New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-18
sPIR1TUALIei1.
Fsy's ExPsse at the Cooper Institute Of he
Tricks Of the Davenperts.

A few hundred persons assembled at the
Cooper Institute Saturday evening to witness the
promised pos Of the tricks Of the Davenports by Mr.
Fay gentleman who acted agent Of these notorious
brothers. and accompanied them over large portion Of
their tour through this country.
Mr. Fay rs young man who wears his hair in the
prescribed spiritual fashion and sports light mustache
He prefaced his performances at the Cooper Institute
with short lecture, explaining his object which was
be said expose one OF the greatest frauds and hum
bugs Of the age While connected with the Davenports
he had to great extent believed Ia the genuneIess OF
their feat-, but by and by their impositons became
manifest 20 him. and be now desired TO show the world
the devices on which the brothers had built their epu
tation
Mr. Balm of Newark. N. j.. and Mr. Arad Gilbert
Of No. 2s3 West Nineeenth ST.. were chosen from the
auderee AZ committee 70 see that everything was
properly maahged. Mrs. Fay, the wife Of the lecturer
was appointed to superlntend the proceedings. A
huge box wss placed on the platform inside Of which
were fixed number Of bells, drum, tin trumpet and
tamhourine. After these articles had undergone a
close scrutiny by the committee, who were perfectly
satisfied of the legitimate character of the cabinet Mr.
Fay took of his coat entered the box and requested
the committee 10 tie him. hand and foot. This they
did, and Mrs Fay closed the doors In short time
the bells were heard TO ring and amid the psuds OF
the audience, Mr.. Fay stepped forth dvested OF his
fetters. He again entered the box, the doors were
closed. and when opened, after a few minutes, he was
found securely tied the spirits having performed the
operation, he said.
He then performed nearly all the feats of the Daven
knees with stOut cord. the bells rung the drum
beaten. and 10 all appearance the lecturer had the
full use Of his hands, but when the door was opened
10 the victim securely bound. He complained Of
the heat and said that the spirits had been taking him to
France On leaving the box the committee united his
hands and he went rolnd among the audience exhibit
ing he knot by which he was fastened. He entered
the box again and again tied up by the spirits Mr.
Bailn entered with him the nert time, handkerchief
being thrown over bis eyes 10 obtain negative c0nd
tion of the elements, " darkness When the door was
opened Mr. Baifn was discovered in one end OF
the box with his head crowned with the banjo and
drum. while extended AZ the other end lay Mr. Fay
bound hand and foot in the most helpless condition.
The audience demanded from Mr. Baiin an account Of
his experiences He said that be felt hands tipping
different parts q his peTson his beard was pulled and
his Uranium wss struck several times with the drnm
The flour uck then performed to the satisfaction
OF all present, after which came the eIP0sL The lee.
iurer declared the main secret Of the tricks 70 be the
getting hand loose when every thing that tho audi
ence had witnessed during the evening could DO easily
performed. The tying Of the hands is performed by
iastening end Of the rope around the left wrist
loop being formed for the right hand. When the hands
then turned round and round few times the rope has
the appearance Of Dcing firmly knotted After eX.
planaton OF the -four trick Mr.. Fay wound up his er
post by promising In fltnre lecture 10 show how knots
made by outsiders unfastened BY the mediums.