Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-04
COMMUNICATED.
THE WAY IA rs DONE.

A somewhat ludicrous scene enacted at Sara
tOga Hall, in this CITY, Monday evening, resulting
in the exposure of the spiritual manifestations un-
der the direction of DOCtOT FitZ GbbOn. II appears
that the evening in question: after the lecture and
Illustrations had taken place, tickets were sold for
dollar each, to such Of the audience wished 10
join the dark circle, where still further and more
wonderful manifestations were to be made The sale
Of tickets progressed tavOrdby, and some twenty-five
persons assembled for the purpose of forming the
aforesaid circle. large caolnet mad been erected
In the southwest corner Of the hail. and the aedtcta
"A lady-was placed therein, in a sack, which was
nailed to the floor by committee Of two gentlemen,
selected by the audience from among their number,
who. after examining hall and ascertanng that
other person was present, except those forming the
circle" and the medium, took their seats, when a
string was passed through a buton-hole in each gen
temans coat and each ladys cloak, all parties also
joining hands.
Doctor Fitz Gibbon tn en- announced that the string
was simply for the purpose OF preventing break III
the circle, and nasmuch as all the hands were to be
joined any one could ascertain II his neighbOr relm-
quished his hold. The Doctor" particularly empha-
sized the necessity of not breaking the circle. and
more especially of not lighting match after the
room bad been made perfectly dark. The true reason
for these njunctOns wlbe seen by the sequel After
the gas extinguished. mysterious sounds were
heard in the direction of the cabinet, the door
opened, bells rung, and the pseudo spirit mOdesty
asked for sOng which was given by some one IN the
circle" the tread of feet was then heard, and
stool which had been placed at some distance from
the cabinet slightly agtated whispers were then
pereeptible in close proximity to the circle, after
which the spirit was asked to touch persons in the
room, which request was complied with rather too
tOuchngly, however.
One OF the gentlemen cOnSlQerlng tne handling he
received rather unceremonlous, and partaking more
of the temporal than spiritual character. cut the
string which passed through his button hole and
seized the spirit. Other gentlemen hearing a slight
commOtion, ignited few matches, and discovered
instead of spirit" the lady medium attacking one
of the party with an umbrella The gas was then
lighted and most ludicrOus erpOss ensued. The stool
discovered to have string attached to it, lead
ing to the cabinet which satisfactorily accounts for
its change of position at each session of the dark
circle" The cabinet searched and the sack
found empty, with very significant hole IN the side
near the bottom, through which the medium hadbeen
able to make her exit and enact the part of spirit
to the wondering and aStonished audiences which
nightly assemble to witness these supernatural CD
manifestations. The scene which followed battles
description. The medium beat hasty retreat the
ant-room adjoining the hall, covered with confusion
at the exposure of such bare-flced imposition.
The party composing the circle and who had made
the discovery exhibited some sympathy for her not
withstanding and after obtaining their entrance fees
from DR.. Fitz GibbOn, they selected gentleman to
present the proceeds to the medium. The Doctor
was completely non -plussed, reiterating his igno-
rance of anything like imposition, and putting on
the appearance of an injured man. The audience,
however. failed to believe him. the strict I'M cton
his action being particeps criminis at least. The
gentlemen who determined to Investigate the matter
viewed it in the light of huge joke but 1t Is serI
Gus matter to consider that there have been nlnuS
considerably influenced by these supposed Spru@d
manifestations" and money has been thus OBTAINED
under false pretences to a vast extent Inc DOCTOR
was complaining that the United states assessor ha9
directed him to take out Juggiers incense ana
strongly protested against the inJusce perhaps this
expose of his modus operandi may alter his mind
the subject at rate will the mind OF the public