The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-13


Spiritual Circles.
We were very much surprised yesterday by
the letter from Judge Edmonds which is printed
at the close of this paragraph. The style Of
this epistle Is so unlike that Of the s,taue dig
nided and learned Judge, and tits based upon
misconception so unworthy of his clear, cult
waited and logical intellect that we could not
have believed it to be written by him had not
the familiar chirography dispelled the doubts
which the unfamiliar language and sentiments
at once excited. The Judge actually accuses
us of perpetrating q libel by publishing
couple OF sentences, which he quotes. Now,
moments consideration and examination would
have shown him that the Objectionable SEN
fences were merely a summary Of the news
from London about Mr. Sothern's libel suit, in
serted because we had no room for the full re-
port Of the trial But, on Sunday-the day
following-we copied the evidence from the
London papers, and we find that Mr.. Sothern
thus testified For about two years, think,
l amused myself in teaching people to believe
In spirltualism; made no charge; John Bridg-
man never assisted mo; Thomas Hsddaway was
one Of the miracle circle; Twas then known
BY the name of Douglas Stuart; very great
number Of persons, besides those engaged in
theatrical pursuits, formed part of the circle;
Judge Edmonds used to come, and 80 did Gov
ernor Tallmadge; in fact, innumerable people
came" And to this he adds, ~ do not honestly
believe that anybody believes in spiritualism"
Judge Edmonds Is well acquainted with evil
dence; it is his business to be so; and we put it
to him as an intelligent man and q good law
yer whether, barring q single verbal error
Governor Tallmadge"-th summary which
we printed on Saturday was not fair synop-
SIS so far as 1t refers to himself, Of the report
published ON Sunday, and whether the charge
which he makes in his letter is not altogether
unfounded. Here is the letter.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.
MARCH IL. 1855.
In your paper Of yesterday speaking of the proceed
ings Of the payacor Sothern in London you say "Mr
SOthern was examined before the magistrate and made
extraordinary revelations and essons Of
his experiences in spiritual circles when in New York.
and as to how he was assisted By Judge Edmonds Judge
Talmadge and twelve gentlemen of high position in
this city in order to Yokc' persons OF both scxes by
system in which he does not honestly believe that any
the of the proceedings before the Mayor OF
don find that Sotbern does not msks any charge.
He merely says that Governor Tamadge and were pre-
sent sometimes at his circles The charge that the Go
vernon and assisted him in deceiving people Is yours
and not Sothcrns and from you and in your columns
l demand the rcfutat0n Of the scandal Reckless as
Sohern is, and DESTROYS as he to have been Of
placing mself in the position OF being cheat IN this
country or liar in England I've has had the hard
hood 10 Impais either TO Governor Taimadge or myself
completely In his frauds That task you have voIun
tary assumed and nothing but the most ample recan-
t.ltaa ltt.n1 ottCfv ta Ata
character and to the memory Of my dcceas ID friend the
you moan his brother, the Governor Tho Judge died
good many years ago, and long before anything was
heard o. tbs subject among us: But whichever II s
you mean, yoar article Is equally false and hbellous
and must be refuted
The learned Judge states, In his extraor-
binary epistle, that "he (Sothern) merely says
that Governor Tallmadge and were present
sometimes al his circles. The charge that the
Governor and assisted him in deceiving
people Is yours" We beg the Judges pardon;
such charge was never made by us; the word
"deceiving" was never used in our columns in
this connection. Since this whole affair hinges
upon words, we must beparticular; and SO we
call the attention Of the Judge TO the fact that
the term employed in our summary and by Mr..
Sothern is "to joke" not to deceive" In
reference TO this very point Mr.. Sothcrn testified
in London:-"You put the word deceit into my
MOUTH" and so Judge Edmonds has put the
charge Of "deeeiving people" into our columns,
where 1t never appeared. Again, the Judge
remarks:-"Reckless as Sothern Is, and
DESTROYS as he seems to have been of placing
himself in the position of being a
cheat In this country or liar in
England"-ne upon you, Judgc-'ho has
not had the hardihood to impute either to Gov
ernor Tallmadge or myself completely in his
frauds That task you have voluntarily as
sumed." BY no means. Mr.. Sothern said
~ don't admit that ] practiscd any deceit; /
simply entered into the matter as joke" He
did not use the word fraud" and it does not
occur in our summary Of his testimony. He
does not admit that he practised any deceit or
fraud, and we never stated that he did, OF that
Judge Edmonds was his accomplice. Surely the
Judge can now see how much he has misjudged
and misrepresented us In bis hasty and even in
temperate letter. Instead Of libelling the
usually calm and courteous ex-magistrate, we
simply gave synopsis Of Mr.. Sothern's evil
denee, which is not libellous, and cannot
by any ingenuity be made to appear
SO. The Judge does not deny that he
and Governor Tallmadge were present at Mr..
Sotherns circles" and that is the only matter
about which there can be any controversy. II
the Judge objects to the word assisted" which
was used for the sake Of brevity, he will find in
Wcbster's Dictionary that "to be present, to
attend, as to assist at public meeting" is one
Of the legitimate definitions of the verb " to as
sst." Besides this, Mr.. Sothern distinctly
swears that the Judge and Governor Tallmadge
:" formed part Of the circle" Consequently,
the case of the genial Edmonds falls to the
ground.
But IN Judce Edmonds, neryas vere sbocL ad