New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-09
From BOSTON.
SPIRITUALISM-THE WILLIS CONTRIB
VERSY-A $500 TEST.

VERSY-A $500 TEST.
From Our Own Correspondent
BoSToN, Friday, May %, 1857.
The controversy about SPiritualism still RACES,
and am sorry TO say grows more bitter as 1t goes
ON. Professor Eustis-he is Professor OF Eng-
ucering in the Scientific SchOOl-has discharged
bis lone .in.preparation petard against Mr. Willis
and has hoisted himself herewith like many all en-
yineer before him. His testimony is altogether IN
sufficient TO convict the medium of anything charged
against him, aud its ready acceptance as conclu-
sjyeby the authoritIts at Cambridge shows singu-
lar want Of familiarity principles of evidence,
md perhaps not very singular amount OF
prejudice against Spirtuallsm. But II Is remarka-
b, that experienced theOOgans and metaphySlcianS'
like those who tried Mr. Willis, should not nave
brrn conscious Of their own prcoccuped states oi
mind. and have been on their guard against them
s,lyes accordingly They obviously underrated Inc
importance of The matter and fell into the error OF
regarding Mr.. Willis a simple student, whom
thcy sieht suspend or eXpe without attracting puo
lie attentOn--the fact being that Wills Is a repre-
sentative man. who has behind him the active sym
pshy and support of of the largest sectS III lhe
country. -.
Prof. Eustis states that he attended two spirit
,,sltic sessions with Willis at which tables moved
and bells were rung and accordeons ana drums
,loyed upon beneath the table. Two OF these
operations were performed simultaneously, anu
h,m the details which Pro- EustlS gives 1t is III
The highest degree improbable, not 10 say mP0s-
y;hle. fiat they could have been done by the me-
6mn. Prof Eusiis, however, thought they We're
lie thought so before the performance began. lie
had resolved in his own mind that they were done
hy the feet of the medium. He believed thdt W IL
H., while sitting quietly at table with seven other
persons could with bis stockings on use his leeI 50
dcNtcrOusly as TO be able at the same time 10 rlng
he'll, to raise a Chlds drum from the floor and cause
II to move about in the space between the oor ana
the tabletop, while two drIm.sticks were beating
he drum-head SO obviously that the Professor adj
mitS be distinguished the sound OF each OF
them. The Professor admits that WilS's hands
were not employed in these operations.
lie sinks they were done entirely by his feet al
though they were done simultaneously, and although
seven other pairs Of legs Were under the table. The
only vestige Of proof he has OF this astounding propos-
ton is that at certIu period ct the performance
~ suddenly threw up bis own leg, which was under
The table, and caught tue leg of Mr. Willis. This,
Dir. Willis admits. and saws that, feeling something
touch unexpectedly the foot Of Prot Eustls he
put cut his leg TO ascertain what II was. Ihls Is
certainly natural and reasonable explanation and
enc that clearly ought 70 have been accepted when
offered by person of Mr.. NIlliss Respectable
standing The Professor would not listen to 1t, but
few into passion aud denounced him as cheat
and an imp0Stor. The other persons who were
present, some of them gentlemen Of quite as much
int lligence and standing as Professor EuStis, and
who had equal facilities for observing what occurred,
take sides with Mr.. Willis, and believe him limo
cent. Since the publication Of Alr Eustis's state
mcnt, the public evidently hold the same view of
the case.
Mr. Willis meantime continues 30 act as medium.
was present wcch or two g2' Al one Of his sii-