Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-10
Melancholy EFFECTS of the Spirit Delusion.

We have painful duty in recording the neces-
sary arrest and confinement of two of our most
worthy citizens. father and son, yesterday after
noon. The father has been for some time be.
lever in that most dangerous, humbugging delu.
sion, and attendant at circles, where the spirits
mediums, &c. were supposed 10 be present. The
son soon became believer also, and both became
deranged and dangerous 10 their families. Yes.
terday violence was manifested, when the district
attorney, together with the sheriff and some help.
removed the unfortunate persons, and they are
now confined to prevent their INJECTING injury
upon themselves and their families; while the
wife, the mother and the daughter are broken
hearted at the condition Of the husband and son
Have not the conductors of the press, and one OF
unusual almost unparalleled circulation, much TO
answer for the encouragement their columns have
have given to doctrine so dangerous, and which
has already brought many inmates TO lunatic
asylum? The gentleman from whom we obtained
the information describes the removal of the two
men as the most heart-rending scene he has ever
witnessed. The mother while she wept bitterly al
the removal of her husband and the father of her
son, felt that those engaged in the melancholy
task were doing kindness; while the daughters
cries were echoed through the house al the re.
moval of her father and her brother to he con.
fined, not for crime lis true, but what is the next
TO il, for loss Of reason.
IAlihcaukie Sentinel, 2ith Uh.
Smuggling i'm Boston.--Mr. Cunard gave in
formation TO the custom-house officers in Boston
which induced them 10 visit the last steamer from
Europe which arrived at that port. They took
possession of about $1,000 worth of watch move
ments and other articles of similar character which
were intended 10 be smuggled in. No one since
appeared TO claim The property. The gate COM
manding the entrance to the steamers dock at
East Boston is now constantly attended by a Gus
TOM house officer. The Mail says there has been
an immense amount of smuggling carried on from
the steamers at East Boston during the last eight
or ten years, and several persons in that city
have made larger less fortunes at the business.
The lace business, in particular, has nearly revo-
lutonized itself in that time.
Of the Strictncss of the Passport System,
and the dangers from newcomers which haunt
the Neapollan official mind, good story has Just
been told. A lady, expecting her confinement,
was at Capri with her huband, Wishing that the
child might be born on the main land, they sailed
across the bay; but, the youthful Neapolitan hav-
ing unexpectedly made his appearance during the
three hours voyage, they were not allowed TO
land, because the infant was not in the passport
-
III Commander James B. Cooper, Of the United
States navy, died at Haddonfeld. New Jersey on
Sunday night, 9Th instant, aged nnety.three years
He entered the naval service on the 9th of July,
1872 as sailing-master, and, after the peace re-
ceived a leutenanfs commission from President
Monroe and in September, 1871, became com
mander. He was the last survivor Of Lees L.
rion,r so celebrated in the revolutionary war, and
participated in many Of the exciting scenes during
the struggle for Independence.