The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-16
DEVELOPMENTS OF sPIRITUAL1sM.

Mrs. Morrill, VS.. Mr.. Hume-Charge OF Rape
while In q Trance-Amdav1t OF the Plain
tin-Her Cross-examInatlon Yesterday-A
Curious Case-spirAtual IAfe In New York,
&C., Sc.
The case Of Mrs. Sarah W. Morrill, against N. A. Hume,
charging him with committing rape upon her while she
nsensibe in spiritual trance, was brought up be-
fore Justice Quackenbush the Jefferson market Police
Court at Pm yesterday All Of the parties TO the case,
with their counsel, were present The plaintiff was
dressed in black, veil her face, and was
rather ordinary looking woman, with nothing about
her TO draw special attention. Her husband who s quite
fine looking man. sat by her side. The defendant had
the appearance Of smart, active business man.
This curious has already been brought before the
public and needs no further introduction than the
AFFIDAVIT OF THE PLAINTIFF,
which is follows
CITY and County of Neo York-Sarah W. Morrill,, of
Newburyport, Mass being sworn, says-I am the wife Of
the month Of june 1857 and boarded at No 45 Robinson
street, boarding house. kept by Mr.. Thorn one N. A.
there there for ten weeks, leaving about the mid
die Of July for my home during my stay there spiritual
circles ESQ caled) were formed as often as once
week In the paror Of the house, the Of the time
was there Il claimed that spiritual medium,
and efforts were constantly made to get into trance
in the third week in June 1851 at circle put
trance; this in the parlor and of the
trance and became conscious found myself on my bed In
my room, which was on the same floor with the par
ler and the said N A. Hume in the act Of having criminal
connection with me- as soon as became conscious and
had ruined me- would expose him. he threatened TO
take my life II told any one; this connection in
voluntary on my part and without my consent, and oc
Cured at aid No. 45 Robinson street, New York city.
Deponent therefore prays that defendant be arrested
and dealt with according TO law.
Sworn before me, Justice Quackenbush, June H. 1858.
CROss-ExAMINATION.
Mrs. Morrill, then examined by the counsel OF the
defendant TO the following eectI am thirty eight years
Of age reside in Newburyport, Mass; am married;
Mr.. Samuel G. Morrill, is my husband; his place OF bust
is New York; have been married nineteen years
have resided in New York; have two children
they aged fifteen and eight years respectively have
lost three children the last died the l4h December
1885, its age nine and half months know Mr.. N.
A. Hume, the defendant; first became acquainted with
him at Mr. Thorn's No As Robinson street, New York,
during the months of May and june 1857 my husband
introduced him 10 me- Mr. Hume boarded at Mr.. Thorns;
he not there all the trne heard Mr. Hume say that
he had family at that tme his family did not reside
with him; they resided at Lunda, N Y there many
other boarders at Mr. Thorns at that tme part Of the
boarders stayed the house during the evening" and there
frequently circles
Q. What do you mean by circles; will you describe
themS A. They were spiritual circles Mr. Thorn and Mr.
