Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-03

hold myself responsible for the accuracy Of
the copy. r. 6.
The Rochester Rappings.
As there are some who still try to keep up
the idea that these spirit-rappings have not
been exploded, we copy the deposition Of
Mrs. Noman Culver, taken at Arcadia, N. Y,
April 18th, 1861
am by marriage, a connection of the Fox
girls; their brother married my husbands
sister The girls have been great deal at
my house, and for about two years was q
very sincere believer in the rappings; but
some things which saw when was visiting
the girls ut Rochester, made me suspect that
they were deceiing-I resolved to satisfy
myself in some way and some time after
ward made proposition to Catharine to
assist her in producing the manifestations.
had q cousinyisiting me from Michigan,
who was going to consult the spirits, and /
told Catharine TINT if they intended to visit
Detroit, it would tbe great thing for them to
convince him. ISalso told her, that if could
do any thing to help her, | would do it cheer
fuly-that | should probably be able to an
swef all questions he would ask, and would
do it if she would show me how to make the
raps. She said that as Margaretta was ab-
sent, she wanted somebody to help her, and
that if would become medium, she would
explain It all to ne.
She said that when my cousin consulted
the spirits, must sit next to her, and touch
her arm when thesright letter was called. l
did so, and was able to answer nearly NIL the
questions correctly. After Ind helped her
in this way feWjimes, she revealed to me
the secret. TheIaps are produced with the
toes. All the toes.are used. After nearly n
weeks practice, with Catherine showing me
how, could produce them perfectly myself
At first it was very yhard work to do it
Catharine told mefo warm my feet, or put
them in warm water, and ,it4would then be
easier work to rsr slIe said that she some
times had to RaSns 'her feet three or four
times in the cpnSs Of an evening: Il found
Ethatheating ms did enable ine 10 zap q.
,.saat deal 20 produced
tTa.6Indred and fifty raps in succession. /
can rap with all the foes on both feet it is
most difficult to rap with the great toe.
Catharine told me how to manage to an
swer the question; 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
to point to them till the spirit raped ut the
right one, was to give them a chance to
watch the countenance and motions of the
person, and that in that way they could near
ly always guess right. She also explained
how thcy;held down and moved tables (A1rs.
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, must make them louder, and direct
my own eyes earnestly to The spot where |
wished them to be heard. She said if |
could nut my foot against the bottom of the
door, the raps would be heard on the top Of
the door. Catharinc told Inc that when the
Committee held their ankles in Rochester,
the Dutch servant girl raped with her knuck-
les, under the floor from the cellar. The
rirl was instructed TO rap whenever she heard
their voices calling tho spirits. Catharine
also showed Inc how they made the sounds
of saving and planning boards. (Thc whole
trick was explained to us) 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 feet and ankle.
Elizabeth Fish (Afrs. Fish's daughtcr,) who
now lives with her father, was the first one
who produced these raps. She accidentally
discovered the way to make them by playing
with her toes against the footboard, while in
bed. Catherine told me that the reason why
Elizabeth went away West to live with her
father, was because she was too conscientious
to become 4 medium. The whole secret was
revealed to me with the understanding that
should practice as medium when the girls
were away. Catherine said that whenever
practiccd / 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 child of any trick.
After had obtained the whole secret,
plainly told Catharine that nv only object
was to find out how these tricks were done,
and that should never 60 any further in this
imposition. She was much heightened, and
said that she believed that meant to tell of
it, and expose them and If did, she would
swear it was lie. She was so nervous and
excited that had to sleep with her that night.
When she was instructing me how to be n
medium, she told me how frightened they
used to get in New York for fear somebody
would detect them, and gave me the whole
history of all the tricks they played upon the
people then. She said that once Margarctta
spoke aloud. and the whole party believed
it was spirit.
Mrs. NORMAN CULVER.
We hereby certify that Mrs. Culver is one
of the most reputable and intelligent ladies'
in the town of Arcadia We were present
when she made the disclosures contained in
the above paper, we had heard the same from
her before, and we cheerfnlly bear testimony
that there cannot bc the slightest doubt of the
truth of the whole statement
c. G. POMEROY, MD.
REV. D. s. CHASE.