The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-08


The spirits on Trial.
CoLcHEsrER, THE THORPEs AND THE DAvENPORT5
IN CouRT-A NIGHT IN PAkDEM0NiuM
The of Colchester the Daveupors and the Thorpes
which naugurated last week, was continued Thurs
day evening" at metropolitan Hall, with all the ecM
and merriment which had attended the opening
of the proceedings There very large and demon
stratve audience comprising goody number Of ladies
and gentemon who had apparently paid the admission
fee for the sole purpose Of ''seeing the fun" II is
proper here 70 remark that this outlay highly remu
nerative
At eight O'Clock precisely the august Mr. GoDwM took
the chair and unburdened his conscience Of an ILL.,
digested salutaory address He said that either a.
infdcis unstios they had met according TO the
statements of the press Sptc Of this assertion ho felt
convinced that they could Afford 10 DO considered a.
such twas 70 30 hoped that the reporters present
would this OCCASION take particular pans to pick up
all the fsebops lying around, and Jet the truth go OIL
alone by itself Tho sudieaoe had not assembled to
please press but please themselves Theirs was
called the rclgo political association because was their
task 10 detect the In both religion aud politics. and
expose them 10 the public gaze. The speaker and his
hearers had therefore, gathered 70 form court Of truth
for tho purpose OF trying the Thorpes the Davenpors
and Mr. Colchester and no now declared tho court duly
opened .s..
Colonel THOMAS PIoroN counsel for the defence-who
appeared In white lautaloons and broadcioth, and in
sorted his hands in bis pockets with much esnesnoss
~ though withiathep located branch establish
ment OF ri Dorado the plea for his clients
by stating that tho Thorpe Brothers offered Owe hundred
formances TO which announcement gentlemen pre-.
sent took exception and declared 10 DO an advertise,
ment for the parties on Trial.
then rose and road aloud tho Indictment Comprising
some four pages Of blue d looscap. accusing ho pris
exercise ss AZ 70 expedite matters and
sum up tho 10 esssed 70 present % the Judge
s.ss S ssS tho Colchester '' which '''''' took
Mr. GoDwrs in his most mc,hnuous toncs. inquired
WHISTLER any Of tho dcfondsa1 werc ready to go on with
Mr. PIcrou gruy replied thu. he was ready - II was
Tho Pnsmpsr, with winning smile. venturcd to ask
whether the clients Of the honorable gentleman pleaded
To which sSs counse, for tho defence proudly an
nounce1 "Not guilty, BY a., means Now we have put
in our pcs," and seated himself Being possessed Of
and 1svs,sS N opcniss address 70 the assembsge 10
which ~ sueed pvovt 70 his clients then criticised
tnoSaced The plymouth Rock ~ the American U Ssrnsy
stone, visited at banquet 81 which simeon Draper
presided set forth Tho grounds which hs defence
based spoke OF tho miracles OF the Cabaxz criticised the
| arabian Nights, aad undoubtedly had dozen sub
jects TO refer 70 when he was cut short by medical
II
| about The same gentleman also demanded that Mr..
Pcton should his eloquent retrospect for the
close Of the case and proceed :. once 70 call his VII
The witness were accordingly requested 70 appear
Nc Cepwus exgrsssed the hope that would be
.bAckward In coming forward. "A laugh)
II The mediek gentleman who interrupted Mr. Picton
once rose to.speak He said that Tor bis pan he did
mol believe in spirits which duty had been paid
and placed no faith Whatever In all the mysteries 70
which the Court 20 FIRMLY adhered Tremendous
But 70 tssssp ,aadis~a6r GOWN objected Hourxed
that II against tho dignity OF the tribunal IRE
newcd approba,on He would certainly be compelled to
cnthustasm,b THIS lmast ccasel "A vo,cc-"what u
the ssh Get under dscussonr' Laughter snd cheersl
nssss sa' %ses s
tempted 70 proceed and observed that hts tongue oead
not decide "a voice: you've got the tongue but you
spfltuaiism ana considered sa mo Of the pares sho
did had been imposed upon bad imposed upon them.
\ soves An - the spirtuasts-
Mr. rscros bg.-"wc arc not here To try the witch
| Of Endor, Stephen n Branch the sprtualists IN
general Tdsmsnd that we 700 70 the Interests Of my
An elderly gentleman tben occupied tho floor He
said IL was the first time be appeared in public and
claimed the indulgence OF his hearers Applaiss) He
about TO testify a. witness and could say that be
had witnessed nothing IAN nproar, which Mr. Goodwin
behave that escy had right TO applaud, and their
pIs1dle dd his otd esss good boy"-bys gen
S%s. Nth collar and no c,SSa soT.d. whom
Mr. 0oowM-l know you WELL Mr. smith. frantic
delight on the part OF tho AUDIENCE You bolong 10 q
larve family and you arc d,sgrace to H. Cheers,
which the gentleman In the steel collar under notice
seems highly 70 appreciated But we'll have you put
out (fAughter). %
Meantime The witness on the stand had seated himself
When tho Chairman had concluded 10 bow In submission
10 tbs demcnstrstfvcne~ Of tho sssembage. several
other witnesses whose dispositions we're all OF like
interesting nature, were listened 10 with the unfai
ing accompaniment Of ycls and laughter One gentle.
man swore that he saw spirit hand extended
from the cabinet in which were sealed the Thorpe
Brothers who had properly boon securely bound with
ropes while second reliable individual volunteered 70
teach the mode Of preparing the rope trick In week
There sttcmpt nj examining the Witnesses
but the endeavor proved amentsble failure In vain
did Mr. Godwn call for two volunteers assist him
expeIling the unruy members from the One gen
ucman who modssy attred In q linen duster and
scornod the Of crsva collar, stated
that he bad paid his ton cents and did not 500
the expulsion In those lamps" which psraphrass
Of popular saying deservsdly encorcd. The
doic OF a Msthodkt minister who had been with
dun witness the performances Of the Davenpor and
recognized their splritusstc power because he smet
birthstone, lost In the turmoil The arguments or
Mr. Picton tho wfldnass Of Mr. Goodwin and the deep
bass of Mr. Winchester nsndibe Al length, during
momcnsary full the chairman sad that on Thursday
AvcDing next they would rssums----iA v0ice--'ren
centi They would continue the trial And with this
the assembling dsporssd amid the greatest
confusion