The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-21
IL SPlRITUALISM JUGGLn"RY?
The Great Rochester Spirit
ualist Case. -
> .<S~
The Medium Acknowledges ...-..
ism 10 be a ~
.ambug.
Great Gatr
-ering Of Pfestidigita.
Masicians. SOrcerers,
-secromancers,G hOstseers
and SpirItualists.
&C, Ac he
IL SPlRITUALISM JUGGLl"'RY (?

dnu SphI Lduatlssss
&c. &c. &c.
Our Bone 10 Correspondence.
BUFFALO, August 10, 400
THE UNITED STAT ~ AGAINST cHAs. J. COLCHESTER
sPiRlTuALIsT.
Tho trial Of Aarles Colchester the spirsuals' FOR
breach Oh the Revcnue law, exercising his GAZING OF
PROGRESSION WI kcut license was commenced To-Day IN
me Northern Dstrct Court Of the United States oeiore
Judge N Hall Messrs william A. Dant, District
Attorney, end Charles O. Tsppen appeared for the prose
cution "a Mossrs. George B. Hubbard and JOSIAH COOK
for the Hofencs The TO have come up yes'er
day, o. "a smuggling oese occupied she entire DAY.
TIE INDICTMENT.
aiay remembered by the readers OF Inc hEKALD
tina nhs month May last Mr. Colchester who was then
in Rochester waited upon BY United States Commis-
Amer ilam Stcrrs and Informed that he must take
Sua license under the Internal Revenue law asa jugger
nm ORDER TO be permitted to continue his business This
Mr. Colchester declined TO do but said he was willing TO
take out license spiritualist indignantly denying
performed his extraordinary feats by juggery
insisting that all the manifestations produced by
him done through the agency of the spirits OF the
departed The United States Commissioner refused TO
grant license in the desired and Instituted
proceedings against Mr. Colchester before the District
Court held Canandagua, last June term, when true
out a license The was then postponed in order
20 enable Mr. Colchester procure witnesses for the
dofence and set down for trial during the August
term Buffalo The point at issue between the United
6tes and is in the words Of the Indictment as
folows-T did son the first day oil May in the year
-o Lord thousand eight hundred and sixyive,
and divers days and times exercise and carry on the
trade business and profession of jogger and did then
and there publicly and for fee and reward perform by
-sleiQht III hand, Mr. denies that
the real question TO be decided by Che jury is whether
the so-called spiritual manifestations by the defendant
30 far as he is concerned performed by nggley
sleght of hand In other words whether spiritualism
and jugglery are synonymous
WHAT THE sPnTrAIIsrs THINK
The has excited the intense interest in this
city, especially among the believers in spritualism who
are highly indignant that the favorte apostle Of their
chosen creed should be accused, he virtually is Of
nposture. Some however, rather jublant at what
they deem the prosecution of the defendant the prin
cpic that the blood Of 'the martyr il the seed Of the
church" Truo, Mr. Colchester Is in danger Of the
rsck the stake or the gibbet but If he is found guilty
he will likely be subjected to copous bleeding, through
the pocket and, as consequence the creed OF which
be is the practical exponent will flourish all the more
hxuriantly.
