New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-03

hearing as well Ito the unbehevcrS IN the so ctuel
Spiritual Manifestations as to those who accept
them as revelations from the invisible world. we give
place to the following testimony, and shall mold our
selves under obligation to publish such retutauou or
contradiction as may be furnished by the parties I'M
plicated It isno more than simple justice to say,
that no person ought to condemn the accused until
they have had a FAIR chance to defend themselves.
DEPOSITION Of Mrs Norman Culrer, taken al Area
d.a, A. Y, April, Il, 1851.
lam. by marriage a connection Of the Fox girls,
their brother maruedmy husbands sister. me sirls
have been great deal at my house, ana Tor ABOUT
two wears | was very sincere believer IN the rap
pings but some things which / saw when was
visiting the girls at Rochester made me suspect mat
they were decelylng. resolved to satisfy myself IN
some way and some time afterward made pro-
position 10 CathennetO assist her IN producing me
manifestations had cousin visiting me from Mrhl-
gan who was going to consult the spirits, and told
Catherine that If they intended to go to Detroit, X
would be a great thing for them TO convince hlm |
also told her, that If could do anything to help her,
would do It chcerfuy-that should proDaDiybe aDie
to answer all the questions he wOuda and womb
DO It If she would show me how To make the rdps.-
She said MaTgarctta was absent, she wanted some
body to help her and that # | would become me-
dunn, she would explain Il all 10 me. She sad that
when my cousin consulted the spirits, must slt next
10 her and touch her arm when the right letter was
called | did So and was able to answer nearly all
the questions correctly. After ! had helped her IN
this way a few times, She revealed 10 me the secret
The raps are produced with the toes. All the toes
are used. After nearly weeks practice, WIN Ia
tharlne showing me how, could produce them per-
fectly myself At first II was very hard WORK 10 do
II. Cathanlc told me to warm my feet or put thetn
IN warm water, and 1t would then be easier work TO
ran She SAID that she sometimes had To warm her
feet three four times IN the course of an evening
| found that heating my feet did enable me u rap
great deal easier. / have sometimes produced
hundred and hity raps an succession. can rap with
all the toes on both feet, It is most difficult To rap
with the great toe.
Catharine told me how 20 manage to answer the
questions she said It was generally easy enough 10
answer right If the one who asked the questions
called the alphabet She SAID the reason Why they
asked people 10 write down several names on paper,
and then point 10 them tlll the spirit raped at the
night one, Was 10 give them chance to wdlch the
countenance and motions of the person and that IN
that way they could nearly always guess right.
She also explained how they held down and moved
tables. Mrs Culver gave MS some Illustrations of
the tricks She told me that ali | should have 20
90 10 make the rapS heard the table, would be 20
put my foot against the bottom OF the table when /
raped. and that when wished Ia make the rtps
sound distant on the wall must make them louder,
and direct my own eyes earnestly 10 the spot where
wished them to be- heard. She sad n ! could put
my foot against the bottom of the door, the raps
would be heard on the top of the door. Catharlne
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 10 rap whenever she heard their vol
ces calling the spirits. Catharne also showed me
how they made the sounds Of saving and panng
boards The whole tnck was explained 10 us -
When / was al Rochester Last January, Marguerite
told me that when people insisted on seeing her feet
and toes she could produce few raps with her feet
and ankle
Elizabeth Fish (Mrs Fish's daughterJ 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 win her toes against
the fOot-board while m bed. Catherine told me
that the reason why Elizabeth went away west 70
live with her father was because she Vas TOO con
scientious 10 become a medium. The whole secret
was revealed 20 me, with the understanding that ]
should practice as Il medium when the girls were
away. Catherine said that whenever prdctsed !
had better have my little glri AZ the table "itn me,
and make folks believe that she was the medium,
for she SAID they would not suspect 20 young
child Of any trick. After / had obtained the whole
secret. plainly told Cathanne that my only object
% ind out how these tricks were done. and that
should never 60 any farther Ia this imposition she
Was very much frightened, and SAID that she believed
that meant 10 tell Of H. and expose them and II
I'D. she would swear 4 was lie. She was 80 ner-
FOus and excited that had % sleep WITH her that
night When she vas lustmctng me how % be-
medium she told ne how frightened they used 10 get
il Newly Ork for fear somebody would detect them,
anC gave the whole story Of all the tricks they
Played upon the people there. She sad that once
TCarctta spoke aloud and the whole party be-
LtFtC e Vas "a spirit. Mrs. hORHAS CULVER.
" e hereby certify Chat Mr.. Culver Is one OF tie
most reputable ard intelligent LADIES' ~ The town Of
Arcadia. We were pre- cnt " hen she made the dis
closures contained lA tie ABOVE paper. ~ hal hedni
the same l,om her telore and cheeruly bear tes-
tnonr THAT there ca1not De the slightest doubt Of
t..e Truth a. tAe whole statement.
&. O.. poJERoY, ". D.
Rev ID. :. CHASE
] have Do my possession ether Cep0lrOns from
person residing "a Rochester, who have been cOAie-
leia.cs Of tAe Fox girls n the rdpplng business.
which u due time and form, VIII be- made public.
TIC It "a G. these u posters D. nc ry &c an end and
t-e ics. editors Who have been tie means Of CeceIy
.G ttc public n relation tO their real character, Will
b trust. have their reward M the deep Indignation
ard scCrA Of those whose credulty has been abused.
Pittsburgh. May ~. 1851 II. BURR.