American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-11
Confessions of a rsble %rsvcr.


Confessions of Tsble &rsvcr.
George p. Paine, the Spiritual Medi-
um admits that he as Humbug-
THE "Razor Strap Nan" an a circle
-How the Phenomena ,ocre produ.
ced.
For long time Mr.. George P.
Paine, of Worcester, Mass, has been
known as a powerful physical medi-
um, and his achievements in the line
of table-moving have converted hun
dreds of people to Spiritualism, and
been an argument in the mouth of its
believers. His demonstrations were
not in the dark like those of the Da-
venport boys, but under the full blaze
of gas, or in broad daylight. He has
made tables move apparently without
any human contact, to the comfort of
believers and the confounding of skep-
tics.
The Worcester Spy, of the Goth of
October, contained an account of one
OF his exhibitions, in which the table
was 80 moved, and Yankee Doodle
was raped on it in good style in time
with the whistling of a gentleman pres
ent.
From time to time reliable mediums
saw spirits lowering around Mr.. Paine,
and he was in fair way of becoming
lion among the Spiritualists.
Recently Mr.. Paine came to this
city, mainly for the purpose of con.
vlnclng Mr.. Coles, former medium,
who has recently concluded that phys,
ical manifestations arc humbug. For
this purpose circle was held in Mr..
Painc's rooms, and Coles, with sew
eral others, attended, and were una
BILE to detect any deception. At a
second interview, however, he with Mr..
Henry Smith, the Razor Strop Man.
! and Mr.. Waters, of Worcester, deter
mined to sift the matter to the bottom.
MIR. Paine on being requested to change
the position of the table, refused, allie
ging that it would destroy the 'condi-
TONS
At last small hole in the floor and
a rent in the CARPET, discovered in close
proximity with the table legs. The
three gentleman named, proposed to
take up the carpet; but Mr.. Paine de-
INJURED, and requested them to call
next day. Mr. Coles and his associates
determined not to yield the point,
and gave Mr.. Paine clearly to under.
stand that they would not leave tho
room until they had taken up the car
pct.
Mr.. Paine finding he could not stave
off an examination, finally acknowledge
ed that the whole thing was fraud j;
that he had cheated not only on this
occasion, but from the beginning his
wife and his most intimate friends, as
well as his numerous converts having
been the dupes Of his premeditated de-.
ception.
Mr.. Coles stated these facts in the
Spiritual Conference on Wednesday
evening, in the presence of Mr.. Paine;
and after he had concluded, the bogus
medium got up, publicly acknowledge
cd the fraud, and defended 1t on the
ground that the end justified the
means. lie believed that the great
share of the reputed spiritual phenom-
ena is sham, although he was Of opin-
ion that some Of them arc real. lie
stood commended to his own conscience
and counted it among his treasures in
heaven that he had charged nothing 4;
although small presents had from time
to time flown into his earthly Golfers ;
his labor had been one Of love. He
had resortod to deception in order to
meet deception, and ultimately expose
it.
Having defended his course, Mr.. p.
exhibited piece of No. 2 wire, lis
the vcritablo apparatus by which he
had moved tables, and converted hun
dreds to Spiritualsm.--N. Y Even-
ing Post, Dec. II.
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The President has issued his procls.
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