APPEARANCE OF THE DEFENDANT
Though Mr. Colchester processes TO deal with ghosts,
he is far from having that ghosy appearance for which
credit You look in vain for the cadavcrous checks,
sunken eyes, ank hair and aenuated figure with which
the members OF his peculiar fraternity are generally
identified On the contrary he is the perfect picture OF
health and bodily vigor while short conversation with
him convinces you that he IS the living i'm persona'on
Of medium height very strongly, but by 10 means |
clnmsiy, built with ruddy countenance, brown
hair, inclined to curl and very brilliant gray ycs He
n In the enjoyment OF youthful vigo appearing o he
not over twenty. six years Of age
GREAT ASSEMBLY oF MAoiaNs
What adds 10 the interest manifested In ths singular
trial rs the number of experts present for tbe
purpose Of giving their testimony in court 1t would
that the country has been ansackcd for pre-dg
isteurs juggers sorcerers magcanf necroaneeis and
professors Of the black art generally Among the most
famous Professor Anderson the Fskir OF Ava, Pro
fessor Karl Kahr, and Professor Macalliste Whose
evidence, is expected will elicit great deal OF FUN
he court Is crowded by listeners and spect
who anxiousy expecting the issue, as their feel
hgs prompt them on either side
Charles j. Colchester having been arraisned in accord
sne with the terms OF the indictment, pleaded not
guilty which the business Of empanneng petit jury
70 ry the proceeded with and after several
perslns had been challenged perempory both sides
and others excused their application, the plea
Of Illness, the following gentlemen were sworn
George A Pettinsil, Charles II. Parker,
Ivory II. Hawkins, Henry Gottman
James Cash. Lewis w. Crandall,
James H Eaton, Joseph Amhrus'er,
samuei Brown Seth fcnnen
MOTION TO Qu ASH
Mr. Hubbard, behalf OF the defendant submitted 10
the Court that the Indictment seemed TO him TO be
defective that might be only necessary TO submit
on two points to the Court which cannot fail TO show TO
ME Honor that the indictment Is bad and that the po
ton Of the Revenue law under which IL framed Is
consstutional and, therefore, of non effect.
The Court thought there was hardly any use arguing
the maitcr II counsel had any objection 10 the ndc
mcnf, that the Jury sworn, The proper course
Was, In the event OF q conviction 10 writ %
The language ~ the Indictment IS the .an,e ~
b. sl the other hcru-e leosc Tie tomr and he
could not quash an Indictment after the jury had boon
After some further argument IN the conr-e OF which
Mr. Hibbard contendei that upel.ry was absolutely
prohibited by the laws " New York and bat therefore
NO preach OF any law not to take out license pat
mat was Illegal, and the overriding OF all objections by
the Court the case allowed TO proceed
Mr. Dar, the District Attorney then proceeded TO ad.
dress the jury op behalf o the prosecution He said
NAY n PkAss TIE Court GENTLEMEN oy THE
suRY-The prisoner at the bar Charles ! Colches. |
Ter, stands indicted tor the offence Of practising
,be trade or profession Of iuggler without hav. !
ing procured license therefor required by the /
ACT 70 provide Internal revenue TO support the governs
nent TO pay interest on The public det and for other
purposes, approved June 1854 The case seems 10 no
ono simple Of solutics and involving no rcat public
concern aud such. J apprchend vii he ts result.
feats OF rsppings answering questions ,uc.os'd /,
envelopes, and the like, publicly or & g and reward
viii not be seriously contested, perhaps elmited Tho
peculiar defence Of the prisoner only gather con,
newspaper reports and pablc which as-e that
the prisoner will prove aompt prove that m ibe
performance of those feais Of apparent ,gerdcn,n m ~
the mere passive instrument OF spiritual routro srd na
he does not practice sleiehi of hand. 80 .-entrd
here great multitude not 1.-The spirits u Just made
perfect but ~ mon aud women IN the coporca frame
While concede the inostnable value Of W., p,e.l
cannot forbear tho remark that has boon made she .
rrument ~ magnify ing this into proponnf
and 10 the public 20 booye that u . contest J.,
tween the United States and large body ,xeu. can
ing Themselves srir,tuaste. aud endcsvOr e ar
81 Tie former 60 crush out religious sect and cXtosc
W herrses, " has any aud that the result u ibis trial
VII establish The feet whether sprtda3ln true o.
i.se Nothing eau be further from lhe truth 1hc result
" tns uial eau accomplish no such thing. ID
s,mPle Inquiry whether Charles Colchester IL frtriis
fpg seiyh' 81 baud under the 2u,se of spiritual
CONTROL and he " j. quite importtnt t0 protested
yprtualss thu, he should be exposed s. Il i. 10 ,be
puzzle whom be " deluiing. aud TO the government
which be s defmudiue. trust tb,rfore .horld there
bc believer in this faith upon the lry no Viii po look
upon mo o. prosecutor, bat viii go band m hsnd With
M IN my endcavo 70 expose his mpositons u he - an
II a t,.e