The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-01-09
From the st. Louis Democrat, Nov. 2s.1
A SPIRITUALIsT EXPOSED.


medium, calling himself G. w. Jackson,
has been holding "seances' in the city,
and giving exhibitions Of various kinds of
miracles. His principal feat was having
himself firmly bound by the wrists, throw
ing himself into "trance," and entering
q dark cabinet, from which he would
emerge in few moments with his hands
free. lie claimed that he was united by
spiritual agency" and great many
people were simple enough TO believe his
assertions.
Shortly after Jackson commenced op.
erations here Harts, the illusIonist, CON-
menced bis performances as q magician.
Haftz, being thoroughly posted in all
manner Of slight of hand tricks, declared
that there was some Juggling about Jack
sons rope performance, and challenged
the Spiritualist to trial Of skill. Jack
son accepted, and few nights ago pre-
sented himself at Philharmonic hall,
where Hartz was performing, and was
bound with rope and placed in the cab
met. lie proved too much for Hartz on
that occasion, and after short stay in
the cabinet, walked proudly forth with
the rope in his haods. The Spiritual
portion Of tho audience were in ecstacies
at this proof of the power Of the Spirits,
and the great illusionist was rather chop
fallen. Hartz, however, was not conYer-
ted to the Spiritual faith by this miracle,
and stoutly delared that it was trick
His assistant had performed the same
feet on many occasions, and Of course
Hartz knew how it was done. The anti
Spriri:ualist of the audience took sides
with Hartz, and several well known citi-
zens offered to bet large sums that they
could tic Jackson so firmly that all the
spirits Of the Seven Spheres could not
loosen his bonds.
It was understood that on Friday eve
ming the final test was to be made, and ac-
cordingly large audience assembled to
witness the trial which took place at the
close of the performance of Hartz. A
Dir. Goodwin-the same gentleman who
watched all night in the "haunted house
winter before last, for ghost, and saw
only big rat, appeared upon the stage,
aud formal demand that the gentleman
who proposed to tie jackson should come
forward. The gentleman, not being in
the hall, did not come. Dir. Goodwin
said he came as an investigator, and went
into disquisition on spiritualism. He
said no doubt how the trial with jackson
might terminate, it would not shake bis
faith in the beautiful philosophy of spir.
itualism. He had had proofs enough to
satisfy himself independent of Jackson's
demonstrations.
MrsGoodwin then stated to the audi.
ence that it would devolye upon them tc
to select Committee TO tie the medium
After few minutes spent in speechifyiue
by Goodwin, Colonel Meyer, police com.
missioner, was selected as one Of the
committee. Mr.. McBridge was chosen AZ
the second, but declining on the ground
that he was not a skilful knot tier, jerks
of the Democrat, was elected, and the
committee proceeded to discharge the
duty assigned them. Jackson was sitting
on the stage looking as innocent as .
lamb, and Goodwin appeared TO be acting
as his spokesman.
The first thing done By the committee
was to propose to search the medium
To this jackson objected, but finally
agreed to partial search. He was Ia.
ken behind the cabinet, out of the view
Of the audience, and the search CON-
menced. In his vest pocket was horn
comb, some bits of string, two or three
matches, and some other small articles.
jerks, who had frequently witnessed the
process Of searching at the police station,
soon came across something which excited
his suspicion. Running his hand inside Of
the pants Of the medium, he seized hold
of the end of rope and drew the medi
um forward in view of the audience. The
rope proved to be coil of six or eigh,
feet wound around Jackson's body at the
waist, CREASED with coal oil, and knotted
at both ends. He hauled the rope out
and holding it before the audience, an
nounced that the medium had come tc
the end Of his rope. jerks asked Jack.
son why he had the rope around his body
and the reply was, II guess I have Q
fright to carry rope with me-" This
discovery created intense excitement il
the audience, and there was considerable
confusion for time, but Colonel Meyer
requested silence, and the crowd became
calm.
The search was continued, and in on,
of the mediums shoes was found small
sharp bladed penknife. This was another
discovery that caused murmur among
the audience.
The tieing was then proceeded will
and it was agreed that the assistant O
Hartz should tie Jackson's hands, under
supervisor of the committee and the illu
sionist. Jackson's wrists were according
lily bound firmly together, so that h,
could not slip his hands through, and HI
was seated in chair and soon went int
his s'tranced condition. The doors O
the cabinet were then closed, and amiC
profound silence the spirits were left Il
do their work, jackson had complained
that his wrists were tied too tight, bu
his objections were overruled by the au
dience, and he was made to face the mu
sic. After remaining in the dark cabine
about FIVE minutes, he called out to have
the door opened, and stepped forward with
his wrists as firmly bound as at first. Hs
acknowledged that the "infuence" wal
of no avail, and that the spirits could no
Fxza 1