The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-06-25
al s.frlln II D
From the Journal of Medicine.
Spiritual Writing,
CONSIDERED AND ASALyzED PuysloLooIc.


DY JOHN C. NORTON, ~ n,
Seating myself, one day. 10y table
alone in my Office determined to try an
experiment. l had heard much, and
seen little, of the so called spiritual
writing and did not wish to cry ont
humbug until l had fully investigated
the matter, being well aware that though
! might, By observing the operations of
the mediums, and applying to them ap'
propriatc tests, satisfy myself that the
communications were not from the splr-
its of the dead. could not form
definite opinion as to their real nature.
without testing tie matter in my own
person.
I had been told in one Of the circles
which l had had the curiosity to visit,
that l was both n writing and rapping
medium l therefore resolved TO try
my hand at conversng with the dead. if
such thing was possible so, taking my
zen in hand, and placing it uron sheet
of paper before me, called upon the
spirits, if any were present, to move my
hand. To my astonishmcnt, my hand
Immediately began 10 move, but made
no intoligible characters. then said,
il this is a spirit write the lcttels A B,
etc, which was done, until nearly tho
whole alphabet was written. My hand
moved very slowly at first but the
movement was altogether involuntary.
did not stop here to inquire the cause
of the movement, but my curiosity being
fully aroused. I continued my invoca.
tions to the spirits asked the spirit
to writo it's name, and at the word in an
old-fashioned hand, was written the
name Of B-C-. l tnen asked
is there any communication for mel'
when the following was written: "Come
to ireland: VIM C-is dead, and has
willcd you all his property. amounting
to thirty thousand pounds. I did not
stop to ask myself the question whether
such thing were possible or probable,
but continued my conversation with the
supposed spirit was informed that on
the next Monday evening | should re-
ceive letter from the executor Of the
will, j. Crawford, OF Dublin, making me
acquainted with all the circumstances.
In short time began to receive COM
munications purportirg to be from other
spirits, suggesting that might never
receive the property after all, as the will
would probably be destroyed. "Oh no !"
says another spirit, Crawford will never
give up the will 1t is safe in his hands" I"
And so, for my edi6cation, tho spirits
would hold animated and lengthy discus
sions upon the subject but soon came
the announcement, The willis destroy
ed, and tho property is taken My
spirit-friends, however, informed me
that / might obtain possession of the
legacy by commencing legal proceedings,
and were kind enough 10 write for mo
the names of some 6fteon or twenty diff
ferent persons whom / must employ as
witnesses in my great suit. Of these,
the places Of residence and occupations
were detailed with tho greatest minute
ness. ] was not littlo surprised to
find among my list the name ofa college
class mate of yours, Mr.. Editor, IT. II
G.. J who, was informed, was teaching
in South Down, and who, you will, no
doubt, be glad to learn from tho spirits,
is doing very we'll. Now caRe the I'M
por;ant Intelligence that Thomas
Trumy," (tbe principal wituess) is dead
he has been thrown from a carriage, aud
is now being carried home" | was
shortly however, CONVINCED that no more
dependence can be placed upon tho re-
ports Of the spiritual .elegraphs, than
upon our material ones 10 this lower
world for soop came tue following de-