-
pose it. am induced to send you the following do
position Of Mrs. Norman Culver, which forever
settles the matter Of the Rochester impostors.
DEPOSITION OF MRS NORMAN CULVER,
TAKEN AT ARCADIA, NJ r., APRIL IL, 1881.
! am, by marriage, connection Of tho Fox girls
their brother married my husbands sister The girls
have been great deal at my house, and for about
two years was very sincere believer in tho rap
pings; but some things which saw when | was
visiting the girls at Rochester made me suspect
that they were deceiving. / resolved to satisfy
myself in some way; and some time afterwards
made proposition to Catherine to assist her in pro-
ducing tho manifestations. had cousin visiting
me from Michigan, who was going to consult
the spirits, aud | told Catherine that if they
intended to 60 to Detroit, it would be a great
thing fer them to convince him; also told her. that
i could do anything to help her, would do
it cheenully-that ! should probably be able to
answer all the questions he would ask, and would
do it if she would show me how to make the raps.
she said that as Margaretta absent, she wanted
somebody to help her, and that if ! would become
a medium, she would explain il all to me. She said
that when my cousin consulted the spirits, / must
sit next to her, and touch her arm when the right
letter was called. did So and was BILE to answer
helped her in this way few times, she revealed to
the secret. The raps produced with the toes.
All the toes are used After nearly weeks prac-
tice, with Catharne showing me how, could pro-
duce them perfectly myself. At first it very
hard work TO do it. Catharine toldme TO warm my
feet, or put them in warm water, and it would then
be easier werk to rap she said that she sometimes
had to warm her feet three or four times in the
course of an evening. found that heating my feet
did enable me to rap great deal easier. have
sometimes produced hundred and fifty raps in sue
cession. can rap with all the toes on both feet
it is most difficult to rap with the great toe.
Catharine told me how to manage to answer the
questions. She said it was generally easy enough
to answer right if the one who asked the questions
called the alphabet. She said the reason why they
asked people to write down several names on paper,
and then point to them till the spirit raped at the
right one, was to give them chance to watch the
countenance and motions of the person. and that in
that way they could nearly always gaess right
She also explained how they held down and moved
tables Mrs Culver gave us some illustrations Of
the tricks.) She told me that all should have to
do to make the raps heard on the table, would be to
put my foot against the bottom Of the table when
raped, and that when wished to make the raps
sound distant on the wall, Unjust make them louder,
and directmy own eyes earnestly to the spot where
| wished them to be heard. She said if could put
| my foot against the bottom of the door, the raps
would be heard on the top of the door. Catharine
told me that when the committee held their ankles
in Rochester, the Dutch servant girl raped with
her knuckles under the floor, from the cellar. The
girl was instructed to rap whenever she heard their
| voices calling the spirits. Catharine also showed
me how they made the sounds Of saving and planning
| boards. (The whole trick explained to W }
| When was at Rochester last January, Margaretta
| told me that when people insisted on seeing her
feet and toes, she could produce few raps with her
! knee and ankle.
! Elizabeth Fish CIrs Fish's daughter), who now
| lives with her father, was the first one who pro-
duced these raps. She accidentally discovered the
way to make them by playing with her toes against
| the foot board while in bed Catharine told me
L -
live with her father, was because she too con-
| scientious to become a medium. The whole secret
was revealed to me. with the understanding that
| should practise as medium when the girls were
| away. Catharinc said that whenever practised |
had better have my little girl at the table with me,
and make folks believe that she was the medium,
| for she said they would not suspect so young a
child fanny trick. After had sbtained the whole
secret, plainly told Catharine that my only object
was to find out how these tricks were done, and
| that should never 60 any farther in this impo.
siton. She was very much frightened, and said
| she believed that meant TO tell Of il, and expose
| them; and il did, she would swear it was lie.
She was nervous and excited that had to sleep
| with her that night. When she was instructing
me how TO be a IN, dium, she told me how frightened
| they used to get in New York for fear somebody
would detect them, and gave me the whole history
Ct all the tricks they played upon the people there
| She said that once Margaretta spoke aloud, and
the whole party believed i e.. was a = spirit.
We hereby certify that Mrs. Culver is one of the
most reputable and intelligent ladies in tho town
! o. Arcadia. We were prescn, when she made the
| disclosures contained in the above paper; we had
heard the same from her before, and we cheerfuly
bear testimony that there cannot be the slightest
doubt Of the truth OF the whole statement.
G. G.. PowrRoY, NJ ID.
Rev. ID. :. CHASE.
have in my possession other dispositions from
persons residing in Rochester, who have been con-
iedciates Of the Fox girls in the rapping business
which, in due time and FORM will be made public.
The reign of these impostors is nearly at an end,
and the few editors who have been the means OF
deceiying the public in relation to their real cha
racter, will, trust, have their reward 10 the deer
indignation and seorn Of those whose credulity has
been abused.
Pittsburgh, May 20, 1851. III. Br2E.