The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-03-04
The Spirits and Banking.

II. A. GULF, Secretary.
The Spirits and Banking.
There is or was, a bank inChicago managed
y"Spirits." Its heshy managers were Seth
Paine, and Ira B. Eddy, they gave up their
own judgment, in all things, to that of the
Spirits, and did whatever they were command
ed to do from the spiritual world. The name
OF the bank was "1'be Bank Of Chicago" BY
direction o!the Spirits, no one who smoked
was allowed to remain in the Bank; and those
who appeared with "tobies" in their mouths,
had them forcibly removed. The Spirits also
directed that no bills should be redeemed when
presented by cigar-smokers, drinkers liquor
sellers butchers, and meat. eaters, und when
any such presented bills at the counter for re-
demption, they were assailed with such epi-
thets as "uncean," "scoundrel,"" ,""hog," ""cow-
ard" "hog-eoter," &c. On the 9Th inst, a
commission Of lunacy was issued at the suit of
the friends Of Ira b. Eddy, President of the
Spiritual Bank, who was in a frantic state,
fiourishing revolver and threatening terribly
His brother, d. C. Eddy, was appointed con-
servator, gave bond in $780, 900, and took his af-
fairs in charge. Seth Paine was also taken
in charge on a commission of lunacy. On the
9th, it being suspected that the "medums" had
stolen the funds OF the Bank, number Of them
were arrested and held to bail From the tes-
timony adduced on their hearing we gather the
following, which gives us an insight into "Spi-
ritual" banking:
"The first witness called was John NJ.
Holmes, who has been acting as ook-keeper
for the bank for some time past, and stated that
for some time past the affairs of the bank had
been carried on by the use Of mediums. A fe-
male was in the habit Of retiring to back
room with Mr.. Paine or Mr.. Eddy, and there
proessed to hold conversation with spirits oI
such men as General Washington, General
Jackson and many others, who directed how
the affairs of the bank should be carried on
and according as this woman dictated the bank
was managed. These women were constant
ly about the bank. Mrs. Herrick retired sew.
eral times aday and pretended to tell from the
spirits to whom they should and should not
redeem money Some time ago she pretend
ded to receive revelation that if any party
> brought bill, who smoked tobacco, or drank
liquor, or sold liquor, that such persons should
not have their bills redeemed.
She had stood behind the counter and pre-
tended to reveal such persons on their enter.
ing the bank, as were honest or dishonest;
tnat she had called persons absurd names, such
as fools, unclean, dishonest, robbers of the poor
thut she had shatched segars from the mouths
OF gentlemen who had come to the bank on
business.'-There had been great excitement
at the bank for some time past occasioned by
these proceedings. He knew all the defen-
dants; most OF them were mediums, and Eddy
was completely under their control. He ad-
vised with them on all matters, and followed
their directions in all things. Yesterday Mr..
Eddy went into the bank and demanded the
key Of the safe. He (Iolmes) refused it,
when Mr.. f. pointed at six-barreled revol-
yer and threatened to shoot him through, when
he gave it up.
Most Of the defendants were present when
the pistol was loaded, and advised Eddy to de-
, fenG himself. Soon alterths he left the bank
So long as Eddy was under the influence OF
the mediums he should be afraid to conduct the
business of the bank had no fear of him if left
to himself. He returned to the bank in the
evening; found the defendants present; they
were consulting the spirits; said they were in
communion with the spirit OF Alexander Ham
iton, who recommended Eddy TO defend him
self-Soon after he was told that they had
received spiritual revelations that he (tIolmes)
was an enemy and Il traitor, that they knew all
his secret doings, and Eddy and Paine ordered
him to leave the bank.
From Friday to Monday there were great
crowds of people about the bank, the peace
was endangered, all the mediums said that they
were not to redeem the bills presented by un-
clean or dishonest persons. Mrs. Herrick fire.
quently asked those who presented bills if they
had obtained them honestly, and told them
that they had not the mark of honest labor u
bout them. He had been to the banb to-day,
but they would not let him in."
There is q precious revelation" The idea
of Gen. JactSon's spirit dict atng how shin
plaster bank should be managed, is supreme
ly ridiculous. The fact seems to be that Paine
and Eddy, rich men, having been driven crazy
by this esprit rapping" delusion, were induced
by the cunning "mediums" to start bank, in
order that the honest sisters might the more
ef1ectually pluck them. We like to see such
disclosures The true character OF this "spir-
itual" scoundrelism is best manifested in such
Developments as these. The Chicago "me-
diums," who first get their crazy adherents to
start bank, and then rob it Of it's assets, are
as honest, we dare say, as their less adventur-
Gus sisters who confne iheirjugglers to little
back rooms and idiotic "crcles. ."--Pit.sburoh
Gazette.
PROTECTION AND LABOR.
Ohio (who saws he has long been our