The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-24
sPlRITuALIsM Il JuaeLERy.
An Intelligent Jury Of Twelve
Men so Decide.
VERDICT AGAINST COLCHESTER,
COMICAL TESTIMONY In THE CASE


OnsGCTf0N6 OF DEFENDANTS COUNSEL.
me ys1a OF this case resumed this morning. when
Mr. Hibbard for the Defence made further objec-
lions against the Indictment citing authority in support
Of his view Of the case He gave the definition Of the
word Juggle" "a person who makes sport by tricks,
by which the spectators deceived holding that the
DEFENDANTS exhibitions not for the purpose Of
making sport for examination into the truth Of
religious belief therefore, cannot be deemed TO be an
exhibition or performance without straning Of the
meaning Of the statute He supposed the discovery Of
some new principle in chemistry, and the admission OF
persons to witness the well might the
illustration Of the principle DO taken TO be per.
Torrance.
The Court overruled the objections and the trial
allowed to proceed
The following witnesses then examined
.t. MR. MUGGRDoE's EvIDBxCx.
James A. Muggridge, sworn-Have resided in Buffalo
four years; am baker, in copartnerhp with my father
decidedly not spiritualist; witnessed demonsra-
ton by defendant the 10th Of August at the Mansion
House; there eight persons present In oil they
were all men there witness named the persons present.
among whom was Mr. W. A. Ferrin, reporter OF the
Buffalo Erpress and defendants counse) the persons
gathered about old fashioned breakfast table,
with leaves extending four feet the size the other way
was about three feet the gas was lighted over the table,
and two sperm candles the table, some gentle
man suggested Colchester TO give some
Colchester sal at one side OF the table, which stood
obquey to the angles of the room sat chair next
to Colchester on his left about eighteen inches Off three
gentlemen sat to the table sofa; Mr. Whitney sat
the Sofa to the right Of defendant about far Off my
self Whitney sat other side of the angle my
SELF and Colchester at the angle ITSELF the table was
we'll fitted; the exceedingly light; about ten
by twelve feet in dimensions Mt first Colchester asked
us to write piece of paper the names OF our de-
ceased friends did So and placed them on top OF the
table; they were then put into hat which stood
on the table; the visitors we're all writing ques
tions about the same time Mr. Ferrin had his
question already prepared I asked no questions; de-
PENDANT answered some twenty-five or thirty questions
in the course Of the evening; after answering many
questions put by others he asked to write the name
Of deceased friend; wrote my mothers first name,
and part of the Muggridge; before finished 1T he
grasped my hand, turned up his sleeve, when "La'ra
Muggrdge" appeared, written his arm, in full had
never advised defendant Of my mothers name; only
two parties in Buffalo know it, wrote the portion OF
the secretly; when was writing defendant was
answering question for you (Mr CoOkl he presented
to another gentleman another name on paper mmedi-
atcly the namo Eli you said that Is not exactly
the handwriting of my brother Eli upon which he turned
up his arm and showed the name thereon, which
YOU sad was the correct handwriting; he presented a
third name; he might have presented another name on
his arm but don't remember; the space Of time oc-
cuped In presenting the two names on the same arm
was about mnute he did not write on his arm with
a pencil was closely watching him; dcfendants arms
were on the table at the time not at all out OF
sight; defendant had TO unbutton his sleeve 10 snow
the first name; have sad that were there; II seems
to me that you were there nn o, @ On sve.y
be given at the Mansion House that night at ten O'Clock
for the benefit of the members Of the press and was
Cross Examined by Mr. Dart-Knew nothing Of the
arrangement til VAS asked to 60
Mr. Darby the benefit of the press do you mean
that tho proceeds were to be devoted 10 inc mooc o
Witness-No Sir; il meant, perhaps, for their cdca:
ton the color of the writing like veins sDuld read
the writing easily; about eighteen inches OIL
Mr. Dart-Wili you that while you were writing
the word Laura arms we're never out OF your
O. viii you swear that his were on the table A.
One Of them might be of the table, at the time was
writing Laura can't tell what defendant DOING was
eighteen inches him at the time; sat at the same
side Of the table from him. defendant could not have
seen the name and II he had he could not have read IT,
because wrote fine; had similar writing on
persons before snce the phenomenon was new
inside Of mIpute when the envelopes were put into
the hat the persons present were asked TO write the
Of deceased persons they did So and threw them
into the hat defendant then put his hand into the hat
mixed up the paper took out tho questions and answer
ed them don't know whether the envelopes were sealed
hat did not keep them out Of sight answering them,
he generally looked up; there might have been about
twenty questions in the hat together.
To Mr. Dart--Heard rappings; defendants hands were
then on the table; cannot account for the rappngs
Mr. FIRRINs TESTIMONY.
w. N.
tor of the Express; formerly resided at Sprngve, IN
connection with tho Chronicle; am not spritualist
was ut Mr. Colchesters at the Mansion House on
the night spoken by the last Witness there were seven
or eight gentlemen present. threc OF them sat on Sofa
opposite sat On .ne same SOFA OPPOSITE n de
table; the very light al the suggestion OF
whitney, wrote three questions, which put into hat
they were written pieces OF paper folded up did not
take particular notice questions Of other persons
wrote the Of deceased friend ut defendants re-
Questions out and answered them pertnenty
not watching him closely saw writing on defendants
arm two times; the whole affair occupied about three
minutes cannot tell the position Of defendants arms
during the Transaction receiving paper nom me he
| rolled his sleeve up Immediately, and showed me my
friends name ON his arm observed no Juggery 'here
Cross examincd-One of my questions was in reference
%nS /. a he lad changed his
| gious faith; another question was In respect to my
mother, whether had done right In certain matter
the answer was "You have done WELL my boy; wrote
the name OF my deceased friend at tho table, he took IL
and handed back, asking me TO write the names Of two
or three others: did 80 when he handed them all back
and showed me the name Of the FIRST written his arm
was invited there by Mr. Whitney, the proprietor OF the
Mansion House saw MT COOK INA. eSenng ,ne Nan
myself went up TO defendants room, where the other
persons were seated; Cook came Afterwards was at
Cooks once that afternoon; Colchester and other
persons were there; II understood thing that we
should meet at Colchestcrs room; saw Colchester, ON
OnS up arms rms %Sep ,Sc writing appeared can't
Der seeing the writing The arm before the rubbing the
writing was reddish the writing passed on and other
names were made 10 appear subsequently; there
rappngs account for Them did mot pay defendant
anything nor see him receive money from anybody.
| Mr.. KYAN's EVIDENCE
| Thomas Kcan. sworn--I reside in Buffalo, am one Of
the editors the Mornmo Cosrier have witnessed Col
| cbcstcrs demonstrations; Tuesday afternoon lss
| made an arrangement with Colchester, through his
agent TO attend at his rooms on "Wednesday M
tcrpoon went with Mr. q. G. Coleman, OF New York wal
detained in the room fcw minutes about dozcr
persons were there; Mr.. Coleman and myself went int
he smaller room together before leaving my Office ha,
written ten or a>dozen questions slips Of paper fodc'
them in envelopes heavily gummed at Colchesers re
oucst: defendant sat at side Of the table; had
amined tho drawer OF the table during Temporal!
absence Of defendant and did not find any apparatus
placcd INV envelopes the table, and at defendants
auest mt them 10 hat; Immediately defendant drew
one of the envelopes from the hat and said had aske
certain question In that envelopes at his request wrot
tbe names of three deceased friends sps OF papei