Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-09
sPIRITUALISM IN COURT.

very curious habeas corpus case came be-
fore Judge McCunn, of the New York Su-
preme Court, ON Friday. IN which n husband
sought To obtain possession OF his wife Who
Is alleged TO be- restrained OF her liberty by "A
clairvoyant physician. The lady herself vas
brought INTO Court, and stated that she was
not restrained OF her liberty, and had no desire
10 return TO her husband, whercupon the
Court dismissed The witt The case j. thus re-
ported:
Carlos Fredrrici asks the aId of th. court An
recover his wife from the control of Dr. Atwood
Ihe lady name was Marion DE Lavane La
mar, "A daughter of General Lamar. formerly
frtsideht OF Texas. About month ago she
was married by Mr.. Gallaudet 10 the plaintiff.
and they went 10 DIR. Atwood's Tn. doctor de-
mics thai he admitted the husband TO hi, houSa
The wife says thai having been married by
ifand ana under the influence OF drugs. she
Went To the doctors hous for protectlon agaius,
HIM. The husband denies tins charge. and
says that the doctor, who professed To be a
spiritualist, has establish an undue Influence
over her, has persuaded her that he has di-cov
cred that she l. suffering from heart disease
has told her that the spirit of her father has
appointed HIM (Atwood) her guardian, and is
using the influence Thus acquired to obtain her
property, and for other purposes. and 1hal the
ahdayIt purporting To be made by her was
signed Without her knowing its contents.
The WIT was returnable ON Thursday bnt
Dr atwood having denied that he had any
control ofthe wife, was ADJOURNED 10 Friday
ia allow OF the traverse Of the husband being
put in.
A traverse TO this return was m ade IA, Erad-
erica. IN whichhe alleges that Atwood has so
wrought upon the imagination OF his wife by
hn pretended spil1tualistlc and clairvoyant
powers, as 10 become complete master OF her
mind and VIII; that he has pretended 90 her 10
have had communication with her deceased
father. from whom he had receive instructions
10 act the part of guardian 10 her during her
natural life: that since his wife has been with
the Doctor he has received letters from her i'm
which she expresses her wish TO return 10 him
bnt stated that she was completely under the
cCHtroi OF Dr. Atwood that SAID Atwood l. An
iihposter OF the worst kind, and well known
ana notorious as such, and that ne has obtained
this control of his wife for the basest purposes.
Nc.
When this was put in, Justice McCunn find
ing thai the lady was still i'm DR. Atwood;s
mouse, despatched am officer To bring her
down. The husband was forbidden 10 20 with
me ofhcer. but the doctor accompanied him and
after some time the lady was brought To m.
court The plaintiffs counsel asked thar I,r
Atwood be directed to sit where H. could NOT be
setn by the lady. as be (counseD feared the in
nnence offbe doctor The Court declined %
make any such order. The only question. the
Court ruled, was whether the lady was re.
strained Of her liberty: all other questions must
be- tried in some other forum The lady an
psared very pale, but In answer to the Ind ge,s
questions replied distinctly that she was nor re
sti aimed Of her liberty; that she did nor wish IN
fetnrn TO her husband. she was so weak and
did not wish her husband bound over TO keen
The peace. The Court discharged the writ.