Hume the leading spirtuaiss; don't recollec the
Of any other sprtuasts tbere there but
lady boarder there beside myself; her name Mrs
Gale; think she spiritualist she had q husband
there; don't recoleot seeing him in the circles can't
recoec the names Of any other male sprtualsts there
were quite number Of other gentlemen who sat down
in these circles; ladies who did not board in the
house sat down to these circles; they Mrs. Jarvis
Mrs. Kenney and others whose give; the
two ladies whose names have mentioned protessed TO be
spiritualists recollect how often circles were
formed there; they formed once week, and per-
haps oftener was not believer in sprtualsm before
came TO New York; was requested to sit in circle by
Mr. and Mrs. Thorn; the first circle was formed in the
month of May; can't tell how after came to New
York. don't recoect of becoming entranced in any way
the first night sat in circle; don't rccoect whether
did not the second or third sitting did not be-
entranced until the middle last Of June don't
remember becoming entranced than once; did
sit in circles ut that house after becoming entranced
! recollect Mr.. Hume's leaving Thorn's and going
home; II a few days after my being en-
tranced that he left it less than a week;
Mr. and Mrs. Thorn and Mr. Hume sat in ths circle the
night entranced do recoect any of the Others
do not rec0llect sitting in circle with young man
called Billy, except once recoect he boarded there;
think he sat in the circle during of the rst sngs;
there other ladies in the circle the night
tranced do not recolec any their names per
Of whom speak not boarding in the house
frequently there; DO not recoec that Mrs. Jarvis
in the circle the night was entranccd the number gene
rally sitting a circle about half DOZEN do not
recoect OF there ever being less than half dozen sitting
in crcle my room was on the first noor, of from the
hail. had to pass through the hall 10 get TO my room
which ut the end uf the hall the parOr the
floor; the hall the only space between my room
and the paror husband sat in those circles with
several times; do not recolect the hour at which sat
down to the circle the night was entranced was
before midngbt my husband not at home that night
he in the city; he home near midnght do not
know whether any of the people were up when my hus
Dand came home do not Know how long had been IN
bed my husband usually in with night key; was
in bed when he came had conversation of importance
with him that night that think or; he slept in the
bed with that night; think Mr.. Hume there next
morning at breakfast; l remember speaking with Mr..
Hume frequently after the evening enranced before
he left for home had conversation with my husband
about what Hume did to me the night was entranced be
fore he Hume) left after sitting down at the circle the
night was entranced first recollect finding myself in
my own room, on the bed Mr.. Hume was there commit
ting violence my person; mean by that, criminal
nectop; there other in the ROOM have
in the CIRCLE resisted Mr Hume but he said he had got
through soon as became conscious resisted him and
threw myself from him. was lying upon my bed my
back when became conscious Mr. Hume then in the
act Of criminal connection; think this far from
eleven O'Clock NJ did not 60 out Of my thereafter
that night; my husband came home near midnight; my
child was born about eight months after that night first
spoke Of this occurrence to friend of mine in July
last; her is Mrs. Clifford; she resides New
afterwards; I then wrote to my husband about II;
wrote him soon after my child was born; did be-
cause could not keep in any longer he did not first
charge me with having criminal intercourse with Mr.
Hume; my husband went home with me n July remained
there four weeks then returned had him from
that time till after the child was born correspond
ed all the time do that my husband yer spoke
wrote TO about Humes being too intimate with me
before wrote him about it,
O. Don't you remember that Mrs. Thorn spoke 10 you
complaining that you very mprudent and init
mate with Mr. Hume? Counsel for plaintiff objected to
the question; question allowcd) A. She did 10 my
knowledge but rather the REVERSE saying she preferred
freedom among her boarders don't recolect frequently
putting my arm around Mr.. Hume and kissing him when
he up TO the door, before after this occurrence
have often been at the door when he (Hume) INTO
the house. and spoke to him; don't remember meeting
Mr. Hume at the door and fondling him; the words Mr.
Hume used my Threatening 70 expose him was that he
"would be the death OF me; became conscious
was in the same clothes in which sat down to the crcle
Mr.. Hume had the same clothes that he
had on in the circle; my daughter boarded
with me here at the time; she did not always
set at circles with me- think my daughter there in
the circle the night entranccd; my daughter was
then between twelve and thirteen years of age; think
che in bed when this occurred with Hume she occu
pied room the lower floor, adjoining the parlor and
dining room; she lodged with her sister, who was six
years old at that time assisted the younger child IN
going to bed that night don't recoect at what hour my
eldest daughter went to bed that evening" can't tell whe
ther before after this transaction with Mr. Hume
the younger child went to bed before the circle don't
recolect my eldest daughter coming TO day when
was with Mr. Hume and threatening TO tell her father If
was not less intimate with Mr. Hume, saying thought
more Of Mr. Hume than | did OF her father; Mr. Hume
sometimes went into my and sat down with me;
recolect Of rubbing his head at time there don't
recolect OF my husband coming into the at the time
doing IT. don't recolcct of any particular
when my husband came into the while was sitting
1M NJ vInVn ll,,u urt